Things Nobody Says Out Loud: A Brown Girl's Journey to Happiness: Foreword

Foreword

By: Moquahontas

   This is the story of an African American woman's journey through life, hardship, addiction, loss, and sadness...and the remarkable resilience she had to muster in order to get to the other side where joy, peace, unconditional love, and forgiveness reside.  

    This is the story of Sydney Jennings, a loving wife and mother who loses herself and almost loses everything that she holds dear because her of her mental health and alcoholism, brought on by loneliness, financial hardship, and marital discourse. Through self discovery, therapy, a renewal of faith, and the support of her friends and family, Sydney finds long term sobriety from alcohol and finds joy in her life, once again.

     Sydney's story is important because many of us in the African American community, including myself, have very little cultural references with regards to substance abuse and mental health. Many of us are raised to "pray about it" and to not seek therapy or counseling when experiencing a difficult time emotionally. Sydney is apart of the generation who was raised to keep your own council and to not tell strangers her business. I, too, am from that school of thought. I am currently a recovering alcoholic and feel that there needs to be a space for healthy conversations about therapy and mental health concerns in the black community. 

       This is also a story of unconditional love, resilience, redemption, perseverance, new beginnings, and faith. Us brown girls are stronger than we know because it is weaved into our DNA. Watch this brown girl make it!
    


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