Mental Health, Disconnect, and the Need to Walk Away Sometimes
I love my life. I’m fortunate in more ways than I can count—travel, a lifestyle full of creativity, and a family that means the world to me. But even in the middle of all that, mental health doesn’t play favourites. Some days hit harder than others. And it’s not just bad coffee and long meetings—the internal weight sneaks in uninvited.
Instead of numbing or escaping, I lean into creativity. I make videos, edit drafts, scribble thoughts, click photos, paint—whatever helps shift my brain away from the static. Sometimes, a single spark is enough to cut through the grey. Other times, creating feels like the only thing keeping me from slipping further into it.
I once discussed a mental health project with a potential candidate who bluntly said she didn’t believe in it. That’s tough to digest, especially when so many quietly battle. It was a reminder that not everyone sees the fight, but that doesn’t make it less real.
People I care about—family and friends—carry their own weight. Some push through, some choose not to. Some struggles are apparent, some deeply hidden. I want to be there for everyone, but sometimes I can’t. Distance. Mental bandwidth. The simple fact is that I’m not always fully present—even when I want to be.
That’s partly why I created “The Long Walk”—a time to disconnect and reset—not just walking but unplugging from the digital chaos that chews at us. We scroll, compare, absorb noise dressed as news, and let it drown out the sound before us.
Creativity has always been my reset button. Photos, video editing, strategy planning, words, half-baked sketches—it’s how I rewire my thinking. But even that gets tested. Especially when the moment you hit record, the neighbourhood landscapers decide it’s leaf blower o’clock. Serenity, it seems, comes with a decibel limit.
We’re wired to be constantly on, constantly reactive. And in that cycle, the negative’s just easier to grab onto. Doomscrolling doesn’t require effort. Focusing on joy does. I see that in myself. I see it everywhere.
This isn’t a pitch for pity or a motivational post. Just a reminder: if things feel heavy, you’re not broken. You’re not alone. If you need to reset, take the time. Go walk. Go be quiet. And if possible, check in quietly on someone else—someone who might be walking their own version of it, too.
#MentalHealth #TheLongWalk #DigitalOverload #CreateToCope #DisconnectedButHere
