May is Mental Health Awareness month. Many deal with mental illness and carry trauma. Some are good at masking and others see their illness as clear as day.

I’m very familiar with mental illness. I’m very familiar with carrying baggage that I didn’t ask for. Sometimes it’s just the cards we were dealt. People can’t choose which family they’re born into, or what hardships they’ll experience. Things happen and one can be left carrying a burden that stunts growth and distorts perception.

With all that said, I’m a huge advocate of getting help. Getting mental health in America is a challenge but there are support groups and places folks can tap into to get help. Don’t go it alone. https://www.nami.org/home

Symbolism

• The bag on the back is the baggage (trauma, hurt, etc) one carries due to the trauma that has occurred.

• There are flowers on it and over it because that same baggage (depending on how we respond to it) can make us stronger.

• The black blobs represent negativity and confusion. The white blobs represent prayers and hope, and they’re slowly overcoming the darkness.