For me, growing up with lots of trauma in my life, I grew up very negative. I thought life was just problem after problem. I turned to drinking and drugs. It took several things for me to realize that I deserve to be happy. Forgiveness was key to making me change and to begin to treat people better than what I used to. I used to have a chip on my shoulder. Forgiveness helped me learn to give people a chance. It helped me to be positive with other people. I see things a whole lot differently now. When I say something nice to somebody else, it makes me feel good about myself. Putting a smile on somebody’s face means a lot to me. I can identify with people who are having a bad day. I can empathize and I know how it is to have a bad day. I try to reassure others. I was a Peer Mentor at Nueva Luz. That experience taught me how to have a heart and have compassion for others. I think that those of us with a mental illness all have problems and struggles that we are not alone in experiencing. Seek help if you need it. Come to me—I’ll listen! I don’t judge others. I share some of my experiences.
