Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 ESV
Creator unknown
Uni “T” timie
Uni "T" Time
Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. Dr. King was a great civil rights activist and today is the holiday established to celebrate his accomplishments and the movement he pushed us to imagine. His drive to create a culture of equality and unity for all is still a process in the works today. However, over the past few years we have seen a rise in gun violence, homicides, and suicides; which is troubling to say the least. All of this is a form of mental problems gone unaddressed for whatever the reason. But, the time has come to slow down, or even stop and realize how critical it is to address mental health issues. We need to make connections with one another so that we might be better able to understand and offer a hand wherever or however we are able.
The photo
I chose for this blog depicts the differences of three teas. The visual differences
are obvious, one being red, the other brown and the last has a yellowish tint,. However, if you examine the image further, you soon realize that there are other hints that depicts their uniqueness. Scattered around them onlookers may see cinnamon sticks,
petals, mint leaves, lemons, and spices, meant to enhance its taste. Therefore, though they have something in common as teas, they may differ in taste and
the benefits they offer to its consumer. Nonetheless, they still should be treated
with the same amount of care during preparation to ensure they are healthy and beneficial to consume. This is similar with us as individuals. We all have our unique ways about us, but
one commonality is that we are humans who require special care to keep us healthy.
As believers, we can understand that God calls us to do more, go further, and to help one another. But, it was never intended to do this alone. In fact, “God calls his people to live in unity, regardless of our differences.” Our lives are filled with experiences that can make it hectic, stressful, frustrating and painful. At times, those moments can cause us to hurt those we care about, and sometimes those we doo not. This plays right into the hands of the destroyer, who would like nothing more than to break down connections and destroy harmony. We can change that. Yes, we really can. Just like changing the taste of tea, we can change how we choose to fight with, instead of against each other. It will take work, cooperation, a lot of patience and yes, healthy conversations. It might even need a good counsel who can help sort through breakdowns and other life challenges, but it’ll be worthwhile.
MLK, Jr. had a dream of accomplishing a unified nation, one march at a time, but today it’s time for us to wake up and start the healing one conversation at a time. Your uniqueness is just what is needed to make that happen. Bring your flavor… it’s “T” time!
Reference
https://cdn0.wideopeneats.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TeaSteepTimes.jpg
Robert B. In Virginia
ReplyDeleteYes mental health is an issue. However, we need to be more Proactive than Reactive. Mental illness is promoted more when an disaster occur. Mental Health Month isn't enough. It should be brought up once a month in training at your Job, church, school and etc. This way promoting assistance is always on the person's mind that needs it. They may seek out help sooner.
Thanks for the sip Robert. Your suggestion that there should be more of a "proactive" approach to tackle mental health challenges is a good perspective, and I believe it will take involvement at every level. However, like most programs, it doesn't work well if the person suffering don't seek the help they need. We, as a nation, could lean in to understand, and we can build good connections, but nothing will help without the person in need reaching out and having a conversation. Not every program is helpful, but the person do not have to stop there, and they can provide the input needed that'll help others as well as themself. That T was flavored just right. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteGreat message... Yes, we are all uniquely designed. There may be similarities, but there is always a spark of difference in each of us. Communication is of essence.. Without this we will continue to fail as the unique individual we are created to be. Good Tea Teel
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging comments. As a fellow blogger, I know you can appreciate the significance of getting the right message to our audience through our posts. Your comment affirms that no matter what approach is taken, we have one goal in mind, and that is to help others in need. You have definitely poured into my cup. Sip, sip!
DeleteI feel as though our current society isn’t addressing the mental crisis we are currently experiencing. We have parents in denial, so they don’t address the mental challenges their children may be facing. Hence, you have young students shooting classmates, etc. The parents of the perpetrators are left to say is “my child was a good kid”. The child may have never been given the opportunity to confide in their parents and express their emotional feelings/thoughts. For those that do seek help for mental issues, the doctors prescribed medications and send the patient back out into the stressful environment without teaching coping skills. I believe we should have more mental institutions to help house those with mental illnesses until they are capable of managing their illness and returning to society.
ReplyDeleteGood morning. I’m just sipping my tea, but this article is right on point Dr T. Mental health issues are rampant and since the pandemic hit more and more people are experiencing mental health issues in some form. I witnessed an incident on yesterday that made me realize just how serious an issue mental health currently is. It happened in a public shopping center parking lot. I didn’t stay around to see how it played out. All I could think of was, what if gunfire results. I didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire, so I quickly left. Right or wrong, I didn’t want to get involved. More people than we know are experiencing some type of mental health issues. GOD help us all! Dr T, thank you for this article and the great insight.
DeleteThank you for sharing in this T time. You pointed out the concern for your safety moved you from staying around during a witnessed mental health crisis, and for good reasons. I think most would question getting involved in stances such as you've described. However, others choose not to get involved because they other reasons such as they don't see it as their responsibility, they don't know what to do, they are afraid, they don't understand the problem, or they are struggling with their own mental health challenges. Whatever the reason or reasons, there is a need for everyone to take a proactive approach towards becoming educated about the resources available and how we might assist those in need. A phone call, pamphlet, conversation, group therapy, transportation, visitation, therapy session, etc. Anything except isolation, intimidation, ignoring or ignorance could make positive impacts in the lives of those struggling through mental illness. Thanks for the brew! Sip sip 🫖
DeleteParents are indeed crucial in the bringing up their kids to understand a lot of things. However, I think some of their challenges are based on how they were reared, good and bad. Often time them too came from homes where mental illness was kept taboo or swept under the rug without being properly addressed. One thing I've learned your tea cup will be enjoy unless someone refills the tea pot. In other words, you cannot pour into anyone else when you yourself are depleted. Let's seriously educate ourselves and find ways we can help, whether through donations, forming groups, sharing good therapist information, reporting problems to the right resources, praying, mentoring, corresponding and a host of other ways. Yes, it starts with the parents, but it doesn't have to end there. It takes a village to to raise a child and it takes everyone to tackle problems such as mental illness. That's something to sip on. 🍵
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