The Immeasurable Value Of A Good Sense Of Direction

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Today, 10 October 2013, is designated World Mental Health Day by the World Health Organization (WHO). They have picked for the theme this year “Mental health and older adults”.  This is an excellent topic, one I hope to read many posts addressing.  It is also one I cannot address on a personal level, at least not in the way I think it is intended.

Thing is, I don’t really write posts unless I can write them with some amount of personal involvement.  I could, but this isn’t like churning out a middle school essay.  For me it’s much too intimate and important.  So perhaps this one I can flip around a little, as the WHO has so kindly given me phrasing which is easily manipulated for my purposes.  “Mental health and older adults”. . .

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To my fellow Artists …

Lately I have been feeling the weight of not contributing to Canvas as much as I had originally planned. Even on my own blog I have barely had the time or energy to sketch, post and read updates from others. But not posting on my own blog burdens me less for some reason.

I keep quiet mostly about my illness, a stupid male pride thing. But on Canvas I found a means to express and share – partly to help myself process some thoughts and feelings and also in the hope I may be able to help others in some small way by sharing.

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~Aristotle

Rare Time, Rare People, Rare Earth

Yep, that time of year has come ’round! *the rare time  So. . .

For Your Weekend Enjoyment ~ A Brief Note From Ruby

To Our Dear Readers,

I know we have been a little shy on posts lately, for lots of reasons.  I can only speak to my own issues.  I have been fighting a depression — denying, refusing, admitting, and finally reaching out.  It has left me very short on words, even so far as being able to respond to comments and emails.  I thank all of you so very much for your patience.  Please know that I am so grateful for your words of support, and I will respond to all of the wonderful, kind things you have said to me here, on my personal blog, and also on my newest child, a somewhat under the radar “mental health past and present blog” (explanation on the last forthcoming in another post).

An Important Note On Blog For Mental Health 2013

Please, everyone:  If you want to be included on our Blog For Mental Health 2013 Official Blogroll, and have your post shared by us via facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, you must leave a comment on the page with a link to your Blog For Mental Health post specifically.  Make sure to read the original Blog For Mental Health 2013 launch post, it explains the concept behind this project and gives you an idea of what your post should contain.

I really want to include everyone, but a comment on the blogroll page with the link to your Blog For Mental Health 2013 post is necessary for this (just a link to your site doesn’t help me!).

Willkommen!

Hi there!  Well, gosh, what on earth can I say to all of you?  First things first, for those who don’t know me, my name is Ruby, and I’m the admin of A Canvas Of The Minds.  Before I get into the finer points of the setup here, though, I’d like to offer a proper greeting.  I guess as each of you fall into one of three distinct groups, with a little overlap (you’ll see what I mean in a sec), I need to say three distinct things.

Blog For Mental Health 2013

Here we are, still within the first month of 2013.  A few days into it, but it is never too late to get something like this rolling.

Last year’s badge

Something like what?  Why, it’s time to unveil the Blog for Mental Health 2013 Badge!  Lulu started this amazing campaign last year, and it caught on like wildfire with mental health bloggers everywhere.  They proudly took the pledge, spread the word to other bloggers, and displayed the badge prominently on their blogs.  You’ve seen it in our sidebar, I’ve seen it on nearly every mental health site I visit.  It has truly been an unprecedented show of solidarity.