Let’s Walk Each Other Home: A Legacy of Resilience – It wasn’t easy for our ancestors, either; not for the first creatures that hauled themselves out of the primordial ocean onto dry land, or the tree-dwelling mammals that endured the extinction of the dinosaurs. It wasn’t easy for the first upright primates who came down from those same trees into the plains, nor for our cave-dwelling, hominid forebears, huddled together against the bitter cold of the ice ages.
So many of us are fortunate in that we no longer have to contend with fearsome predators or live at the mercy of the elements. However, the proliferation of human society did not rid the world of danger. There are beasts of a different kind, that dwell in the shaded regions of our minds. Something stirs in the back alleys of our consciousness. And, just like any bear, tiger, or wolf, it can–and will—eat you alive.
As our ancestors had spears and axes and arrows, we, too, have ways to ward off these creatures. But in order to slay a dragon, one must first acknowledge its existence. Far too many people remain unaware of what lurks in the shadows. And, for that reason, so many are carried away in its clutches.
A Journey Through Darkness
I have been one of those people. My lived experience taught me that life wasn’t easy, but still; I felt broken for struggling. Even when I (seemingly) had everything, I suffered, and because I didn’t know what to do or where to turn, I self-medicated and self-loathed. I hated myself for feelings I didn’t realize were normal. The sky turned black, even when the sun would shine, and nights were long and restless. Life lost its luster. I remember how, as a boy, I’d claw at my forearms and beat my bare hands against a punching bag until my knuckles were raw and bleeding, all to distract myself from the gaping pit of despair inside.
In my reflection, I’ve come to realize that what most I needed was someone to bear it all to, a shoulder to bury my face in, and cry, and cry a little more, to be held, and told that what I felt was normal… that I was worthy of love, and despite how I felt, that things would get better. I needed someone to tell me that life is messy and confusing and painful, but that it’s also breathtakingly beautiful, and for every bottomless abyss there comes a soaring peak in turn… that the dark clouds would pass, the ice on my heart would melt, and a brilliant sun would rise over the shapeless, grey horizon.
I wanted—I needed—so badly to hear this, to know that I didn’t have to bear the crushing weight of fear and self-doubt all on my own, but I never did. I didn’t know to treat my negative emotions not like demons to be vanquished but as misguided children to be shown compassion and understanding. I was a lost boy, and even now, as a grown man, I still sometimes am, finding my way along a path I’ve never walked before. And, even though I know how to find my way home, I spent far too long wandering alone in the pitch dark, stumbling along, never knowing if or when I was one step away from falling down and finding myself unable to get back up again.
The thing is, I wasn’t alone. People were there. But I isolated myself in shame because I didn’t realize that we all struggle with these things. There is no blueprint on how to do life. It’s confusing and scary. I constantly compared myself to the projections others put out, not realizing I was dying of thirst in a rainstorm, surrounded by love, the very thing I needed in order to survive. I withered and shrunk against a baseline of “normality” that only existed in my head, drowning in shame, self-loathing, and the fear that, in falling short of some imagined ideal, I was letting down everyone I knew and loved. All I ever needed was to know that I was enough as I was; that, by virtue of existing, I was worthy of being loved, period. And there were, are, and never will be any prerequisite conditions for that.
A Vision of Community
Struggling does not make you broken. Even the most magnificent trees bend, strain, and lose branches in a storm. We are stronger and more beautiful because we endure. Up until now, I’ve come out the other side of my despair, but I know far too many people who haven’t.
When we launched the Mental Health Television Network, we had a vision to create the first 24/7 streaming service dedicated exclusively to de-stigmatizing the conversation about mental health. The reception has been incredibly affirming: people long to be a part of a community in which they feel safe and nurtured and loved, free from the judgments of others, but just as importantly, free from self-judgment.
This is our mission: to let people know that, no matter what you’re struggling with, you are not alone.
Spiritual leader Ram Dass said it best: “We’re all just walking each other home.” No one can say for certain where the road leads, but the best we can do is be there for each other, every step of the way.
I promise… it’s more than enough.
“Hi, I’m Andrew Mercein, and I want to personally invite you to be a part of our community. ‘The Way Home’ is a place for reflection, connection, and growth. Together, we’ll navigate life’s challenges and celebrate its beauty. Let’s walk this path together.”
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