Body Image, Societal Expectations and Mental Health

By Tina Blacksmith In our world, women are held to utterly ridiculous standards when it comes to beauty and body image. We must get manicures weekly. No one should be able to see even one pore on our face. We should spend shitloads of money on expensive makeup that will Continue Reading

Reflection – Letting go of the past

By Tina Blacksmith “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard This year, I have started letting go of the past and making an effort to heal. My letter is part of that reflection. It feels like one of those “two steps forward, Continue Reading

Freeing Your Mind from an Emotionally Absent Parent

By Tina Blacksmith I never had a Hallmark mother-daughter relationship with my mom.  She was an emotionally absent parent.  My whole childhood, she was there in the physical sense.  But emotionally she never showed up. I get that she was going through shit too.  I really do.  But growing up Continue Reading

It is as bad as it sounds

By Tina Blacksmith Mental illness really is as bad as it sounds.  It’s hard to believe it’s already been over a month since Chester passed away.  I remember, actually quite fondly, listening to Linkin Park every single day for a long period of time during my teen years.  His memory Continue Reading