Conversations on Mental Health, Human Connection & Healing

Life Keeps Moving

Hello friends,

This week has been one of those weeks where I found myself wondering, How did we get here already?

Summer is coming to an end. Backpacks are being packed, college shopping is wrapping up, calendars are filling, and before we know it, another season will begin.

And today...our son turns 20.

Twenty.

I still remember the little boy who would run into our room in the mornings, full of questions about the world. Today, he's a young man pursuing his own dreams, cooking meals for the family, preparing for a bodybuilding competition, and figuring out what adulthood looks like.

As proud as I am of him, I also found myself looking over at our daughter.

For the first time, she's the only teenager in the house.

It's funny how birthdays don't just change the person celebrating them—they change the whole family. I caught myself wondering what this transition feels like for her. Does she feel excited for her brother? Of course. But does she also feel a little lonely watching her big brother step into a new chapter?

Growing up isn't just an individual journey.

Families grow up together.

Every new chapter asks each of us to adjust a little.

Around the Corner

Professionally, it's been a wonderful week.

I had the opportunity to meet with several community organizations, including CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, to continue exploring how we can work together to strengthen suicide prevention and early awareness in our communities. Conversations like these remind me that no single organization can solve these challenges alone. It takes schools, nonprofits, clinicians, families, advocates, and communities all working together.

I also had the pleasure of connecting with St. Louis Magazine, and I'm excited about the possibility of sharing this message with an even wider audience. Every new conversation is another opportunity to normalize mental health and remind people that asking for help is a sign of strength.

Back at Ellie Mental Health – Concord, I'm incredibly grateful for our team. We are now 15 clinicians strong and continuing to welcome new clients every week. Watching this clinic grow has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life because behind every new clinician is another opportunity for someone in our community to receive care.

Behind the Scenes

The Path To Hope™ Podcast is coming together one piece at a time.

My website is also getting a refresh, and it's exciting to see everything beginning to align under one vision.

I'll let you in on a little secret though...

For someone who speaks in front of audiences, records podcasts, and isn't shy about having conversations with people...

I've been surprisingly self-conscious about recording my own podcast introduction.

Isn't that funny?

I've rewritten it.

Recorded it.

Deleted it.

Recorded it again.

Questioned whether my voice sounded right.

Then laughed at myself.

Eventually I realized something.

The people who choose to listen to the podcast aren't looking for a perfect introduction.

They're looking for a real one.

So at some point, I'm simply going to have to bite the bullet, press record, and let it be exactly what it is.

I have a feeling that's true for a lot of things in life.

Before I Go

One thing I've been reminded of this week is that life doesn't pause while we're preparing for the next milestone.

Children grow up.

Parents grow older.

Friendships deepen.

Communities evolve.

Dreams slowly become reality—not all at once, but one conversation, one meeting, one relationship at a time.

So this week, I'm reminding myself not to rush through any of it.

To celebrate birthdays.

To notice the quieter transitions happening around me.

To enjoy the work of building something meaningful.

And to remember that while there will always be another project waiting tomorrow, today only happens once.

Thank you for continuing to be part of this journey.

If you've been enjoying these newsletters, I'd love to hear from you. Simply reply to this email and let me know what's been on your mind lately.

And if there's a topic you'd like explored on the Path To Hope™ Podcast, or if you'd like to be a guest, I'd love to hear that too.

Until our next conversation,

Saroni
Author • Speaker • Mental Health Advocate

Founder, Path To Hope™
Owner, Ellie Mental Health Concord, MO

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