The Quiet Truth About Mental Health

“You are not broken. You are simply human— and being human is not a flaw. It is a marvel.” - A Light in the Chaos

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

But for many of us, tending to our minds and hearts isn't something we remember once a year.

It’s something we carry—quietly, daily, tenderly.

Mental health lives in the in-between moments:

in the breath you remember to take,

in the tears you don’t try to stop,

in the soft “no” you whisper when the world asks too much.

It’s not always a diagnosis.

It’s not always visible.

Sometimes, mental health looks like getting dressed.

Or texting back.

Or stepping outside when the weight says stay in.

It lives in the invisible victories—the ones no one sees but you.

And it lives in the heartbreak, too.

In the messy middles.

In the foggy mornings when you’re just trying to hold on.

We are so often taught to push through,

to smile anyway,

to tidy up our feelings before sharing them.

But there’s a quiet kind of courage in telling the truth.

In saying, I’m still healing. I’m still learning. I’m still here.

You are allowed to fall apart.

You are allowed to begin again.

You are allowed to take your time.

There is no finish line for healing—just the brave act of showing up for yourself, again and again.

So, if your light feels dim right now,

if your heart is heavy,

if your mind is loud—this is your gentle reminder:

You are not alone.

You are not behind.

You are not broken.

You are simply human—and being human is not a flaw.

It is a marvel.

Rest when you need.

Cry when you must.

And return to yourself as often as it takes.

This month, and every month, may you give yourself permission to be real,

to be messy,

to be you.

With love - Val