When I first started this blog, I only wanted to share my love of food and sprinkle it with a few lighthearted stories about my family or my many fond memories of holidays – always centered around food. I planned to put on a happy face and only share happy memories and stories. However, this site has grown into something more and I’ve decided to be a little more personal than that. 

What’s the point of having a voice if you can’t use it for the issues that matter most to you?

I’m a part of a wonderful group of women bloggers. We call ourselves Pushing Lovely, we push one another to reach our goals, even if at times it may be uncomfortable for us to do so. Last week one of the members was touched to begin a movement. The rest of us jumped right in, feet first. The movement? To bring the darkness of depression to light, sharing stories and letting people know that they are not alone. Depression is lonely, it’s the secret that nobody wants to talk about. It’s also a very real illness that affects so many.

I’ve seen depression from both sides. I grew up watching depression and how it affects some of my closest family members. I’ve seen the pain it inflicts; both to those who suffer with it and also the loved ones that suffer with them. I’ve seen it tear apart families and threaten marriages. When I was younger I also experienced depression, I still fight the feelings of loneliness and sadness. I’m in a constant battle within of anxiety and worthlessness, and I fight it with positivity and inspiration. I spread positivity to help others, but also to help myself. I’ve learned methods to deal with it, but there’s still those days where it’s difficult to manage. Those nights where I’m up late with worry and anxiety.

It doesn’t have to be that way. 

I’ve discovered many people feel this way. It’s upsetting that so many don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Or they’re told to just cheer up, or look at the bright side. Sometimes no matter how much you look at the bright side, you just can’t see.

This can be so frustrating for the people who love the individual that suffers from depression. They don’t understand, that person has so much going for them. Why are they sad? Why can’t they snap out of it? Why are they so negative?

This leads the person suffering to turn within, they don’t want to bother their loved ones. They don’t want to bring them down, or worse, scare them with their thoughts. What’s worse, sometimes it can be very difficult to get help.

These are very real feelings, and it’s worse to suffer alone. You don’t have to!

Join Pushing Lovely and me on the #DayOfLight, Wednesday, February 5th. We are taking to social media to bring depression out of the dark. 

What is Depression?

Depression is a common but serious mental illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings. These feelings tend to linger for periods longer than 2 weeks at a time and interfere with daily activities. Depression does not discriminate based on age, race, gender or sexuality.You are not alone.Depression is often an illness of isolation. People suffer in silence, and frequently feel as if they are alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) more than 20 million people in the United States suffer from depression. Join Pushing Lovely as we work together to bring depression out of the dark and declare February 5th, 2014 the #DayOfLight.

What is #DayOfLight?

#DayOfLight was created to shine a light on depression, and share resources for those who are struggling with the mental illness. Bloggers from all over the country are collaborating on Wednesday, February 5th to flood social media with personal stories about living with depression, and accurate information on managing and living with the mental illness.

How Can You Participate?

• Write a blog post sharing your personal experience of depression and/or share resources to help others. Add the #DayOfLight hashtag in your post title.
• Watch the #DayOfLight Google Hangout on Wednesday, February 5th at 11 AM EST. Tweet and ask questions. (http://bit.ly/1ilifbP)
• Participate in the #DayOfLight twitter chat on Wednesday, February 5th at 9 PM EST (follow @PushingLovely, @NotoriousSpinks, and @BrandiJeter for more information)
• Turn your social media avatars black and white on Wednesday, February 5th so we can visually represent all of those affected by depression.
• Share inspiring tweets, posts, and photos  on social media to encourage those who are suffering with depression to let them know that they are not alone. Use the hashtag #DayOfLight. (On 2/4, I’ll share a link to a file with information that you can pull from if you’re interested)
• Record a 15 second video & upload to Instagram on Wednesday, February 5th. Add the hashtag #DayofLight

I truly hope that if this resonates with you, you can also join us. Let’s start a movement and bring awareness to this condition!