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NAMI programs and services in Waukesha

This information is from a NAMI quarterly dated April to June 2022.

NAMI Ending the Silence is an educational program that presents experiences of having mental illness told by people who have mental illness. The target audience is students.

NAMI Family-to-Family offers education and support for family members of people with mental illness. This is an eight week course.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is an eight week course for people with mental illness that is taught by a person living with a mental health issue.

NAMI basics is a six week course for parents or guardians of children with mental health issues.

There is also peer support groups and family support groups. They also have a training program for police officers and assistance for homeless people.

Namisoutheastwi.org/calendar is where you can see where and when many of these programs are offered.

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Ten days of Joy Challenge

A family member challenged me to post ten pictures on Facebook that give me joy. The challenge requests a picture a day. I posted that I’d only be sharing flower pictures because I couldn’t think of anything else. But, I did think of pictures to share.

On day one, I posted a picture of my Petunia growing in my window on a very cold day. The window was totally frosted up. I was thankful for the warmth of my tiny apartment.

On day two, I posted a picture of food. I had just had a colonoscopy and was allowed to eat regular meals again.

My cat was the picture that I posted to Facebook on day three. Some of my family members are doing the challenge too. Two of them shared cat pictures on their posts too.

Sunday was day four. I took a picture of my pastor giving a children’s sermon. While I know that church is boring for children, I think it helps them to see how much we care about worshipping God. I also enjoy watching children sing or play at church. I hope they can create plenty of happy memories.

My love of rock painting was posted for day five. I painted a collection of rocks and put them out before our Christmas parade. I was hoping that it would encourage some of the parade goers.

I had no idea what I was going to post for today. Then, I thought of something else that I enjoy. I enjoy collecting rocks and foreign coins.

For day seven, I posted a picture of my books. I love to read.

I shared my love of nature for day eight. I posted a flower picture on Facebook but this is a better picture.

Day nine was a picture of a warm and sunny February day. Wisconsin has had mild winters for the past few years.

My last post is a picture of two birthday cards and a valentine card.

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Half a century of life

I will be turning 50 in a week. I have mixed feelings about this birthday.

When I was in high school, I wanted to become a doctor in order to help others. I discovered that I freeze up under stress during college. A woman on my dorm floor attempted suicide by taking pills. I heard her vomiting in a stall in the bathroom and suggested some cold medicine. Then, I went to do more laundry and passed back by. This time someone was trying to get someone to help get the unconscious woman out of the bathroom. Did I help? No, I stood there and thought about how stupid I was. My brain was filled with self insults. I am too stupid to know what to do. Over the years, I have been in therapy and taking anti-depressants. Now, I can handle more stress before this happens. Yet, my brain still insults me when I get stressed. At work, my brain tells me that I am too stupid to do my job or they will think this about me. I try to argue with it as I have been trained to do in therapy. So, I am working a factory job that is low stress. I wish I could be doing a job that involves helping people but stress pushes me to obsess about what others think about me especially if they are authority figures.

On the other side, I am excited that I have lived almost a half century. I believe that I have encouraged some people with this blog and other writings. I suspect that my painted rocks have made a few people smile when they found them.

“I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find – at the age of fifty, say – that a whole new life has opened before you, filled with things you can think about, study, or read about…It is as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you.” Agatha Christie

This quote reminds me of how curious I am about things. I recently discovered that the French helped immensely in the US revolution. We probably would not have won if it wasn’t for the French. I knew that the French was involved because of the Statue of Liberty. But, I never knew what roll they had in the war.

What will I discover next?

What will you learn or discover today?

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Thanksgiving for the world’s support

Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. What comes to your mind when you read those words?

At first, it makes me think of my night of praying while looking towards Main Street. Listening to a police scanner app on my phone while doing dishes. Wondering Main Street and seeing colored markings on the road and a bunch of press people.

Now, the words make me think of additional memories. News stories of people sheltering in local businesses. People from ALL fifty states donating to the victim’s fund. Pictures of long lines at fund raisers. Encouraging messages in the Waukesha Strong Facebook group from people living in other states and countries. Painted rocks sent to Waukesha A crowd of Waukesha residents singing “Lean on Me” at Cutler Park by the library. The crowd singing “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” five minutes before this year’s Christmas parade. The beautiful ornaments that people designed and made to help fund raise for the victims and now the memorial.

Crowd singing at our parade.
This rock was sent to Waukesha from a lady living in New Jersey.

While I am not thankful that the tragedy happened, I am grateful for the amazing response from my fellow Waukesha residents, Americans and citizens of other countries. Thank you for your support. I am so overwhelmed by the amazing response. I thought people would forget us a few weeks afterwards.

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” Joseph Addison

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Watch “Listening hearts.online” on YouTube

I have a play list on YouTube that contains videos that I think you might find interesting.

East Idaho news gives always Christmas gifts to deserving recipients. They post collections of the gift giving and individual videos if you prefer. They share parts of why the nominator notified the news station of why they are a worthy recipient.

Others will have advice on living life with a mental health issue.

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Lean on Me: Waukesha Strong

I attended my city’s one year anniversary gathering for the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy on November 21, 2022. The video starts with no sound but has sound later. At the end, an artist sand “Lean on Me.” She invited us to sing along.

I decided to paint some rocks with the words “Lean on Me” and “Waukesha Strong.”

I planned to leave them along the route for our Christmas parade. I have left my 15 rocks along our parade route. I also put some sidewalk chalk messages out for people to see. It is my prayer that this will encourage someone in my community.

While I was placing my painted rocks, I found someone else’s rock.

I posted pictures of this rock on the Waukesha County Rocks group that I am a member. The artist is not from Waukesha. She is from New Jersey and sent them to Waukesha as her way to send kindness into our city. Then, a local hid them.

This is one example of people outside of the state or country reaching out to my community. I have read that people sent donations to my community’s victim fund. Judge Dorow received fan mail from all over. I joined a Facebook group called “Waukesha Strong” and assumed that it would contain only Waukesha or Wisconsin residents. But, I was surprised to see empathetic statements from all over the country and world. TMJ4 has been airing Waukesha events such as our parade and the one year anniversary ceremony. The comments of support showed up there too. Thank you to all who have expressed for my community. I am so shocked and overwhelmed by the support.

I hope the people who lost someone or was present at the parade last year feels this massive outpouring of support.

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One year anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

Christmas parade memorial mural in downtown Waukesha

With the one year anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy, I have been thinking a lot about that day, the Brooks trial and the past year.

I took a picture of the new mural. It has six butterflies and six flowers for the number of people who died on or after November 21, 2021 due to this event. The city has scheduled an anniversary event on November 21st at Veterans Park at 4:39 PM. They are also working on a parade memorial for Grede Park and Main Street.

I have decided to remember the event by painting the back of my Star of Hope with a new design. I hope to bring it to our Christmas parade in December. I am also working on a collection of rocks to put out around downtown Waukesha. I saw some others on Facebook who are planning on placing painted rocks too.

What are you planning on doing to remember the pain that we all here in Waukesha city have experienced? How is your recovery coming along?

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Happy Halloween!

I have a new collection of rocks to put out this weekend.

Halloween rocks

I hope these makes some people in Waukesha have a happier day soon.

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Two interesting articles

I found two interesting articles. The first one is a study about how much free time each day that a person has and how it impacts the person’s happy. The article ends with a list of pleasure producing activities such as gratitude.

The second article is a list of things to be thankful for. Some are simple like sunshine. So, I suspect you will find something in it to be thankful for.

Do you know of any interesting articles that you’d like share with me and my tiny handful of readers? Please share.

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Oops Rocks

I enjoy painting rocks in the hope of encouraging others. But, sometimes I mess up. My most recent rock was cute until I sprayed it with the protective coating. The design smeared really badly.

Now, I am wondering what to do with this rock. Will the finder see it as ugly? Could it remind them not to give up after making a big mistake? I wonder If I should keep it instead.

I decided to leave it by a tree sapling near the hospital. I hope someone enjoys it even with the runny message.