If you can't fly from bullies, you can still sing.

Some people can be rude, disrespectful and cruel. I call these people what they are: bullies. Bullies want power over your thoughts, self-esteem and confidence. They want you to be silent, and they want you to believe you are less than what you really are.

Bullies can't win if you speak up. Bullies can't win if you have hope.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

-Emily Dickinson

I've always had a fascination with birds. I love listening to their songs, watching their flights and observing their movements. How nice it must be to have wings and to fly away from the situation you're dealing with. To my delight, the white pelicans arrived in south Louisiana this week. The massive birds soar in with flocks of thousands of their kin. White pelicans migrate south for warmer winters and more food options. Birds migrate for more ideal conditions. Instead of adapting to their situation, birds fly to more opportune locations.

Why don't humans do what birds do? Why do we surround ourselves by bullies who drag us down, who chip away at our self-worth? Why do we let others determine what we think about ourselves? Why don't we fly away from bullies?



Maybe sometimes we can't fly away from the bullies because they come in form of bosses who control our paycheck, or professors who control our grades, or powerful community members who can control our reputation. For people who battle anxiety, bullies can be especially difficult to deal with. It can be excruciating for anxious people to stand up and to speak out to bullies. However, this is the only way we can maintain our hope, because even though some birds don't migrate, and even though they stay put in the cold, they still make music for all the world to hear.

If you can't fly, you can still sing.

Sing about your blessings. Sing about your sorrows. Sing about your hope. Never stop singing.


Thinking about whatever is just,
Danielle

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8 Songs For Your Anti-Anxiety Anthem Playlist

I'm constantly looking for ways to make my fight against anxiety easier. One way I do this is listening to uplifting music with encouraging lyrics. Below are some of my favorite songs to listen to when I feel stressed or worried. They also make great workout music! Have songs that you would include in the playlist? Leave them in the comments below!

1. "Brave" by Sara Bareilles
Standout lyrics: "Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live / Maybe one of these days you can let the light in / Show me how big your brave is"

Why I like it: It can be tough keeping feelings locked inside. It helps when you talk, and whenever I'm racking up the courage to speak, I listen to this song.




2. "Secrets" by Mary Lambert
Standout lyrics: "They tell us from the time we're young / To hide the things that we don't like about ourselves / Inside ourselves / I know I'm not the only one / who spent so long attempting to be someone else / Well I'm over it"

Why I like it: While I do believe we have to power to improve ourselves, there are some things about ourselves that we can't control, like anxiety. So why should I care who knows that I fight anxiety? If anything, my community can help me through this journey. Also, the song is super catchy.



3. "Greater" by MercyMe
Standout lyrics: "Every day I wrestle with the voices / That keep telling me I’m not right / But that’s alright / ‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed / When others say I’ll never be enough / And greater is the One living inside of me / Than he who is living in the world"

Why I like it: God sees past my anxiety, and God is greater than "the voice that keep telling me I'm not right." This song gives me such hope!



4. "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift
Standout lyrics: "But I keep cruising / Can't stop, won't stop grooving / It's like I got this music / In my mind saying, 'It's gonna be alright'"

Why I like it: Ok, maybe these lyrics aren't "standout" per se, but this song puts me in THE BEST MOOD. And when the dark thoughts come, songs like this push them in a corner.



5. "I Lived" OneRepublic
Standout lyrics: "I, I did it all / I owned every second / That this world could give / I saw so many places / The things that I did / Yeah, with every broken bone / I swear I lived"

Why I like it: This song encourages us to live life to the fullest. Check out their video about a teenager battling cystic fibrosis set to this song.



6. "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective
Standout lyrics: "I won't fear what tomorrow brings / With each morning I'll rise and sing / My God's love will lead me through / You are the peace in my troubled sea"

Why I like it: This song reminds me that God doesn't promise a life without fear or bad times, but He does promise us that He'll never leave. As long as we remember to look toward Him, we'll be taken care of.



7. "Every Good Thing" by The Afters
Standout lyrics: "There will be days that give me more than I can take / But I know that You always make beauty from my heartache / Don't wanna forget or take for granted / That it's a beautiful life we live / I'm not gonna miss the moments like this / This is a beautiful life You give"

Why I like it: While it's difficult for me to control the negative thoughts in my mind, it's easy for me to appreciate the things God has blessed me with. This song reminds me of "every good thing" in my life: my family, friends, education, home... the list goes on!



8. "Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding
Standout lyrics: "Letting darkness grow / As if we need its palette and we need its color / But now I've seen it through / And now I know the truth / That anything could happen"

Why I like it: With the pulsing beat and uplifting melody, this song puts a smile on my face and reminds me that "anything could happen." Why worry?



I'm always looking for new music, so feel free to leave your favorite anthems in the comments below! Until next time, I'll be praying that we can fight mental illness together.

Thinking about whatever is just,
Danielle


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The secret is out: I go to therapy.

I've had something of a secret for a while, and today - World Mental Health Day - I want to let you know that I battle anxiety. I have been visiting a therapist for seven months now, and I can honestly say I am a more relaxed, more content and more joyful person than I was when I tried to fight anxiety and stress on my own.

It has been a difficult journey, though. I've had to relive traumas in my memories I would rather not talk about. I've explored the foundations of emotions - the deep, dark, gritty stuff no one wants to talk about. My therapist asked me questions with answers I'd rather not talk about.

But here's the thing. I talked. And it was hard. And it felt bad in the moment. But it was worth it.

And that's why I'm letting the secret out. This society has got to stop stigmatizing mental health issues! We've got to talk about anxiety like mine, and we've got to talk about even scarier mental illnesses like severe depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and more!

So I'm doing my part, and I'm talking about it.

I've vented, and I've cried. I've experienced anger, abandonment, disappointment, sadness and fear.

But I can tell you that experiencing these emotions with a licensed therapist is a lot more preferable than experiencing them alone. So I ask you, are you stressed? Do you have problems falling asleep because your mind is racing? Is it difficult to push aside negative thoughts? Is it maybe even impossible to control the negative thoughts? Do you feel like you're fighting a battle inside your own mind? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I urge you to seek help. This war is not yours to fight alone. Seek counsel from a loved one, a friend or a religious leader. These people want to help you. I also ask you to seriously consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor. My therapist is an amazing woman who has helped me explore my mind and control my mind. You don't have to do this alone.

If you need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

I pray for peace in all our minds.



Whatever is just,
Danielle