Archive for May 2014

Mental Health Awareness Month: Keep talking to stamp out stigma

Mental Health Awareness Month: Keep talking to stamp out stigma
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it ends in just a couple of hours. Although Mental Health Awareness Month is over, mental illness never ends. There are always people who are suffering or who have family or friends who are suffering. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 1 in 4 people... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 31, 2014 at 9:40 pm • 

We never met, but my grandfather, Jesse Paulk, shaped my life

We never met, but my grandfather, Jesse Paulk, shaped my life
If I could meet anyone in the world, I’d choose to go back to before September 12, 1961 and meet my maternal grandfather, Jesse Paulk. September 12, 1961 was my mom’s 13th birthday and also the day my grandfather died. I was given my name, Jessica, in his memory. My mom’s brother also named his... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 28, 2014 at 10:12 pm • 

End mental illness stigma, save lives

End mental illness stigma, save lives
Three things happened on Friday that I can’t get out of my head. On the surface, they’re unrelated. But in my head, they’re intricately woven and the direct result of what happens when we continue to stigmatize mental illness, cut mental health services, and look the other way when people are desperately struggling. First, I... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 28, 2014 at 3:25 pm • 
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Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day Weekend
I love Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a three-day weekend and the first work holiday since New Year’s for many adults. It’s the unofficial kickoff to Summer, although in Chicago this year no one knows for sure. It marks about three weeks to my favorite holiday of the year – my birthday. And, of course, it’s... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 23, 2014 at 10:51 am • 

17 ways to help yourself when you have mental illness

17 ways to help yourself when you have mental illness
In response to my recent post, 10 Things I Know About Mental Illness, I received some incredible comments. I love the discussion that was started. Thank you for reading the post, liking, commenting, and sharing it. Education is the only thing that will end the stigma and prejudice. It is beyond time to bring mental... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 22, 2014 at 10:02 am • 

Advice to new graduates: A ChicagoNow series

Advice to new graduates: A ChicagoNow series
Just like we did with the Letters to New Moms series, ChicagoNow bloggers have once again joined forces to share our life wisdom in a new series, Advice to New Graduates. One of the things I love most about being a CN blogger is that, although each blogger develops his or her own individual brand,... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 21, 2014 at 12:12 pm • 
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Mental Health Awareness Month: 10 things I know about mental illness

Mental Health Awareness Month: 10 things I know about mental illness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and although millions and millions of families are affected by mental health issues, I have found that mental illness is one of the least talked about topics. In fact, I would go so far as to call it taboo. My family is no stranger to mental illness and how... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 18, 2014 at 8:02 pm • 

Beware: Microsoft Tech Support Scam

Beware: Microsoft Tech Support Scam
Yesterday morning I received a phone call from a gentleman claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support. He informed me that their servers had received notification from my computer that my computer had been corrupted by some sort of malware or viruses that would render my computer unusable unless I allowed him to help me... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 17, 2014 at 9:21 am • 

Advice to new graduates: Create a legacy

Advice to new graduates: Create a legacy
My family has a three generation history of delivering commencement addresses. First, my Nana was the valedictorian of her Batesville High School (now South Panola High School) Class of 1933. In 1966, my mom delivered her commencement speech, What I’ve Willed I’ll Do, at Tarpon Springs High School. In 1969, her brother and my uncle... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 15, 2014 at 9:22 pm • 
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Advice to new graduates: Invest for retirement NOW

Advice to new graduates: Invest for retirement NOW
Welcome to the real world grads! No, no, no. Not the Real World, the REAL WORLD. The one where you become financially independent (hopefully, sooner rather than later), work at a job (ideally one that’s full-time, in your desired field, and has benefits), live on your own (your mom is begging you to do this),... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 12, 2014 at 2:58 pm • 
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    Jessica Gardner

    A native of Chicago's Northwest Suburbs and resident of the North Shore, Little Merry Sunshine comes by her name honestly. The story goes that as a child, she was always so happy that she even slept with a smile on her face. Her mom nicknamed her Little Merry Sunshine. It stuck, along with her insatiable desire to focus on the good in the world and to leave it a little better than she found it. She does this by sharing her passions and dreams, what inspires her, and maybe you too, and furthering the discussion about how we can listen to our better angels. You can reach her at LittleMerrySunshineCN[at]WowWay[dot]com.

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