Hi, everyone!
If you’re a new reader, hello! It’s nice to meet you. If you’ve been here awhile, it’s nice to see you again!
My name is Sara, and there are so many stories, roles, and traits that make up who I am. I’m a daughter, a big sister, a friend, a student, and a writer. I was obsessed with three books and authors when I was in elementary school: Nancy Drew books, any American Girl series, and anything by Wendy Mass. I broke my wrist in the fourth grade, because I’m a klutz who shouldn’t be trusted with roller skates. My middle school randomly assigned elective classes, and because the universe was conspiring against me, I was put in P.E.5-7 times (I stopped counting at 5, because ignorance truly was bliss). I make flashcards in any and every subject you could possibly use flashcards for. In the eighth grade, I made hundred of flashcards for the History Bowl, and then I got sick and couldn’t attend the competition. I went to three different high schools and started college a couple years early; I even got my associate’s degree when I was 18!
I’m including this jumble of stories for two reasons.
I love hearing others’ stories from their lives. What can I say? I’m an English Writing major through and through!
My life is full of so many highs and lows, just like anyone else’s life.
I tend to share one side of my life on my blog, which is the side of someone who has clinical depression, OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder. I don’t talk about these aspects of my life because they encompass my entire life; I started talking about them because when I was younger, no one did, and it made me feel really alone. I knew I wanted to try and help others not feel so alone, and I felt God calling me to use writing to share my story.
Throughout my life, I’ve had different fights to find my identity. Was I just a writer, or a student, or a reader? Was I just someone with mental health issues, and later, someone with chronic illnesses? When I tried to place my identity in one thing, one of two things happened: I either felt terrible that my other traits were erased, or I didn’t know who I was when my identity marker was removed (like when I wasn’t a writer or reader anymore). I finally learned to place my identity in my relationship with Christ, and it’s the greatest identity I could ever ask for.
I get anxious when people read my blog. I’m excited that people care enough to read my work. I love that the Lord lets me write about metal health, and that He has let me bless others through my writing. I also get really nervous, though. I get nervous because the content is so personal, and because my more personal posts encompass such a small part of my life.
Mental and chronic illnesses are a part of my story, but they’re just a small part of who I am, and the stories I share here are an even smaller part of myself. I haven’t written about this in other posts about my identity, so I want to take the time to mention it here.
So, hi! I’m Sara. I love to talk about mental health, but I also love to talk about so many other things. So whether you want to talk candidly about mental illness or hear me gush about my family, talk with me about your favorite books, discuss how simultaneously great and terrible college is, or want to talk about hiking, swimming, or yoga, I’m your girl. And if you were wondering what I view as the most important part of myself, it’s that I’m known and loved by the Creator of the universe.