Did you know World Mental Health Day was last Friday?
If you’re like me, you may have been so busy that it quietly passed by. Yet somehow, it still finds its way back into your mind days later, like a whisper saying, “Slow down. Check in with yourself.”
This year, the theme reminded me that mental health isn’t just about avoiding burnout or managing stress. It’s about learning how to protect your peace when life feels heavy. In this post, I’d like to share three true-to-life stories that might help you reflect on your own balance and well-being.
The Woman Who Could Not Rest
A close friend of mine, whom I will call Angela, once told me she couldn’t remember the last time she did nothing. Her calendar was full, her to-do list was longer than ever, and yet she still felt she was falling behind. When I asked her when she had last taken a full day for herself, she paused. She couldn’t remember.
One weekend, she made herself take that day. She slept in, read her favorite book, and did absolutely nothing that could be labeled “productive.” At first, she felt guilty. But as the day went on, she felt something she had not felt in months: CLARITY.
The next morning, she told me, “I did not realize how much I needed stillness until I finally gave myself permission to stop.”
Tip: Rest isn’t a reward for finishing your work. It’s a necessary part of living well. Protect your rest as you would any important meeting.
The Man Who Found His Calm in Motion
My next story is about a colleague named Ray. He struggled with overthinking. His mind never stopped, not even at night. He told me he often woke up feeling like he had been running in his sleep.
So, he began walking after dinner each evening. Just one block at first. He listened to the sound of his shoes hitting the pavement and felt the night air on his face. After a week, he noticed his anxiety easing. After a month, his sleep improved.
Science confirms what many of us feel, movement and exposure to sunlight can lift mood and support both mental and physical health.
Tip: Move your body daily. Whether through walking, stretching, or just dancing in your living room, let motion clear the clutter from your mind.
The Teacher Who Finally Asked for Help
A former coworker, whom I’ll call Anton, once said he believed strength meant never needing anyone. He worked long hours, cared for his family, and kept his struggles hidden behind a steady smile.
One day he admitted he had felt numb for months. He no longer enjoyed teaching, something that once gave him purpose. After finally speaking with his doctor, he was referred to therapy and learned he had depression.
He told me later, “I thought asking for help meant I was weak, but it turned out to be the bravest thing I have ever done.”
Sometimes the hardest step is the first one. It’s the moment you admit you cannot carry it all alone.
Tip: If you have been feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or detached for more than two weeks, please talk to someone. Call a friend, reach out to your provider, or find a counselor. Asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness.
Bonus: How to Manage Sadness When It Visits
Even the strongest of us will face seasons of sadness. Here are a few ways to gently care for yourself when those moments come:
- Connect with others. Call or visit someone who brings you comfort. Connection is one of the best protectors of mental health.
- Nourish your body. Eat foods that support your energy, drink water, and spend time in the sun. The body and mind heal together.
- Quiet your space. Limit the noise from social media and news when it feels overwhelming. Choose peace over pressure.
- Write it out. Journaling can help you release tension and understand your emotions.
- Seek professional guidance. If the darkness lingers or deepens, don’t wait. There are caring professionals ready to listen and help you through it.
Conclusion
Sadness doesn’t mean you are broken. It simply means you’re human.
As I write this, I am reminded that peace isn’t something we find once and keep forever. It’s something we practice, again and again, through small choices each day like resting, walking, talking, and asking for help when we need it.
So even if World Mental Health Day has come and gone, take today as your reminder. Protect your peace. Care for your mind. And be gentle with yourself along the way.
Until next time…
About the Author
Cheryl Bannerman is a prolific and versatile author with a portfolio of ten published works across various genres including mystery novels and a children’s book. In 2018, she received the prestigious 2018 Book Excellence Award for her poetry collection, Words Never Spoken. In 2020, Bannerman’s book, Black Child to Black Woman: An African-American Woman Coming-of-Age Story, garnered acclaim, winning the Best Books Award in African American fiction and the Reader’s Favorite International Book Award Contest in Urban Fiction in 2021.
Readers can connect with Bannerman, purchase signed copies of her books, and subscribe to her newsletter through her website, www.bannermanbooks.com. When she is not writing for her next book, Bannerman is running her 29-year-old virtual B2B Training and Development company based out of her Orlando, Florida home.