Canvas’ One Year Magically Fantastic Extravaganza Post

Act I:  “I’m so glad that we found each other”

“But, as a small consolation, I’m here.  I’m not the most stable person, but I’m pretty trustworthy, anyway.  And I have two, very, very good ears.”

“You are so sweet.  You are much more than a ‘small consolation.’  In the short time in which we have known each other, you have become a really important part of my life.  And I do trust you.”

“I trust you too.  I’m so glad that we found each other because you are a very important part of my life too.  You understand.  You don’t judge.  I’m not perfect, and you don’t expect me to be.  And you can feel what I feel, just like I can do the same.  It’s very honest, and it’s a beautiful thing.  I feel like I can tell you anything, and that’s more than I can say for anyone else.  In a way, I feel like I’m finally breathing again outside of the masks.  I don’t have to pretend.  And that’s great.”

“You serve as much more than a reminder or a nudge or even a beautiful light.  You prop and hold me up, you let me know that I’m not alone, you listen when I need to talk.”

Act II:  “To create a space where we could all blog together.”

“I actually have a fairly interesting project in mind. . .  Between the two of us I bet we could come up with something very creative and unique.  I’ve said it before, but you seriously do have this uncanny ability to inspire me.”

“I think it’s great to have it out there for everyone who handles mental health topics.”

Act III:  “It could work spectacularly, or fall flat.”

More than a year has passed since Lulu and I met.  Since we first connected, I mean on an absolutely wonderful level. . .  It was a whirlwind courtship, leading up to a life-long friendship.  At least I hope and believe it will be.  Our communications depict, in so many ways, where the inspiration for this great project came from – before we even thought of it.  I know we weren’t the only ones who felt this way, just look at the incredible, thriving community of mental health bloggers that now exists.

But today is a day to celebrate our little community within the community.  And the best way to do that (as far as I’m concerned) is to (re)introduce all of the wonderful people involved in this project.  Because, while Lulu and I may have started things up, Canvas definitely would have fallen flat were it not for the wonderful individuals who decided to throw their lot in with ours.

The Canvas Family

Ruby
“No one suffers any more or less, we all just suffer differently.”
To browse my posts, click here.
And check out my personal blog, I Was Just Thinking. . .

Lulu
“I am the sum of all of my experiences.  It just so happens that I have bipolar disorder.  And maybe we could say ‘I am bipolar’ and find some truth.  But not one single thing here is the focus.”
To browse Lulu’s posts, click here.
And explore her personal blog, Sunny With a Chance Of Armageddon.

Always
“I have perfected the ability to stand fixedly against and stare down any assailant, external or internal. My foundation has no cracks, and my degree of self-control is unmatched.”
To browse Always’ posts, click here.

Sarah Ellen
“I started blogging to share my life with others, beyond the scope of my mental illness. Now I treasure this as part of my recovery process.”
To browse Sarah Ellen’s posts, click here.

ManicMuses
“Being diagnosed with a mental illness is an exhausting experience.  Being told you have an affliction from which ‘recovery’ is not an option, that will degenerate and possibly become deadly if not treated and that carries a high social stigma – well, it can really ruin your day.  That’s why I research and write.”
To browse ManicMuses’ posts, click here.
And read her personal blog, Manic Muses.

Novalee
“Until I really confessed to my inner-most self that I had this serious and often painful mood disorder, I was going to continue shoveling dirt over top of it; self-medicating it; rendering my voice mute.”
To browse Novalee’s posts, click here.

Monday
“My favorite move is “A Beautiful Mind”.  If John Nash can be successful enough to earn a Nobel Prize while suffering from schizophrenia, then I can be successful as a professional scientist suffering from bipolar disorder.”
To browse Monday’s posts, click here.
And be sure to visit her personal blog, Manic Monday.

James
“I received health care from my university and began my road to recovery. It’s been long, and I’m not done. My main interest then is in chronicling my journey from non-functionality to a degree of high functionality. There have been set backs along the way, but I’m getting there.”
To browse James’ posts, click here.
And investigate his personal blog, James Claims.

Laura
“The point is that when we come into this world we are given our set of challenges and our marching orders.  We don’t get to choose them.  But we do get to choose the way in which we go about the task of living with our challenges, and the grace with which we carry out our mission in life.”
To browse Laura’s posts, click here.
And delve into her personal blog, Bipolar For Life.

DeeDee
“I love taking on monumental challenges. Although my disorders make my grand ambitions even more challenging, I refuse to give up on my dreams before I’ve given everything I’ve got. And I’ve got a lot to give.”
To browse DeeDee’s posts, click here.
And dive into her personal blog, Disorderly Chickadee.

Angel
“I also think that I’ve always had a predilection for thinking deeply.  Even as a child, I wanted to know “why?”.  I was never satisfied with the surface answer.  I wanted to get down to the core of matters, but no one seemed to take that seriously.”
To browse Angel’s posts, click here.
And enjoy her personal blog, The Mirth of Despair.

The Quiet Borderline
“My psychologist recommended that I think about hospitalisation and that, I did. That night, me and my brother-in-law went to the local psychiatric hospital with a bag-full of clothes and I gave myself over.”
To browse The Quiet Borderline’s posts, click here.
And learn more on her personal blog, The Quiet Borderline.

Sailor
“You can be sure I always write straight from the heart. I always try to maintain honesty and integrity, especially with mental health issues, because I believe they are not talked about enough. There is also, still, too much social stigma in the real world. I hope that by sharing my experiences I can help people not feel alone and not beyond help.”
To browse Sailor’s posts, click here.
And fly over to her personal blog, Hello Sailor.

Bold & Indie
“How do we cultivate a self love and a self respect for ourselves when we can be considered to be abnormal and unacceptable? How do we meet the blindness and ignorance of those in society who choose to disparage mental illness and how do we break through our own self imposed walls of doubt?”
To browse Bold & Indie’s posts, click here.
And discover more on her personal blog, Bold & Indie.

Now put on your party hats, everyone!  Canvas is celebrating our first year, and as well as our sensational family, we have our superlative reader base to thank.  We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, so, thank you!

(All original art © Ruby Tuesday 2012)

© Ruby Tuesday and A Canvas Of The Minds 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ruby Tuesday and A Canvas Of The Minds with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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