I tell my children that we all have our own journey, and no one else can dictate its terms. My journey is uniquely mine. Throughout my life, I have been a cheerful giver, and that has come with both costs and benefits. Extending yourself to others is common among caregivers, and while I often justified my giving nature, I sometimes did so at the expense of neglecting myself.
I remember a time in my youth, as a young parent, when I went Christmas shopping for my children. When I came home, they noticed my worn-out shoes. Later, when I shared that moment with a coworker, she told me, “When you go shopping, make sure you put something in the basket for yourself.” That advice stayed with me.
Now, I am more mindful of not neglecting myself. I recognize the importance of balance. In some ways, I am a late bloomer. My first published work came in 2018 after years of encouragement to write. Someone once told me that if I wrote a page a day, I would have a book in a year—a piece of advice I often share with aspiring writers.
Before his passing, a great man of God once told me not to let anything stop me from doing what I was meant to do. I had not even shared my aspirations with him, yet he saw potential in me. He inspired me for years and witnessed firsthand the challenges I faced along the way.
Like the biblical account of David, who said he had never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread, I can look back over my life and see that the Creator has always provided for me. Even before I truly knew Him, He made a way. The Creator continues to be a source of wonder in my life. I have learned the value of leaning on Him rather than relying solely on my own understanding.
My journey is mine alone, and I am responsible for the direction my life takes. When the Creator assigns a purpose, it is not a group decision. I believe He has equipped me for what I am called to do—to be a light in a world that often feels dark.
My experience with mental health challenges gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to lose your mind and have it restored. While I respect the medical community, I also recognize that it was through the Creator’s guidance that true transformation occurred in my life. Like many others, I struggled with medication compliance, even though it is essential for managing mental health conditions. It was only when I accepted the need for treatment that my life began to change.
My last hospitalization was in 1979—a defining year in my life. I had stopped taking my medication, believing I could manage on my own. This led to another bipolar episode, more severe than the one I experienced in 1976. During that time, I spiraled out of control and was hospitalized three separate times, eventually being admitted to Northville State Regional Hospital.
Initially, I had been in a more comfortable setting, Glen Eden, but where I ended up was very different. Yet it was in that place that my life began to change. I gained a new perspective—I realized that my situation was not as hopeless as I once believed. More importantly, I had an epiphany: I wanted to help others who were facing similar mental health challenges.
I later found employment at Harper Hospital in Central Supply, which eventually led to a position in the Department of Psychiatry. What I thought would be a short-term role as a Mental Health Worker turned into a 34-year career. My life reflects a powerful truth I once heard from a minister: God will place you in a situation, bring you through it, and then send you back to help others.