I am so sorry that I haven't written in a while.  My Grandpa Morty was very sick, and passed away peacefully last Monday. 

His memory lives on, however.  I was asking myself, "what can I share with my readers about Grandpa that may help them?"  And, this is what I came up with:  Grandpa was a great listener.  Why is this so significant?  Because, he had established with me from a young age that if I ever needed to talk about anything, he would listen non-judgementally and try to understand. 

This became especially important for me when I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  He came from a "bite the bullet" generation where people did not believe in taking medications for mental health difficulties.  Yet, his mentality was far from that when it came to talking to me about my illness.  He told me that no matter what, he would always love me.  And, this was the most important thing that I needed to know, especially during a time when my illness made me doubt if I could ever love myself again. 

Grandpa became one of my favorite sounding boards.  I could reach out and talk to him about anything.  And, this made me feel safe. 

Children and young adults who are struggling with a mental illness need to know that they have a safe place to talk where they will not be judged.  Many of the symptoms caused by these illnesses can be scary, and kids may feel afraid to tell adults about their symptoms as a result.  The reason that I trusted Grandpa Morty with everything is because he loved me unconditionally, and I knew that. 

Sometimes, love is the best therapy.  Thanks, Grandpa!

Be Well
~ Emily