Dear SNW

Hi Michael,

We have emailed a few times before. I am the one that had SickNotWeak tattooed on my arm. I am looking forward to being able to meet you in Peterborough next month and showing you how the tattoo turned out.

I love the work that you are doing, and it has been a great resource for me. Both for myself in trying to figure things out, and in seeing that I am not the only one struggling. I was always a fan of OTR, and to see the man that hosted one of my favourite shows going through the same struggles that I am has been comforting.

I purchased one of your ball caps and then later went and got the tattoo. It really started with the hat though. People that were good friends and colleagues both at work and at hockey – I have been referring minor hockey for 22 years now – had no idea what I was going through. I wore a mask and hid my problems as best I could. Now when I started to show up with the hat, a few people started to ask me what SickNotWeak was. And then of course when I had the tattoo done, a few more people asked about it.

They started the conversation for me by asking a question.

What this did for me was take a lot of pressure away. These friends and coworkers that I had been hiding my problems from because I didn’t see a way to bring it up, I no longer had to figure out how to start a conversation to talk about myself (which I hate to do anyway), and my problems. They started the conversation for me by asking a question.

And the question wasn’t how are you feeling or what’s wrong. It was, what is SickNotWeak? I answered everyone of them by saying it is the single greatest thing that has happened to me in my fight with depression. Then I go on to tell them more about your work.

I haven’t had anyone yet that wasn’t surprised when I told them I am dealing with depression. So obviously my mask is working.

With me not having to try and find the words to talk about my problems, it has made it much easier for me to open up about them. I am an introvert and have never been good at speaking period, let alone about myself. So the fact that I am able to continue the conversation instead of having to start it has made it so much easier for me to open up a bit.

Anyway, keep up the good work. I watch your Landsblogs every day and look forward to them every day. I share them with my wife, friends, and family when I feel that something in the blog will help them to see where I am at.

I look forward very much to meeting you in Peterborough.

Brian