September 2023 - Over the past year I have taken a more intentional approach to caring for my Mental Health by sitting in weekly Therapy sessions to address and talk about my struggles. The value and results so far from these conversations has broken the stigma/stereotype of “counseling” or “going to therapy” and I realize that I should have done it way sooner!

Struggling with self-doubt, FOMO, and the paralyzing affects of worrying about other people’s opinions (among other things) has brought me to some low moments emotionally, mentally and even shown in my behavior. So while I continue to have good and bad days, I have tried to be intentional, daily at consuming positive and healthy content that would affirm who I am as a UNYC person on this planet, who I am to God and remind me that I am blessed.

One way I practice self-care is by creating, or getting ideas out of my head onto the computer. Sometimes it’s creating in photoshop and some time ago I designed this new t-shirt “MNTL HLTH MTRS” or “Mental Health Matters”. It was a phrase I was seeing and/or thinking of often and I felt like it’s so important to remember so I created something UNYC with it.

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness month and I couldn’t get this out in time, but i also learned that September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. So in support for mental health awareness and suicide prevention I decided to release the new “MNTL HLTH MTRS” T-shirt.

This shirt serves as a reminder to take care of not only your physical health but also your mental health. Encourage your friends, family, and followers to do the same by sharing this message and opening up conversations about mental health awareness.

There’s a famous quote that goes, "The greatest wealth is health," and this includes mental health. Having discussions about mental health is essential to break the stigma surrounding it, and wearing this shirt encourages those dialogues. 

Remember, "It's okay not to be okay", and it's okay to seek help. 

The “MNTL HLTH MTRS” T-shirt is now available to order in our online store. Make a statement with your wardrobe and join us in our mission to raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide. Each shirt purchased not only supports this cause but also reminds you and everyone who sees it that mental health matters and it's essential to look after our minds as much as our bodies. 

For a couple months I worked on this video project documenting the UNYC x TSF Español missions trip to Puerto Rico in January. I’m glad I finally finished it and released it to the world last week. But to be honest I felt kind of disappointed, frustrated, unsatisfied about the way it was coming out.

Part of me knew I could have or should have done things differently. I over analyzed the details that I missed and the things I didn’t do. I almost didn’t want to put it out. Made excuses to and for myself. 

I found myself easily distracted even after being determined to get home from work to WORK on this video. I tried to learn the program on the go and I would get the hang of some things and then a week or two would go by until I sat in front of the screen again. I struggled with the thought of people criticizing it too much even though I knew I was doing this all by myself. Not because people didn’t want to help me. But because I kinda chose to challenge myself to do it alone.

I also wasn’t sure what to really do with it once I was done. Should I promo it more?? (NO DUDE ITS ALREADY BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE THE TRIP PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FORGET AND NOT CARE!) Should I make an elaborate announcement for the release? What is the post going to say? Should I add English subtitles/captions? A bunch of questions would keep me in front of the screen for hours sometimes not doing much and being distracted.

Thankfully my wife encouraged and supported me as best she could and tried to give me confidence even if she didn’t know how much I was struggling inside. My mom shared her sentiments every time she reviewed the project to spell check for me. And even up to the last day of editing on FaceTime she helped me edit the CC for the YouTube line by line.

The video has been out for a week now and it’s slowly been a sigh of relief but also has ignited something inside me. I can’t fully explain it right now but I just know that I need to work on myself more. Specifically with my time management and being disciplined about any of my next steps.

I’ll say this; (and everything else you just read...thank you) I don’t want to give up on my creative ideas. I want to learn more. I want to overcome the distractions that try to slow me down. I will be more disciplined. I will manage my time better. I am going to start and finish another project.

I am grateful for the lessons, small or large, that God continues to present to me. I hope you don’t give up on your projects. I hope you continue to believe in yourself. I pray that you find new inspiration and strive to learn more. No matter your age or current circumstances, you CAN.

Like I heard before and repeat to myself, “DO IT AFRAID!”

#UNYC #iamUNYC #DoItAfraid

Check out the video here! #SOMOSFAMILIA