They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Why did they never mention what’s real and in between?

(Five Finger Death Punch)

Well, folks, here I am MENTIONING IT! After all, this is day one of Mental Health Awareness Month 2024, so what better way to kick it off with this poignant reminder:

Take a look around!

Just look around!

Statistics say that someone you know could be suffering in agony and silence with voices in their head telling them they don’t belong here anymore. It could even be that total stranger with a big FAKE smile on their face standing right beside you somewhere as you’re out there “living the dream”.

Trust me, I KNOW THIS, because for those of you who haven’t been around this Diary long enough and perhaps don’t already know this, not only was I married to one of those people, I used to BE one of those people.

Meanwhile, with no visible symptoms and just a head full of black, empty, darkness, indeed, it is true that one of the biggest problems that someone suffering with a mental illness faces is the people who either can’t, don’t, or won’t believe their really “sick”. Lookit, I’m not trying to scare the living HELL out of you, but then again, maybe I am.

Be mindful …

… be aware …

… BE KIND …

… and for Christ’s sake, please NEVER take your own sound mental wealth for granted. Not everyone gets out of this thing in one piece and not everyone is “living the dream”.

Oh, and FYI, the quote work above is a collaboration between me and my insanely talented Mona Lisa and her “Phoenix Collaborative Project“. That “bleeding heart man” of hers has already spoken it’s peace “In His Remains” a couple of years ago at the beginning of our “mental wealth” journey together, it, too, a hauntingly poignant message about mental illness all of it’s own.

LIVING THE DREAM

Captain America, are you off to fight the bad guys? Hey, mighty Superman, can you save us from ourselves? Hey, Mr. Universe, can you lift us up above this? ‘Cause I’m just Iron Man, I’m a ghost within a shell. Take a look around. Just look around. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Why did they never mention what’s real and in between? It seems the path we’re on was paved with blood and sorrow. No thought about tomorrow. Just part of the machine or so it seems. Yeah, so it seems. We’re all living the dream. We’re all living the dream. Hey there, Your Majesty, is there anyone above you? It must be lonely when you’re up there looking down. Hey, Lady Amnesty, there’s no one that can judge you. We’re all just broken toys beneath your crooked crown. Take a look around. Just look around. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Why did they never mention what’s real and in between? It seems the path we’re on was paved with blood and sorrow. No thought about tomorrow. Just part of the machine or so it seems. Yeah, so it seems. {Five Finger Death Punch}