Connection

I’ve learned many languages in my life, but the hardest one to speak has been connection.This poem is for anyone still trying to find their way to fluency in belonging.

The Language I Haven’t Mastered

By Jo Diaz

There are languages made of words,

and others made of nearness.

I’ve learned to translate books,

but not people

not the soft grammar of belonging,

not the pauses that mean I see you.

I practice kindness like a foreign tongue,

phrases under my breath,

intonations rehearsed in the mirror

until they almost sound like me.

I carry a library of gestures in my chest:

how long to hold an eye,

how wide to shape a smile,

how to time a nod so it lands softly,

not too soon, not too late

a choreography invisible to everyone

but the trembling pulse behind my ribs.

Each moment out there

is a tightrope between reaching and retreat,

between the comfort of silence

and the ache of wanting to be seen.

I offer a smile into the static of the world

a small, bright signal

that might or might not find a receiver.

Sometimes it vanishes midair,

and I tell myself that’s okay.

That I am still real

even when no one reflects me back.

So I breathe,

rewrite the line,

and float forward again

a quiet satellite in a noisy sky,

learning that orbiting kindly

is its own form of fluency.

And maybe, somewhere beyond the glare,

there are others who drift like me

who speak in pauses and soft misfires,

who send their light in uncertain directions

but still hope

to find each other in the dark,

and make the spinning

a little less lonely.

#Autism #ADHD , #Loneliness #Connection #MentalHealthAwareness #Poetry “If you orbit like me, I hope this finds you."

This is a playlist of my life…here’s some of my favorite songs (it’s extensive!) What songs are your go-to when you are depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, scared, in pain … or feeling great? What would be on the playlist of your life growing up? What are your all time favorite songs? Can you tell what generation I grew up in😉?!? I’ll give you a hint…classic rock & Alt Dance music literally shaped my life (especially when I deejayed in my late teens/20’s)

CARRY ON WAYWARD SON – Kansas
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – Queen
THE SPIRIT OF RADIO – Rush
FOOL IN THE RAIN – Led Zeppelin
ROXANNE – The Police
DREAM ON – Aerosmith
PIANO MAN – Billy Joel
MOONDANCE – Van Morrison
PEACE TRAIN - Cat Stevens
IMAGINE- John Lennon
LONG AND WINDING ROAD - The Beatles
LANDSLIDE - Fleetwood Mac
SOLSBURY HILL – Peter Gabriel
ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD – Paul Simon
DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ – Journey
PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT - Meat Loaf
TIME WARP - Rocky Horror Picture Show
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed
HOTEL CALIFORNIA- The Eagles
SULTANS OF SWING- Dire Straits
MAYBE I’M AMAZED – Paul McCartney
SOUL MAN– Blues Brothers
BORN TO RUN – Bruce Springsteen
THE BOYS OF SUMMER – Don Henley
FOREPLAY/ LONG TIME - Boston
BABA O’RILEY - The WhO
FREE BIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd
FLY LIKE AN EAGLE - Steve Miller
CHINA GROVE – The Doobie Brothers
JOSIE - Steely Dan
TINY DANCER - Elton John
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL, Pt. 2- Pink Floyd
JUMP - Van Halen
THE LOGICAL SONG – Supertramp
COME SAIL AWAY - Styx
COLD AS ICE – Foreigner
SHAKE IT UP – The Cars
I WANNA BE SEDATED - Ramones
IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM - Joe Jackson
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU – U2
JACK AND DIANE – John Mellencamp
WALK THIS WAY - RUN DMC w/ Aerosmith
LIKE A PRAYER – Madonna
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE - Blues Brothers - soundtrack
(I’ve had) THE TIME OF MY LIFE - Dirty Dancing soundtrack
MANIAC - Flashdance soundtrack
FOOTLOOSE - Kenny Loggins - soundtrack
ALIVE AND KICKING – Simple Minds
EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor
BILLIE JEAN (or BEAT IT) – Michael Jackson
WALKING ON SUNSHINE - Katrina and the Waves
COME ON EILEEN - Dexy’s Midnight Runners
RIO - Duran Duran
TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell
DON’T YOU WANT ME -Human League
WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO – Wham!
IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME - Billy Joel
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - Police
FAITH– George Michael (R.I.P)
DANCING WITH MYSELF -Billy Idol
MODERN LOVE – David Bowie (R.I.P.)
WHEN DOVES CRY – Prince (R.I.P)
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE – Thomas Dolby
RED RED WINE- UB40
ONCE IN A LIFETIME - Talking Heads
MONEY FOR NOTHING -Dire Straits
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST -Queen
I’M STILL STANDING -Elton John
HIGHER LOVE - Steve Winwood
SWEET CHILD O’MINE -Guns and Roses
LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER - Bon Jovi
SWEET DREAMS (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
OWNER OF A LONELY HEART - Yes
WHIP IT - Devo
BLISTER IN THE SUN – Violent Femmes
TEMPTED – Squeeze
MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM – The English Beat
DOWN UNDER - Men at Work
IN A BIG COUNTRY – Big Country
YOU SPIN ME ROUND (Like a record) - Dead or Alive
ENJOY THE SILENCE - Depeche Mode
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD - Tears For Fears
SLEDGEHAMMER - Peter Gabriel
OUR HOUSE – Madness
CRAZY - Seal
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD- Pat Benatar
RUNNING UP THAT HILL (A Deal with God) – Kate Bush
HOLD ME NOW – Thompson Twins
(closing time):
FRAGILE – Sting
TAKE ME HOME – Phil Collins

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Selfcare #Selflove #Disability #PTSD #Grief #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Belief #innerstrength #fortitude #Connection #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #TheMighty #TheMightyTakeaway #MightyTogether #MightyMusic #Music #Meditation #DistractMe #mentalhealthwarrior #fighter #warrior #Survivor

As I scroll amongst social media sites, I have realized something new in me. My excitement rises when words are shared as a response to any post. But I become like a competitive teen when emojis are communicated. I cannot believe my middle aged self counts and compares my emoji responses with others. Crazy!

Therefore, since I am on medical leave, I have started appreciating the power of words. Don’t get me wrong, I am a true introvert. I love my alone time. But I have noticed my internal feelings, of joy, when crafted words are offered as opposed to the computer generated forms of communication.

Hey, let me just say, I used emojis all the time as a active multitasker running and commuting around city streets! However, now, my state of mind has allowed me the privilege of realizing the power of words and his dialogue builds community.

So, as I embrace this new platform, I will strive to rewire my now altered brain by really responding to this community of #TheMighty . Why? Because I enjoy the power of your words. And I prefer to be in constant dialogue with you, the community of #TheMighty !!!❤️

I love this description. What does your garden need today? Mine needs connection, so I have been reaching out to friends and posting on the Mighty.

#MightyTogether #Disability #ChronicIllness #Connection

Doesn’t this image and idea look like a paradise?

Link to join us in this new adventure:

Say No To Social Anxiety

We all came on The Mighty ultimately to make new, real connections and to grow new friendships to get rid of this terrible thing called loneliness/being alone that is not good for anyone’s mental health and we all want better mental health.

We all want to have friendships too based on the simple fact that we are humans and humans need to feel connected to other humans.

And the twist with this group, is to all pitch in to make this a place on The Mighty where we don’t focus on our illnesses, because we are more than our illnesses, so much more. And we don’t want to forget that about ourselves. We don’t want to have our personalities get lost, all of the different, cool, unique things that make us who we are as people.

So let’s all pitch in and start just chatting about everyday stuff like you would with any friend, about life in general, sharing things about yourself- just a couple examples -your interests, something you found funny, etc., whatever you would think that this is something you would like to share with a friend, and having some fun being social- because we all know we need to really connect and keep growing new friendships with our mental health in mind.

One smile emoji or even one word can start a friendship. Some of the most comforting words in the universe are “me too.” “Hello.” “How is your day?”…(if you don’t have another conversation starter or reply to join in).

New friends can change your life and your mental health for the better.
Add in anything to get the ball rolling and grow some new friendships here.

We can’t wait to get to know You.

#Life #MightyTogether #Positivity #positive #Kind #ActsOfKindness #ActOfKindness #lonely #alone #MensHealth #MensMentalHealth #good #funny #Fun #happy #Happiness #RoomForJoy #Joy #Mindful #Mindfulness #Together #StrongerTogether #ItGetsBetter #TogetherWeAreStrongerCampaign #FamilyAndFriends #FamilyWeChoose #relate #relatable #Chat #Hope #WhatWeLoveMostAboutLife #wegotthis #NoOneFightsAlone #youmatter #Connect #Connection #SocialInteraction #social #Lifestyle #LifeLessons #Selfesteem #Selfworth #Confidence #Selflove #wellness #Health #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #FriendsForSurvival #TheMighty ’sMentalHealthHeroes

***TRIGGER WARNINGS***

Any and all aspects of mental and physical health.

Social media and the digital communication age can negatively impact on our mental health, but often these methods of communication can be vitally important to us too.

Nothing beats a face to face chat. However, this may not always be practical or possible - as we well know with recent and ongoing events. Now we have entered the age of Zoom, Microsoft teams, Facetime and so on, we must acknowledge that these applications are a vital lifeline to so many of us.

The internet and all the new platforms that continue to be developed often get a bad reputation and while this is completely valid (inexcusable events do occur far too frequently), we can take ownership for the content we choose to see and be part of. There are lots of good and positive ways to communicate electronically that would definitely have not been possible without the digital age we live in today. Feeling closer to others, doing training, having shared experiences and even socialising with someone without physically being close to them is now more possible than ever.

Now is the time to use social media and electronic communication for good - keeping in touch with friends and family, making new connections online with groups and forums specific to things that interest us or to bond with others that are experiencing similar life events/issues and even counselling/medical appointments are now all available without leaving your home (and even your bed).

This makes socialising and receiving treatment (and some types of employment too) much more accessible for so many people and that can only be a good thing.

#social #SocialMedia #Connection #electronic #Communication #Facebook #zoom #Tiktok #whatsapp #insta #Instagram #SCUFF #ScarCoverUpFreedomFund #MH #mha