The Mental Is Everything...

Happy Wellness to all!

As I have already discussed previously, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Please excuse my typo from the last wellness email that was sent out! (My Bad! Stress Awareness Month is for April). Anyways, last Saturday, I had the pleasure of being apart of a Mental Health Symposium that was held at the Amerihealth Caritas NC Wellness Center in Charlotte! I got to collaborate with Dr. Ashley Parker from the Parker & Co. Wellness Group, Miss Stephanie McGee from the Compassionate Counseling for Individuals & Families, & Mr. John Morgan from Soft-Work (a counseling service for young men). All wellness business are located in Charlotte, NC. 

I decided to write and share this health blog because I gained a few key takeaways from this session. The key takeaways were: (1) Mental Health is something that society does not take seriously, (2) How to describe when you have reached your breaking point mentally, (3) The systematic issues that align with men & being vulnerable (comfortable) in discussing their mental health, (4) The different types of therapy that can be used as we relate it to one’s mental health.

It was mentioned in this session that since Covid-19 had taken place, there has been a rapid decline in mental health due to the lack of social interaction. We were forced during that time to isolate & for some, the isolation might have caused more harm than helped. I feel that the isolation forced many people to admit to & deal with many issues that may have been masked by their everyday lives. While isolation due to Covid-19 isn’t a requirement anymore, many people have not recovered from the mental aspects that was caused by it. The constant movement & “keeping busy” is only a temporary fix to dealing with issues, in my opinion. The world was used to doing so, but Covid-19 made us slow down, think, & sit with ourselves. 

In addition to that, Mental Health is something that needs to be prioritized & taken seriously. As an educator, since Covid-19, it has been noticed that more mental health initiatives have been more prominent within a lot of communities & have been provided for free. Many people may be ashamed as it relates to addressing things with their mental health, but I honestly view this as being brave & strong. We all have something, no one in this world is perfect by any means. 

I feel that Mental Health is the umbrella to a lot of things within our lives. Everything we feel mentally will show physically & emotionally whether or not we want to admit it. It is important to pay attention to your triggers, your response when triggers happen, & how you resolve the conflict(s) when they may arise.

Overall, there is always help available. Seek resources or ask a friend/family member/co-worker as needed for help with finding the right resources. In final, nobody in this world can make it alone. You only get 1 you…take care of yourself & be well.

-Hardy

Need Resources? (For Sharing As Well)

It's Giving Natural V8!

4.15.26

The V8…Better known as “The Green Machine”

One thing about me is that I’ve never had an issue with eating my vegetables…especially the GREEN ones! I AM A SPINACH LOVER, especially with some garlic & red pepper flakes mixed in to help with adding some flavor. Speaking of which, as I have been getting deeper into my holistic wellness journey, randomly finding an all natural chlorophyll recipe was definitely a win! I have always seen people use the chlorophyll packs to add to their water, but to find something homemade to make is always luxury for me! Especially as a health educator that lovesssss to cook meals from scratch & using all natural ingredients. It is always a plus where you can control the amounts on the ingredients that are added.

In figuring out how to make homemade chlorophyll, I figured out a couple of things: (1): This juice definitely takes a little bit more time to make, considering the cleaning of each ingredient, cutting, & having to juice in small increments. (2) It is definitely a 10 out 10…recommend! & (3) Honestly, outside of the Hydrator juice (Hardy’s Favorite), this is probably my most favorite to make with a little extra spice (ginger) to give it a nice kick! If you have not already, please check out the video above, to see a small process of how I make my chlorophyll. & Yes, each ingredient was cleaned before capturing content! 

Just for a little more info….

The Chlorophyll is packed with a lot of hydrating ingredients (coconut water, cucumber & celery) with a small hint of sweetness & sour from the small amount of pineapple & lemon that’s added. & yes, only a small amount pineapple should be added, remember this is a PURE veggie drink…NO CHEATING! The kale that is added (& yes I tend to add a lot) gives the extra kick of fiber that is needed to help with keeping you regular, if you know what I mean. Fiber rules the world & helps with a lot of major bodily functions that can keep the weight off :)

Please be sure to check out the image below to see the ingredients and the benefits for each one! The Juice Menu will return mid to late of May 2026 for those who may be interested in purchasing & including this juice in their health & wellness journey….or if you just want to try it for the heck of it :) 

My Day As A JCSU Health Fair Vendor!

03.04.26

Happy Nutrition Month, Folks!! First & Foremost, again, I had the amazing opportunity of participating as a vendor at the 19th Annual Career & Health Fair Extravaganza that was hosted in Charlotte, NC. Just a little fun fact… this was my first 1st year serving as a vendor in many YEARS & being in this amazing role yesterday reminded me of a lot things. Firstly, It reminded me that community health education is my purest passion, hence why I created The P.E.A.C.H Project back in 2020 to begin with. Secondly, it reminded me of the social fun that is attached to collaborating with people & sharing the same thoughts/ideas. Overall, it made me re-reflect as a business woman who loves her craft or her ministry for better words. 

While attending the health fair & spending time in collaboration, I was able to educate & promote “The Juice Menu”, while connecting with so many other amazing people from various companies. It was an honor to be in the building with many great & like-minded people who share the same mission for our communities, which is to: EDUCATE one another. Though I did not get that many photos or other content & was living in the moment, there are MANY memories from this event that will be embedded in my heart forever.

To the organizations that I have connected with & received MUCH positive words & energy from: THANK YOU. I do look forward in continuing to grow as a business as I continue crossing many more paths at events such as this. I do express much gratitude for what each organization does for the community. It is such an underrated blessing! 

Though this is my first health blog on my website, please stay tuned for more to come as I share my experiences of a health & wellness business owner moving forward. Your support means more than you will ever know! Hopefully next time, I will present more content! :) 

-M. Hardy