Hey guys! I'm so excited to officially launch this blog and my newly designed website! I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you, and I hope they can inspire you in some way. They are raw and real. Although I feel pretty vulnerable putting myself out there like this, I have felt this spiritual nudge to "shine my light." To not hide. If I can touch just one person, that would mean a lot to me (I do hope it's more than one though, and that you share my blog with your friends...just sayin').
What This Blog is About
Please know that my intentions come from a humble heart. I have asked myself several times as I have strived to accomplish my goals, including creating this blog, "who am I" to do this? Doubt creeps in. Does anyone really want to listen to what I have to say? So please know that I don't think I'm all high and mighty, here to grace you with a ton of wisdom. I'm far from perfect. I'm learning right along with you. I am you. It's always nice to have a supportive friend that you can relate to. Although I'm still young with plenty of lessons to learn in life, I do feel that so far, I have experienced a good variety of adventures and trials. Moving a lot. Military deployment. Depression and anxiety. College. Marriage. Childbirth and parenting. Miscarriage. Traveling. Performing. Teaching elementary school music. And much more.
So, this is a lifestyle self-care blog. If you subscribe, you will receive a weekly newsletter notifying you of new blog posts, news about my music, and promotions from my photography & design business (SUBSCRIBE HERE). I will write about and share videos of the experiences I have singing, acting, and dancing--and will also include free lesson plans for music teachers. And I will write a lot about mental health and wellness; my own personal journey and tips that help me through tough times. Meshing these two topics together, I'll share how the arts can be therapeutic and help us emotionally. One of my dreams is to build and own a visual and performing arts center--where I can practice creative arts therapy, teach classes/workshops, have my own recording studio, etc. I especially enjoy working with children; helping them explore creatively and gain an appreciation for the arts. So this will be a place for others to relieve stress, and be my own personal refuge as well.
Your Very Own Support System
We're on this journey together. My hope is that this blog can be a support system for you, as well as for myself. After subscribing, in order to comment and engage in conversation with others on the blog, you will need to login (either through your email, Facebook, or Google+). I'd love to hear your insights! Fighting depression and anxiety can be a constant battle. But you're not alone. It's comforting to know that others understand what you're going through. So let's talk about mental health, spread awareness, and stop the stigma.
Who This Blog is For
Of course, this blog isn't just for people who struggle with mental illness. My blog is set up into categories: Visual & Performing Arts, Mental Health & Wellness, Marriage & Family, and Travel. I also have an Inspirational Quotes section (free downloads of pictures I have taken, with quotes on them). I minored in Marriage and Family Studies in college, been married for 7.5 years, and have a 5 year-old daughter and 3 year-old son. So, if you want to discuss ways to strengthen your marriage, or if you want to vent or ask questions about parenting--let's talk!
So if you'd like to have more harmony in your life--to strengthen your relationships, to find inner peace and learn to love yourself--like I'm striving to do....listen to some harmony; that is, listen to some beautiful and uplifting music. Dance. Paint. Watch a play or be in one yourself. Write a poem. And you can find healing.
To "take the high road" means to do the right thing, even if it's not easy. That's what we should all be striving for, right? So let's walk on that road together on our life's journey of finding harmony.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It means a lot.
Love,
Clarissa
