My 13th Brainiversery

Today is my 13th Brainiversary. It's been about 20 years since my first seizure. 20 years since I was pulled into the unknown without my permission. That's why I always want to acknowledge my Brainiversary. I want to pay attention to the brain surgery that's helped pull me out of my unknown. 

For some, brain surgery might seem like a scary thing to think about, to hear about, and to experience. Looking back, I probably should have been more nervous than I actually was. However, my life had been pretty frightening for years prior to that surgery. You see, I'd been dealing with a brain issue that neurologists were unable to control with medication. Despite my initial resistance, my family and friends finally convinced me to have the surgery. Since today is my 13th Brainiversary, I'm including portions of previous "Brain" blog entries which help describe my journey. 

*from The Worst Job Interview blog entry:

In 2006, my career resume' included the following:

• High school English Teacher

• Middle school English Teacher

• Campus Teacher of the Year

• Writing Workshop presenter

• ELA Department Chair

But in 2013, I had brain surgery.

Turns out that my brain (which used to function fairly well) has a bit of a defect.

In 2006, smack dab in the middle of an important job interview with people that I knew quite well, I “zoned out”, and the next thing I knew, EMS was in the interview room with me trying to figure out what the hell was happening to me.

You see, in the middle of that job interview, my words stopped making sense, I grabbed my purse, pulled pictures of my young niece and nephew out of my wallet, proudly spread their pictures out on the table, and began showing them to my interviewers. Well, at least, that’s what the interviewers told me. You see, I don't remember any of that. Nothing at all.

Up until that day, my only understanding of a seizure was that it caused people to fall on the floor, writhe, and bite their tongues, but I was so wrong. So incredibly wrong.

On that lovely spring day in 2006, my life changed in a way that both pissed me off and terrified me. The 'naming' took several months, various doctor visits, and way too many medical tests, but I was eventually diagnosed with complex/partial seizures originating from the hippocampus in my left temporal lobe.

*from Southern Hair & Seizures blog entry:

Now that I've described the type of seizures that I began having in 2006: complex/partial seizures that drastically changed my life, it's time to focus on what really matters...Southern hair!

I was raised in Texas: home perms, hairspray, and highlights. So, when the time came to decide whether or not to have brain surgery (because my medication stopped working, and I totaled my car), I refused to even consider it because I didn’t want to have my head shaved. You should have seen the look on my neurologist’s face. I guess he’d never had a patient refuse life-changing surgery in order to keep her hair.

After hours of tearful discussions with family and friends, I finally agreed to brain surgery because, in order to improve my standard of living, my left hippocampus had to be removed. Fortunately, my neurosurgeon did understand the importance of Southern hair, and the normally 3 ½ hour surgery took him an extra 45 minutes just so he wouldn’t have to remove much of my hair. Now, that's a sensitive surgeon!

 

Yay, they only had to shave a little bit of my hair!

(Oops! I forgot to smile in these pics!)

6 weeks later, it was time for my checkup with my epileptologist Dr. Harvey (whom I highly recommend). He walked into the room and broke into a smile when he saw that I still had lots of hair. In fact, he actually invited another neurologist into the room just to show him. I suspect that I may have raised the respect for Southern hair in the neurological community!

Seriously, I’m so thankful to live in a part of the nation that has such an amazing medical community. My neurologist and neurosurgeon are among the best in the country, and I’m fortunate enough to have them in Dallas.

* from Life in the Passenger Seat blog entry:

I wrote this entry in 2013, 7 months post-surgery: Southern females tend to be taught to never show anger. Just smile and be polite. Well, I’ve had enough. It’s now been 8 years since my first complex/partial seizure, and during the last 3 years, I’ve driven a total of 6 months. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

To the outside world, I’m doing great because I live close to family and friends who are more than willing to help me. They take me to and from work during the week, to the grocery store on the weekends, and they will do anything else I ask them to do. If I need anything, all I have to do is text or call someone. They are more than willing, but I know that I’m asking someone to stop whatever they’re doing in their own lives just to take care of me--to take me to the grocery store, so I can get the toilet paper that I forgot to pick up during the weekend grocery shopping trip. (Oh, damn it, I just realized that I’m out of lightbulbs, and I refuse to ask for another ride, so I’ll just wait until next weekend because I guess I don't really NEED to use the lamp beside my reading chair.)

I’m sorry; what’d you say? Just text Uber or Lyft. Oh, you’re absolutely right. Not being able to drive is a trivial inconvenience, a First World Problem. I’m ungrateful and just need to learn to keep a better grocery list. After all, I’m lucky to have family and friends willing to go out of their way to take care of me because lots of people don’t. Yep, you’re right; it’s a good life. Why should I be upset? I’m 45-years-old and have to text Uber or ask others to take me to get toilet paper if I'm about to run out. I have to inconvenience others because I can't take care of myself. Why should I be upset?

In June 2013, I had brain surgery because my anti-seizure meds stopped working AGAIN, and it was time to remove my left hippocampus. The surgery went well, so last November, I was finally able to start driving again. Life was good! I was excited and began making plans for the future. I even registered to start my master’s degree! But a month ago, the nightmare returned when I had a seizure while driving and had ANOTHER wreck. Totaled ANOTHER car!

However, something has changed inside of me this time, and I’m breaking lots of Southern girl rules by actually showing that I’m angry. My friends and family seem worried because I’ve made it clear that I’m not going to live my life in the” passenger seat” anymore. I refuse to merely exist in a life dependent on others. I’m taking my life back. Hopefully, I’ll be seizure free and driving again very soon. If not, I may need to leave my life of suburbs with driveways and move to a life of cities with public transportation. Although the DFW area claims to have public transportation, it’s not very convenient, so I may have to move away from all that I know, in order to get my life back.

Yes, I suspect that some of you now consider me to be a truly shallow person, but I hope that some of you understand the anger and frustration that occurs when independent people are forced to depend on others. You know what it's like to feel that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

*from Breakthrough Seizure blog entry:

I originally wrote this in April 2025: I had a breakthrough seizure this week. It’s been nearly a year since my last seizure. 11 months actually. The last seizure I had was May 7, 2024.

So frustrating! I mean I know that it doesn’t constantly happen, but it keeps happening! It’s been nearly 12 years since my brain surgery. I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to have brain surgery because I was having 2-3 seizures a MONTH, and now I’m only having about one a YEAR, but I’m still having one seizure about every year. So frustrating! So disappointing…

Plus post-seizure, the headache is horrendous and can last for a couple of days. This one sure did. Probably a migraine. 

Questions I always have to ask myself post-seizure:

• Have I missed any meds? I don’t think so.

• Am I sleep deprived? No

• Have I had any alcohol? No

• Have I had too much caffeine? Probably

• Am I overly stressed? Have you paid any attention to the news?!

I started having complex/partial seizures when I was 37, so it’s been about 19 years since I first started having seizures, and it never gets easier. It never seems to make sense. Why do meds work for some people but not for others? Why does surgery work for some people but not for others? These are the questions that I keep asking because I had surgery to have my left hippocampus removed (pic below), and I continue to take anti-seizure meds, but I still have occasional breakthrough seizures.  

Well, now you know what my thought processes are like after I’ve had a breakthrough seizure. Probably WAY more than you ever wanted to know. However, if you are still reading, thank you for being a part of my world.

This is a current pic of my post-surgery brain: 

 

* from 20 Years blog entry: 

I originally wrote this entry in April 2026: April has been a lot. I had another seizure two weeks ago. Yes, another one. That's the second one in about 7 months. Prior to this most recent seizure, I'd already decided to change neurologists and made an appointment with Dr. Harvey, the epileptologist that I used to see prior to my insurance changing. An epileptologist is a neurologist who specializes in treating epilepsy and seizure disorders. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment I could make was for January 2027. And yes, I'm on his waiting list. 

Hopefully, I'll be able to see the epileptologist prior to January because it sure does seem like I'm starting to have seizures more frequently than I was for several years after my brain surgery. Or, maybe my brain just doesn't like April because a friend reminded me recently that I've also had seizures during April the past two years. Hmm...I wonder what that's all about. If I only had a brain perhaps I could figure it all out....

***

Yes, today is my 13th Brainiversary. It's been about 20 years since my first seizure. 20 years since I was pulled into the unknown without my permission. That's why I always want to acknowledge the brain surgery which helped pull me out of the unknown...at least most of the time. 

I've now had time to write about this particular journey and so much more. There have been good times, bad times, and lots of in-between times. Some of you have been there for me since the very beginning. Lots of you have joined my journey along the way. Thank you for your support. Much love to you all.

Moving in May

What a difference a month makes. 

On Friday, May 1st, I was told that, upon further analysis of the dark stain on my bathroom ceiling and wall (which I'd noticed and reported, along with pictures, on April 26th), several areas in the ceilings and walls of my bathroom, closet, and bedroom were going to have to be replaced, so I needed to pack a bag and be out of my apartment ASAP. Of course, they assured me that I could return to the apartment in a couple of weeks and continue living there. Uh....NO!!! 

Now, my original plan had always been to move from The Colony to Frisco when my lease was up in October, but this was just happening much more quickly than I'd anticipated, and my need was HUGE: find a nice first-floor apartment that was available ASAP and located in Frisco. I suspected that would be challenging, but fortunately, I was able to find one on the very first day that I started looking, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

The weekend was all about packing. Kevin put the boxes together, I packed them, and he sealed them shut. There were soooo many boxes: small boxes, medium boxes, large boxes, extra large boxes, glasses boxes, dishes boxes, stand-up wardrobe boxes. Boxes...Boxes...Boxes...

Occasionally, we'd make ANOTHER Walmart run or go for food. 

Finally, Wednesday arrived, and the "Mighty Move to Frisco" was happening. Although the day started off rainy, by the time the movers arrived, the rain was over. Buddy Moving is a great company! They're friendly, and they work hard. Yes, I highly recommend them. 

By Wednesday evening, I officially lived in Frisco...and it was time to unpack. 

My goal was to unpack everything before the weekend was over because I'd been a long-term sub for one of the Frisco high schools since April 7th, and I wanted to be completely unpacked before I went back to work on Monday.

Note to self: Planning to unpack EVERYTHING in just a few days is a bit overzealous. However, I did unpack quite a bit between Wednesday evening and Sunday evening and unpacked the FINAL box on Monday evening when I got home from work.

This mad dash from The Colony to Frisco all started on May 1st, when I found out I needed to pack up and move out immediately. It's now May 31st, and I'm unpacked and settled into my new place. It's a good thing. 

Kevin reminded me earlier today that April showers bring May flowers. (Of course, I can't help but think that April showers can ALSO bring mud, floods, and seasonal allergies.)  

However, the craziness of April brought about one of my goals: moving to Frisco. Lots of other good things happened in May: I was offered and accepted a job for the upcoming school year, I met Kevin's perfectly perfect grandbaby, and I got to spend some quality time with dear friends in Austin. However, this particular story is about a move that was completely unexpected, but now that it's over, I'm so very glad that it happened. 

20 Years

April has been a lot. I had another seizure two weeks ago. Yes, another one. That's the second one in about 7 months. Prior to this most recent seizure, I'd already decided to change neurologists and made an appointment with an epileptologist. An epileptologist is a neurologist who specializes in treating epilepsy and seizure disorders. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment I could make was for January 2027. And yes, I'm on the waiting list. 

This spring makes 20 years since my first seizure. 20 years since I was "pulled into the unknown without [my] permission".* 

___

In 2006, smack dab in the middle of an important job interview, I “zoned out”, and the next thing I knew, EMS was in the interview room with me trying to figure out what the hell was happening.

You see, in the middle of that job interview, my words stopped making sense, I grabbed my purse, pulled pictures of my niece and nephew out of my wallet, spread those pictures out on the table, and started showing them to my interviewers. Well, at least, that’s what the interviewers told me. You see, I don't remember any of that. Nothing at all.

Up until that day, my only understanding of a seizure was that it caused people to fall on the floor, writhe, and bite their tongues, but I was so wrong. So incredibly wrong.

On that lovely spring day in 2006, my life changed in a way that both pissed me off and terrified me. The 'naming' took several months, various doctor visits, and way too many medical tests, but I was eventually diagnosed as having complex/partial seizures originating from the hippocampus in my left temporal lobe.

It's now been 20 years since my first seizure and 13 years since I had brain surgery to remove a portion of my left hippocampus. There have been good time, bad times, and lots of in-betweem times.

Hopefully, I'll be able to see the epileptologist prior to January because it sure does seem like I'm starting to have seizures more frequently than I was for several years after my brain surgery. Or, maybe my brain just doesn't like April because a friend reminded me recently that I've also had seizures during April the past two years.

Hmm...I wonder what that's all about. If I only had a brain perhaps I could figure it all out....

*Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. “For When You Need a Second to Think  It Over” in The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days. (New York: Convergent Books, 2023). 94-95.

Lent

I'm 57 but didn't actually start practicing Lent until I was 55. You see, I wasn't raised in churches that practiced Lent, and then I left the church for about 20 years, so I didn't practice anything churchy for a couple of decades. 

Since I've written about my spiritual journey in previous posts, I won't go into all of that now, but to make a long story short, I've only been practicing Lent for 3 years. 

What is Lent?   "...the 40-day Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday – it ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. The word Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon lencten, meaning spring. Lent is traditionally a time for repentance, self-reflection, and recalibrating ourselves spiritually. It is a time when we practice spiritual disciplines in an intentional and concerted effort to grow closer to God in our faith."

Probably because I entered Lent a little late in the game of life, I wasn't fully aware of all of the logistics, but somehow, I learned that you could choose to give up something AND/OR choose to do something to help you grow spiritually during the Lenten season, so for Lent 2024, I chose to do a spiritual reading each day. Looking back, I picked a pretty deep book, and I still don't think I've ever made it all the way through that book. 

For last year's Lent (2025), I commited to going to church every Sunday during Lent AND to reading a daily devotional which usually included a written response. I definitely think that last year's Lent had a positive effect on me because, since then, I've actually joined the church. Prior to last year, I hadn't been a member of a church in many, many years, so even though joining a church might not mean much to some people, it's significant to me.

For Lent this year, I decided to do a partial Digital Detox and give up playing games on my phone (and all other electronic devices) during the Lenten season. Why? I'd been noticing that I was spending an excessive amount of time playing games on my phone: Wordle, Connections, Strands, Bingo, Block Puzzle, and varieties of Solitaire. Therefore, I decided that for Lent, I would try to spend time reading books that might help me grow spiritually instead of wasting so much time playing games on my phone. 

During this 2026 Lenten season, I've been reading Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It by Brian D. McLaren, Liturgies for Resisting the Empire by Kat Armas, and God Didn't Make Us to Hate Us: 40 Devotions to Liberate Your Faith from Fear and Reconnect with Joy by Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail. I have The Bible Tells Me So...Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by Peter Enns on Audio and have started listening to it more than once, but I'm realizing that I do better with hard copies, so I can hold them, mark them up, highlight them, slow the reading down, etc.

So, how has Lent 2026 been for me? Well, I'd say I'm definitely reading more than I was, and I highly recommend these books! I'll, also, admit that it's still tough when I'm in the car to not be able to pull out my phone and waste some time playing Solitaire. (I'm just trying to be honest!)  However, a friend told me on Saturday that Sundays are free days during Lent, so I gave myself permission to play Block Puzzle while watching tv last night. I do have to be honest those games are addictive. As a result, I've, also, realized that I probably need to monitor my game time ALL the time...not just during Lent. My name is Vicki, and I'm a Wordle-a holic.

If you've been practicing Lent, I hope it's been meaningful. If you don't practice Lent, I hope you've been enjoying your days, as well. May we all grow into love for one another. 

Don't Be Fooled

My grandfather was a pilot in WW2. I have family and lots of friends who've served our country, and I am very thankful for the military. 

Yes, I protest against this war, but I am not protesting against the people who serve in the military. To be honest, I am quite concerned that the lives of our military soldiers are being endangered along with the lives of so many innocent Iranians. According to abcnews.com, officials in Iran claimed that students at an Iranian all-girls elementary school were among those killed during the U.S. and Israeli military strikes this morning. War always harms the innocent much more than it harms those who decided to start the war. Always.

In a magic show, a magician will do something "splashy" to get the audience to look where the magician wants them to look, so the magician can make what the audience had been looking at "go away". In other words, if a person wants you to stop paying attention to something important, they might do something "splashy" so you'll look over at the "splashy event" and stop focusing on what they don't want you to pay attention to. I know...that's a lot, but it sure seems like lots of "splashy" things have either occured or come back up lately: 

• ICE
• Tariffs
• Venezuala 
• Greenland
• Board of Peace
• an unusual Supreme Court decision 
• UFO Files
• and now this...War. 

I wonder what this administration might want us to stop paying attention to?
Oh, that's right, the Epstein Files!! However, WE WILL NOT stop paying attention to them. Yes, there are lots of crisis occuring, but that doesn't mean that we are going to stop paying attention to the Epstein Files.  

We will not forget. 

We cannot forget. 

We will not be fooled. 

For Such a Time As This

If you grew up in Sunday School like I did, you've probably heard of Queen Esther. 

Queen Esther was enjoying living her palace life, but things started to change. Esther’s older cousin, Mordecai, made an enemy out of the king’s right-hand man, Haman, so Haman decided to exterminate Mordecai and all of the other Jewish people in the kingdom. Mordecai was living in fear and told Esther that she had to go talk to her husband, the king, in order to prevent the massacre from occuring.

Esther struggled with what to do because she was risking angering her hubby if she went to see him without being invited. Esther was very aware that when his previous wife angered him by doing the same exact thing… that queen had been banished!  While Esther was contemplating her decision, Mordecai was very honest with her about her future: 

“...Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther 4:13-14

“The Book of Esther begins by portraying Esther as beautiful and obedient, though a relatively passive figure. Throughout the story, she evolves into a character who takes a decisive role in her own future and that of her people.” 1

Queen Esther evolved from being a relatively passive figure who didn't seem to be in danger since she was living in the palace and was married to the king. She evolved into Valiant Esther who refused to stay silent. She was willing to rise up, willing to intervene, and willing to intercede for the deliverance of the Jews during that time in history...during just such a time as that.

In our country, we are once again living in a time when groups of people are living in fear and are in need of relief and deliverance. People are rising up to intervene and intercede on behalf of others. Many other people want to rise up, intervene, and intercede, but they are struggling because they don’t like to have to risk angering others with uncomfortable conversations. They aren't sure about making phone calls to politicians. They're afraid that something might happen if they go to a protest or a march. Plus, our country is becoming very aware that the current government is angry with those of us who are standing up and speaking out. Concerns are rising up about what the future holds.  

It can be scary at first; however, it gets easier each time you make a phone call, each time you protest, each time you march. Each time you intervene. Each time you intercede. It gets easier.

My own personal encouragement to speak up and speak out is based on Esther 4:13-14: Do not think that just because you live in North Texas and you’re a middle-class white woman that you will escape any more than all the others…Who knows? Perhaps you have come to this space…for just such a time as this.

First They Came

By Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me

1 (Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (2007). The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19528880-3.)

Where Are You?

It's so easy to go through an entire day and never take the time to stop and focus on something deeper, something...soulful, so I'm trying to start off the new year by doing better about that.

I’ve started reading a daily devotional series from my church. This includes daily scripture readings with a key phrase, a reflection, and a couple of questions.

Today’s key phrase definitely caught my attention: "Where are you?" from Genesis 3:9.

Definitely the question of the year for me.

Definitely made me think.

• Where am I? 
• Where am I with myself? 
• Where am I with others? 
• Where am I with God? 
• Where am I in life?

Definitely a question to ponder as you start a new year: Where are you?

• Are you where you want to be?
• Do you want to change anything this year?
• Do you honestly NEED to change anything this year?

Hopefully, there are things that you want to keep the same this year. 

Hopefully, you are going to be true to yourself this year. If you're like me, it's second-nature to want to be a people-pleaser, but the older that I get the more I realize that authenticity is one of the most important things that I can do for myself.

However, is there anything that you actually DO need to change this year?

• Do you need to work on rebuilding relationships that you've allowed to weaken?
• Do you need to work on improving your health?
• Do you need to work more on the whole God-thing…whatever that might be for you?
• Do you need to stand up for people/places/things that you feel are being mistreated?
• Do you need to make personal decisions that might cause some major changes in your life?

Where are YOU right now?

Goodbye, 2025!

One of my favorite Jimmy Buffett songs includes the line: “Some of it’s magic, some it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way.” 

Looking back at 2025, it’s been filled with things that were good, things that seemed magical, things that were negative, and things that were truly tragic. 

***

The magical times in my life included celebrating family milestones. In 2025, my family celebrated one of my nephews graduating from college in May, the marriage of my niece, Caroline, and her husband, Jacob, on Labor Day weekend, and the marriage of my nephew, Reagan, and his bride, Madi, this month (mid-December).  

Celebrating milestones with dear ones has definitely been a positive part of 2025!

Other positives from 2025:

I’ve spent this year enjoying my retirement. I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer, to protest, and to write.

• I participated in Mega Marcha 2025 for Bipartisan Immigration Reform in downtown Dallas.
• I called politicians regarding HB2 and the Affordable Care Act.
• I protested along with many others regarding our current administration.
• I called my Texas Representative and my Texas Senator and told them to vote NO on SB10 and SB12 and explained why they aren't in the best interest of Texans.
• Why do I bother? I'll confess that I'm one of the fortunate ones: a retired, middle-class, middle-aged, straight, white woman who was born in this country.  So that is why I MUST bother! Those of us who are fortunate need to stand up for those who are not. We need to advocate for the marginalized. 

I started this blog in February 2025. My word for 2025 was WRITE, and this blog is a way for me to publish some of my writing. My plan was to write on a regular basis, and, other than August and September, I did publish at least once a month. Hopefully, I’ll improve upon that in 2026 and not miss a month.

I’ve also started substitute teaching this year, and I really enjoy it. I needed a year outside of education to rest and catch my breath, but in August 2025, I started subbing, and it’s been great. I love that I set my own schedule and the district I sub for is great!

This year, I joined a United Methodist church that I feel like I can trust. I’ve been attending for a few years now, so  I finally joined it this year. It’s a good thing! (Side note: I actually read the entire Bible, front to back, for the first time this year….what an ODD BOOK! Perhaps, I'll write about that at another time.) 

Another major change this year is that I FINALLY stopped eating what I refer to as  “recreational sugar” again. It’s definitely my drug of choice, and when I stay away from it, I’m much more under control food-wise. However, even a little recreational sugar is a trigger for me. I stopped eating it on January 1st of this year. Other than special occasions, I’ve avoided “recreational sugar” all year and lost 48 pounds.  My goal is to lose more, but it’s good to know that I’ve started. 

*****

Nationally, there have been some very tragic times this year. 

• The July 4th flash-flooding killed over 130 people in the Texas Hill Country.
•  There is now a prison in Florida called Alligator Alcatraz where people have had their pictures taken in front of its sign and laughed about the concept of humans being eaten by alligators.
• Humanitarian concerns regarding the immigration crisis, women's rights, lgbtq+ rights, etc. continue in our country.
• The government was shutdown for an extended amount of time which caused many people who depended upon the goverment for assistance to go without paychecks and/or food, etc.
• Many people lost their goverment jobs this year.
• Our nation remains so politically divided that Americans argue with each other about the way that living beings are treated.

***

Keep swimming in 2026.

When the news is filled with tragedy, turmoil, and trauma, it’s so easy to want to give up and just ignore everything. 

But, we need to keep swimming.

Keep going. 

Keep following our paths. 

Whatever that path might be. 

Keep swimming and encourage others. 

Keep using our strengths to help society. 

Keep speaking up and speaking out. 

We need to keep swimming and stick together. 

Each of us has strengths that are much-needed by society. Of course, it’s important to practice self-care, but please don’t give up. Use your strengths to help society and never forget to keep swimming.