I write with a broken heart as we once again stand together as a nation in the grief of a brutal shooting that stuns the world. Without a doubt, the events that transpired in Charleston, S.C. are tragic, and the premature loss of any life is something we collectively mourn. My heart and mind are…
If you were to compare making a change in the world to tossing a pebble into water, you would quickly see that alone, one single pebble makes a small splash with ripples that slowly fade. You would realize how difficult it is for one individual throwing pebble after pebble to ever make a big wave.…
It’s that time of year again. The universal reply date for colleges has just come and gone, so students are dealing with the aftermath of making a decision under a great deal of pressure. It would be nice to think that once the decision is made everything’s smooth sailing, but I am seeing evidence all…
“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.” -John Steinbeck, East of Eden Advocates. Partners. Heroes. Brave. Fierce. Honest. Flawless. These are only some of the words that describe three courageous mothers inspiring us all with their mental health advocacy: Kristin Guest, Cinda Johnson, and Liza Long. These women are my compatriots in the stand against…
People often ask me what my dream is in my work at The Flawless Foundation and my answer is always the same: a world where the cause of mental health is celebrated and where every person living with these challenges is embraced by society. And what is also always the same is the vibrant hope…
“But isn’t everything here green?” asked Dorothy. “No more than in any other city,” replied Oz; “but when you wear green spectacles, why of course everything you see looks green to you.” — from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ by Frank L. Baum Dr. Oz has many wondering if he is the doctor he swore to…
The Hippocratic Oath (Greek ὅρκος horkos) is an oath historically taken by physicians. It is one of the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear, upon a number of healing gods, to uphold specific ethical standards. Dear Dr. Oz, You may remember me as I previously reached out…
Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight. Last week, I wrote a blog about the Germanwings crash called, “The sky was black, my breath was steady.” This piece was a call to action as the cause of mental…
“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” – Martin Luther King Jr. (Nobel Lecture, The Quest for Peace & Justice – 1964) “How could he have done this?” is what everyone asks. It must be terrorism, one early article…
I don’t know how many people learn about the revolutionary Dorothea Dix in school any more, but for people involved with mental health advocacy, she is a shining light and one of the great women of history. It is poignant for me that I will be spending the last three days of Women’s History Month…
