Today was the last day of summer, and it didn't sneak up on me. Despite a packed day ahead, I positioned myself at Fort Monroe to welcome the dawn of my last official day of summer vacation. As I prepare to return to teaching, I'm carrying a different kind of fear: Since I've come out publicly about my mental illness, will there be pushback? I readily own my ADHD because I can model accommodations for my students. But will I ever feel safe admitting I have bipolar disorder? Sometimes the very things we're most afraid to reveal become the bridges that help others feel less alone.
Author: Laura Joy Palma
Always Someone to Care For: How Purpose Prevents Depression
I'm sitting at Fort Monroe Beach, having just captured a dolphin leaping from the Chesapeake Bay, when the most profound realization hit me. For the first time in almost two years, I'm alone—and I'm discovering that having Tony and Calista in my life is probably one of the biggest reasons I don't sink into depression anymore. It's not their emotional support, though that matters. It's simpler: I never stop doing things. There's always purpose driving my days forward. This revelation, witnessed by dolphins, led me to see how limitations become tools for freedom—in Jack's wheelchair, in my bipolar brain, and in the deep waters that aren't barriers but home.
The Ripple Effect of Coming Out: When Vulnerability Becomes a Lighthouse
Two raw, relatable statements arrived in my text messages this weekend that slowed me to a halt: 'I need to be reminded that my grief is valid' and 'I need to know that I can have a future beyond this season.' What I thought would make me a spectacle—being open about my bipolar disorder—was actually making me a resource. This week showed me the unexpected ripple effect of choosing vulnerability over hiding, and how our greatest fears can become our most powerful gifts.
Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
The sun crested the York River this morning at 5:59 AM, and I was there to meet it, rosewood ukulele slung across my shoulder, journal tucked under my arm. Same 9 PM bedtime, same sunrise ritual—rain or shine, whether I'm alone with my thoughts or surrounded by the Fourth of July crowd that descended on … Continue reading Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
Teaching Students to Be Mental Health Advocates: From Darkness to Dawn
When my sixth-grader called herself a mental health advocate, I knew we were onto something important. Here's how educators can inspire students to champion mental wellness.
Finding Beauty in Broken Things: Sea Glass Lessons from Fort Monroe Beach
Searching for sea glass on Fort Monroe Beach became a metaphor for how God uses broken pieces to create something beautiful. Sometimes our greatest storms produce our most treasured gifts.
Chasing Sunrises: Lessons in Resilience Through Daily Rituals
Sixty sunrises in as many days taught me about resilience and renewal. Here's how a daily sunrise photography ritual became my mental health anchor during recovery.
Taming a Temper in Therapy and Accepting My Bipolar Diagnosis
After decades of trying to control my temper through prayer alone, therapy finally gave me the tools to manage bipolar rage. Here's how mental health treatment changed everything.
Surrendering Control: How God Taught Me to Love Better
My need to control everything was destroying my relationships. Here's how surrendering to God's plan and accepting His design for me transformed how I love others.
Learning to Apologize Well: The Art of Meaningful Forgiveness
I thought I knew how to say sorry, but my apologies weren't landing. Discovering the five apology languages transformed my relationships and taught me what real forgiveness looks like.
Writer's Growth 