On this episode of BrainStorm I share how important it is to go through all the steps of the grieving process with any loss including the loss of a relationship and the loss of your career.
Check Out These Books Written by Natalie Harris
Daily Lessons from Save My Life School: Here
Save My Life School: Here
This episode of BrainStorm is brought to you by The Homewood Health Clinic Mississauga
BrainStorm by Natalie Harris is proudly produced by PodcastWagon.com
I’ve been owning the seconds of my life. I’ve been embracing them like a small baby in my arms needing comfort and security. I’ve been recognizing the frailty of it all; time, love, honesty. So mush so that I often feel like I needed someone to talk me down, and get me out of the rainbow-coloured alleys, and butterfly chases – when just like that, a second happens to knock me down. There comes this second when I don’t want to open my eyes because a relationship is immanently about to change as trust goes over the edge of a cliff. I can’t stop it from going over – I’m just a spectator – the leap is not mine to be had. Then, during the next second, the universe is torn and my heart is on the floor bleeding hot, angry blood.
I need to own my seconds again – somehow. I need to stop thinking about the cliff. It’s airy silence reminds me that it’s not mine and that I should pay no attention to it. I had to look hard to find this relationship – and now everything is gone. Time to turn life off for another day. I can’t stop thinking about what we used to be. That I loved you – that I chose you. Now all I can see are stars in the sky reminding me that another second to be owned will come…eventually.
I will be thinking about us. And life moves on with yet another lesson I never asked for or saw coming. Like being sideswiped on the corner of a street by a speeding van – this relationship loss has hit me hard and fast. I have to stand my ground – trust deserves the splendour it is entitled to. Trust is everything. Until my tears have soaked my shirt with tears of truth, I will continue to look for another perfect breath. Chasing stars and hope. Backing away from the cliff at the very last second.
On this episode of BrainStorm: I share how I have experienced the difficulty of removing myself from the first responder culture. I talk about how we should consider educating new first responders how to “put the hero on ice” in a healthy way.
Books
Daily Lessons from Save My Life School: Here
Save My Life School: Here
BrainStorm by Natalie Harris is proudly produced by PodcastWagon.com
This inspiring book of quotations from Natalie’s Harris’s raw and gripping account of her mental health journey, “Save-My-Life School,” offers daily motivational and thoughtful lessons.
On this episode:
-How I discovered that I identify as my career,
-How I am grieving the loss of my career through the five stages of grief (denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance)
-Where do I see myself in the future?
…and more
On this episode:
and more…
On this episode of BrainStorm I share:
Get Save My Life School: Here
January 28, 2014 – Bell Let’s Talk Day. I was sitting in my living room watching TV with family members when Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes came onto the screen. I had definitely seen her before. I remember literally sitting on the edge of my seat cheering her on as she won medal after medal in both the winter and summer games. She represented so much strength and courage. She was OUR Canadian athlete! – And she had made us so proud! I wasn’t sure right away why she was on the news that night, but it was no coincidence that I was watching, because as she began to talk and share about her mental health struggles, I felt a sudden, incredible feeling of validation and rare happiness. Olympian Clara Hughes had been battling a dark road of depression, as I had been, and suddenly after hearing her speak, I knew that one day I would share my story too.
Oct 6, 2014 – The the first time I ever shared anything publicly about my dark world. I started a blog, and this is what I wrote.
Hi Everyone,
This is a big deal for me. This first blog will be short; but to me its HUGE. I’ve been battling a mental health illness and I feel it’s time to talk about it; but it’s not easy. Let me start by saying, today is the first day of my partial hospitalization mental health program. I have a long road ahead of me, which started years ago. I want to share it with you and possibly help anyone who has been battling a mental health illness with a stigma so big it often keeps our minds closed to the pain these illnesses cause.
Stay tuned if you would like. I will be posting often.
~MedicNat
Fast forward to today, March 28, 2017, and I have developed a friendship with that same amazing Canadian Olympian, Clara Hughes. She has written the foreword to my book Save-My-Life School, and after she sent me this (among many) shout-out, this is what I replied.
Dear Clara, ❤
I can say without a doubt that this book would never have even be even a figment of my imagination if I had not seen you on TV a few years back honestly sharing about your mental health journey!
YOU made vulnerability something beautiful to me!
YOU showed me that I didn’t need to hide anymore, and that every time I shared my own journey, stigma would melt away from me – and it did.
YOU encouraged me through messages and emails when I was battling the darkness that still grabs a hold of me sometimes.
YOU told me to never stop – and I won’t.
Over time my posts may lessen and my voice may not be as loud, but by inspiring me to have the courage to put my heart and soul into Save-My-Life School, my message will never be gone.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You are such a wonderful friend ❤
Sending you SO MUCH LOVE.
~Nat xo
Here’s to many more years of friendship! Love you dearly Clara! XO
Paramedic Nat 