Identity, Self, & Relationships

You’re Not Defined By What You’re Not

Ashley L. Peterson
the poem Not by Erin Hanson

Ginnie Sophia did this lovely video based on the poem.

You can find Erin Hanson on her Instagram and Facebook.

Here’s the text rather than graphic version of Not by Erin Hanson.

You are not your age,
Nor the size of clothes you wear,
You are not a weight,
Or the colour of your hair.

You are not your name,
Or the dimples in your cheeks,
You are all the books you read,
And all the words you speak,

You are your croaky morning voice,
And the smiles you try to hide,
You’re the sweetness in your laughter,
And every tear you’ve cried,

You’re the songs you sing so loudly,
When you know you’re all alone,
You’re the places that you’ve been to,
And the one that you call home,

You’re the things that you believe in,
And the people that you love,
You’re the photos in your bedroom,
And the future you dream of,

You’re made of so much beauty,
But it seems that you forgot,
When you decided that you were defined,
By all the things you’re not.
COVID-19/mental health coping toolkit from Mental Health @ Home

The COVID-19/Mental Health Coping Toolkit page has a wide range of resources to support better mental health and wellbeing.

Published by Ashley L. Peterson

I'm the author of three books: Psych Meds Made Simple, Making Sense of Psychiatric Diagnosis, and Managing the Depression Puzzle. These are informed by my professional experience as a former pharmacist and mental health nurse, as well as my lived experience of major depressive disorder. My goal with Mental Health @ Home is to fight stigma and provide a safe space for open dialogue to empower others.

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