With the Same Tenderness

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Four of Swords; from the Beasts of Albion, the Bat:

It's pretty easy to know when our body is exhausted - it will just refuse to budge at some point. We are generally willing to rest our body when it is necessary, even when there are still things to do, because we realize it is going to collapse if we don't. How I wish we were as willing to do the same when it comes to our mental health! We all need a routine mental break from feeding our mind with outside information or inner thoughts that create unneeded pain. Bat, flying out of its cave, shows up to encourage us to bring our mental health into the light. Our minds need the same tenderness and care that we'd show an aching, worn-out body.

Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.

— Fred Rogers

Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.

— Matt Haig