Conversations on Mental Health, Human Connection & Healing

Sometimes We Need Another Language

Hello friends,

Today I invited someone into my home whom I met in a rather unexpected way.

Her name is Teo, and I first met her at Red Gate Art Gallery, where she presented her performance experience called Word Play. I was fascinated by the concept, so I invited her over to share it with my 13-year-old daughter and another young friend of mine.

And my goodness, I'm so glad I did.

Word Play creates a way for people to explore and express themselves through words that are meaningful to them. Watching the experience unfold this afternoon reminded me how many different ways there are for us to communicate what's happening inside us.

We tend to think communication means sitting across from someone and talking. But sometimes the words don't come that easily. Sometimes they come through writing. Through art. Through music. Through movement.

That's probably why Teo's work resonated with me so much. It reminded me of what I've been exploring through Dance for Mental Health™. When I dance, I'm not trying to teach choreography. I'm interested in what happens when music and movement give us another way to express something we may not quite know how to say.

Teo is exploring that through words.

Different languages. Same very human need to express ourselves, connect, and feel understood.

It was a wonderful afternoon, and I'd highly recommend Teo and Word Play to anyone interested in creative ways of helping people explore what's inside them.

It also made me think about my daughter.

At 13, she's still discovering how she likes to communicate and express herself. As her mother, perhaps my job isn't always to get her to communicate in the way that's easiest for me. Part of knowing her is learning the languages that work for her.

I'm still learning those.

Something I'm looking forward to at Ellie

Our newest clinician, Marlee, will be joining us shortly, and I've been so encouraged by how excited she is to help develop our first Path To Hope™ Community Learning Series workshop for parents supporting children with ADHD.

This workshop began with something I wished I'd had as a parent. Now someone with real experience facilitating this kind of work is going to help shape it.

I'm very excited to see where we take it together.

🎙️ Okay... now the podcast is getting real

This week I personally reached out to three people I'd love to have on the Path To Hope™ Podcast.

All three said yes.

And suddenly I'm looking at my home office studio thinking, Oh my goodness. I'm actually going to have to do this now. 😂

My very first guest will be a dear friend from my faith and spiritual practice. There are two reasons I wanted to begin with her. First, she's my friend, and let's be practical — if I'm going to learn how to conduct my first podcast interview, sitting across from someone I already love and feel comfortable with seems like a pretty good place to start. But more importantly, her life story is remarkable. I've known pieces of her journey for years, and I'm genuinely excited for her to share some of it with all of you. I think our conversation about life, faith, struggle, growth, and what sustains us through difficult seasons will fit beautifully into what I want Path To Hope™ to become.

My second guest is an acquaintance and friend who has been following and supporting my work for quite some time. I really appreciated that when I reached out and invited him, he said yes.

And the third came from a relationship I've built through LinkedIn — someone whose work and perspective made me think, I really want to have a conversation with this person.

I love that these first three guests came into my life in completely different ways. One through friendship and faith. One through the work I've been building. And one through a connection that grew online.

Three invitations. Three yeses.

Now the rubber is hitting the road. The studio is ready. The guests are coming. And I'm preparing to conduct my very first interview.

Am I nervous? Of course. 😂

But I'm also incredibly excited. I've spent months thinking about the conversations I want Path To Hope™ to create.

Pretty soon, I get to stop imagining them and actually start having them.

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Path To Hope™ Learning Corner

Expression doesn't always begin with talking.

Today's experience with Teo reminded me of something worth remembering, especially with children and teenagers.

When someone has difficulty talking about how they feel, it doesn't necessarily mean they don't want to communicate. They may not have found the way that works for them yet.

For one person, that may be conversation. For someone else, it might be writing, drawing, music, movement, play, or another creative outlet.

So instead of always asking, "Why won't you talk to me?" — maybe we can become curious and ask, "What helps you express what you're feeling?"

That's a very different question.

I'm learning this through Teo. Through my daughter. Through Dance for Mental Health™. And now, as I prepare for these podcast conversations.

Human beings have so many ways of telling us who they are — through words, through movement, through art, through stories, sometimes even through silence.

We just have to be curious enough to pay attention.

Until our next conversation,

Saroni
Author • Speaker • Mental Health Advocate

P.S. If this week's Learning Corner made you think of another parenting or mental health question you'd like me to explore, reply to this email. Some of those questions may even become conversations on the Path To Hope™ Podcast. 💛

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

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