A Little Letter

“The flag is up,” I say out loud even though my husband, Jean-Claude, has left for work. I open the tiny door of the red mailbox we bought at Target that I keep next to my computer. There is a piece of paper tucked inside. Jean-Claude has left me a note! I unfold it and read the words, “I am so proud of you. Each day is so much work for you, and you still manage to smile.”

After particularly hard days when I feel like the schizophrenia is controlling my life instead of me controlling my schizophrenia, I often find the flag up on the little red mailbox. Jean-Claude’s support and words of encouragement, his recognition that I am trying even when I don’t always succeed at what I set out to do, are such a comfort to my bruised ego and sense of defeat.

It is so easy to get discouraged when you live with a difficult mental or physical health issue. There are days when it feels like it would be easier to give up than to try to tackle the things that other people can easily do.

The words tucked into the mailbox remind me of my blessings. I have a caregiver husband who is not only walking beside me, he is encouraging me, supporting me and assisting me.