A May to Remember: Mental Health Literacy, Milestones, and “Ten at a Time”

This May, I marked Mental Health Month with more gratitude, growth, and grounding than ever before.

After my allergies passed, May was much more enjoyable!

I had the privilege of teaching 14 mental health literacy classes in addition to debuting my new program, Recognize, Engage, Support (RES). Watching the conversations unfold in real time—about stigma, stress, self-awareness, and support—was deeply affirming. These weren’t just classes; they were living proof that when we meet people where they are, we can foster true connection and change.

And personally? This May was a season of milestones.

I graduated with my second master’s degree—this time in psychology and leadership—and had the honor of being selected as commencement speaker. That speech marked the end of a chapter 14 years in the making: one filled with reinvention, resilience, and so many “try again tomorrow” moments.

In addition to graduating, I was the commencement speaker!

To celebrate, I took a trip to Quebec City, where my partner and I toasted the journey with late-night dinners, long walks, and the kind of slow mornings I used to dream about while cramming for finals or teaching back-to-back. Then, because balance includes joy too, we danced our hearts out at a Vampire Weekend concert, a joyful reminder that moving your body and belting out lyrics counts as wellness, too.

I have been waiting 17 years to see them live!

Maybe my favorite part of this whole month? The launch of something just for me.

At my first keynote address, I introduced a personal experiment I’m calling “Ten at a Time.”

Quote by me. Photo by me, too. space by my friends at the Vermont Comedy Club

Born from the realization that wellness doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming, “Ten at a Time” is my new structure for gently rebalancing life. It’s ten minutes a day or ten units a week—of movement, writing, connection, meditation, meal prep, dreaming, budgeting. It's flexible and forgiving, designed to meet me where I am and build from there.

Because healing, like learning, happens in moments. Ten at a time.

As Mental Health Month wraps up, I feel a deep sense of peace. RES is off the ground. My degree is complete. And I’m moving into this next chapter with a renewed sense of what it means to care for myself while showing up for others.

To those who’ve been on this journey with me—thank you. To those just getting started—come along. The work is big, and we don’t have to do it all at once.