May was Mental Health Awareness Month and Worth It interviewed several individuals willing to share their story and stop the stigma associated with having a mental illness. Gwen Green is one of the individuals who agreed to be a part of this interview series. I worked with Gwen when she was a librarian. She became a mentor when she found out that I wrote poetry. My running joke was that she was also my personal bully because she would often remind me of my gift and strongly encourage me to use it. When I began to share my mental health journey Gwen reached out to congratulate me. She let me know that I was making an important and needed contribution to our community. Later Gwen shared her battle with depression. It didn't change our bond in any way. It was just another opportunity for her to keep me on the right path.
I was hit hard on Sunday finding out that this giant ball of life, my friend and mentor had earned her wings. In memory of her I am sharing my interview with her as she shared her mental health journey with me. Thank you Gwen for everything!
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