Coming Out Crazy

At last.

The day has finally arrived. I’m so relieved. And excited. And scared. And so many emotions.

Also, I am honoured, thrilled to announce that at precisely 1 p.m. today, Coming Out Crazy launches at Psych Central and our new home at this address: http://blogs.psychcentral.com/coming-out-crazy/

And isn’t it perfect that this is the beginning of National Mental Health Awareness Week ~ what could be better, more auspicious for our success.

I’m a little nervous breaking into the big U.S. blogging market, but…

I’m a little nervous about breaking into the big American blogging market but Founder and CEO, John M. Grohol, Psych.D is treating me royally. He’s a pioneer, a visionary in internet mental health awareness and community building. He’s assigned me a terrific and very gentle, experienced new editor, too. She has a great eye for design.

Plus there’s loads of blogging support, which I desperately need.

As I’m doing everything myself for the first time.

We have a different look, but our soul and spirit hasn’t changed…

My new blog will look quite different, but as is this one, it’s WordPress. Easy for me to use. I will be posting three to four times a week. Shorter posts.

Psych Central is giving me complete control and freedom. More than I ever had at The Toronto Star.

I am beginning with some material that may be familiar to you, though my take is always a little different.

I’m reintroducing myself down there…

No knows me in the U.S.A. for the most part, so I must gradually introduce myself, my themes and philosophies. This new frontier is a little daunting for me.

I hope you will be coming along to support our common goals and purpose. Exploring a wide variety of mental and emotional health and wellness issues from diverse perspectives.

That has never changed from my first blog post on April 9, 2008.

Let go together.

Let us continue to grow, together.

Learning. Sharing. Growing. Evolving.

I’m focussed forward, in the present and grateful for the past.

It’s been quite a trip, so far.

I’m so excited to be beginning again.

With you…

Now, it’s late. Already tomorrow. I still have some last-minute packing to do and I’m exhausted, so I’m turning in. I hope you sleep tight.

See you and speak soon.

xox

sln

Here’s what I posted on Facebook and Twitter today.

Great news! The next incarnation of this blog, “Coming Out Crazy” is now in development at Psych Central. Looking great. And, I can keep my Canadian spellings, too. Should be up in about a week. Thanks to Dr. Grohol and your team.

And thanks to you, for taking a chance on me and moving here with me. I hope you will follow me and our community when we make our move.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, it turns out we were simply “waiting” for the universe to unfold, here, at this address.

I didn’t have a plan, but I did have a dream. I had no idea any of this was going to happen when I launched this incarnation of “Coming Out Crazy” on Wednesday, April 14th from my final post at The Toronto Star.

Your comments there warm the cockles of my heart. They mean more to me than my replies can ever possibly express. I’m speechless. Rare for me.

All I did was keep churning out my lemonade and working like I’ve never worked in my life. Hard and Fast. There was no time to worry or brood. That’s not my style. I accept the past. Stay in the present. And, somehow, the future takes care of itself.

So, have a great day and speak soon. When we launch, I’ll be signing off here and continuing to post on Facebook and Twitter just like I do now. All that stays the same.

Nothing will change. This is my blog, our blog, and always will be. Things are just going to get a whole lot better. More freedom. Shorter posts. At least three or four times a week. Maybe more.

Plus I’ll have lots of blogging support for WordPress – which I’m just learning to use – and a lovely editor with a “light touch” – we’ve already started corresponding. She’s not unlike my beloved Toronto Star editor Brandie Weikle.

She and I are still working together, by the way. I’ll be writing features for her at Healthzone, where Coming Out Crazy originated.

At our new address, I’ll be joining a fascinating and eclectic party of Psych Central bloggers with a delicious smörgåsbord of intriguing perspectives and assorted specialties ~ to suit every interest and taste. I’m joining a vibrant community. The first mental health website on the planet. Fifteen years old. Leading the way. A team. Like the newsroom of a big urban daily newspaper.

We’re retaining our name and our ethos. Coming Out Crazy and community development. Conversation. Discussion. Disagreement. Freedom to be who we are. To evolve and practice using our voices in a safe haven.

“Share. Learn. Grow.”

I’ll have complete freedom to continue our conversation. Continue with my mental health advocacy. Continue my teaching. Continue my commitment with my commitments to social change through public education.

I have to confess, I’m daunted by all this. A mite nervous. But I’m not going to think about it right now. I’m pulling a Scarlett O’Hara, who famously said in the final paragraph of Margaret Mitchell‘s romantic Civil War classic, Gone with the Wind, “I’ll think of it all tomorrow… After all, tomorrow is another day.”

So bye for now. Today, I’m offline so I can finish my end-of-term marking/grading.

The clock is ticking.

Sending you all my affection and gratitude.

Speak soon!

“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.” ~ Groucho Marx

And finally, thank you, Mr. Marx, wherever you are ~ for defining our spirit with your vivid wit and wisdom.

xox

sln

Coming Out Crazy

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