The first morning of the Au Contraire film festival, I attended their youth program (along with a couple hundred high school students). The organization Art With Impact (AWI) screened a selection of short films that presented different perspectives on mental illness, that (see above image) I found really moving and powerful. The other thing that impressed me so much was the way that Cary McQueen (executive director of AWI) structured the presentation in order to allow sufficient space for the audience members to observe their response to each film. 

I feel very grateful that as an adult, I've been able to practice close listening to my body and learned to trust my body as a highly reliable source of information. I don't always remember to pay attention, but I've gotten much better at it over time. 

But as a teenager, I don't think I ever had an adult guide me through an exercise that encouraged me to pay attention to my response to an experience such a holistic way. Not just what I thought about something, but what I felt. And not just what I felt, but where in my body I felt it. 

After the presentation, Bebe (my dear friend and a consulting producer on Bipolar Girl Rules the World who joined me on this adventure) and I went to find the river. And we did. And the sun was warm and the air was cold and I could really, really breathe. And the river was beautiful.

I've done pretty well this week at remembering to listen. And my entire experience has been that much richer for it.

​Also, total bonus: both Cary and her colleague Natalie Daley are awesome and generally speaking, kick butt. As does Art with Impact. Go see for yourself!

October is ADHD month! 

The Carolina Partners in Mental Health Facebook page has lots of great info about ADHD and other terrific resources to explore. Go check it out!

Last week, I sat down with Bebe Smith and Jaki Shelton Green to explore ideas and come up with a structure for "Listen| Speak: Listen with Compassion | Speak with Vulnerability," our talk at UNC-CH tomorrow!

Jaki hosted us at her kitchen table and provided sustenance to keep our conversation flowing. I'd come prepared with my usual note-taking tools:

• my giant journal
• colored markers (Sharpies)
• Post-its
• colored tape

With permission, I'm posting my notes, both as a glimpse into the creative and collaborative process of three extraordinary women (if I do say so myself) and as a preview of tomorrow night's event!  

What's NOT listed here is what each of you who attend will bring to the conversation.  Please join us!

See you soon!