During my adolescence as a child, I wasn't thinking about things like purpose, wealth, long-term goals, mental health, or sensitive topics like death and grieving. A few years later at 24 years old, I find myself dwelling on these things more and more everyday. Difficulty balancing finances, social life, family time, and love-life relationships, while dealing with anxiety, grief, waves of depression, isolation, feelings of self doubt, and unworthiness. Even feeling slightly disconnected from my roots due to out casting and unfortunately, colorism within my own community. – All while in the process of grieving for the last 8 years. With that, I find it challenging some days to remain optimistic as I've always been at heart.
Devon Ivanhoe. Lindo, my Dad. He raised me all my life along with my two older siblings Luke and Sade. A single black father of three who did everything in his strength to make sure his kids were fed, happy, and had a roof over their heads. "There's only the 4 of us." he used to say. He was my role model. We struggled a lot though. Just imagine trying to take care of 3 kids being a single black father, especially with systems in place to keep you down. Despite everything, he made sure there wasn’t a day that we weren't loved and cherished. Tragically, a month after my 16th birthday, after coming to the skate shop with me for the first time, he passed away May 1st, 2015, due to cancer. I never thought I'd hear my brother say those words to me. Tears filled my eyes as I woke my sister up. I just handed her the phone. My life changed forever that morning.
The part where I overcome these inner battles, grief, and childhood traumas is an ongoing journey. But I know deep in my soul, that my Pops is still with me. I have my brother, sister, and mother, along with the rest of the people in my life that I care for that I can lean on if I’m feeling down; Keeping me in check, focused and optimistic that things are going to be alright. To take the good with the bad and make use of it.
Family, bonds, love, good laughs, and some faith in yourself. These are the key things in life which will aid you in the exacting process of overcoming, mental health. Reach out, talk to someone, because we cannot do this alone.
- Justin G. Lindo