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To Whom It MAY Concern

There is no shortage of things to celebrate in May. From it being National Small Business Month to National Military Appreciation Month to Women’s Health Care Month to National Walking Month to even Better Sleep Month. Add days within the month and we also celebrate Cinco de Mayo, International Firefighters’ Day, Global Love Day, International Harry Potter Day, and even International No Diet Day. Worthy subjects all, there is one other focus that is also reserved for May and that’s Mental Health Awareness Month. And I think that deserves our attention more than anything else right now.

Today, the abundance of opportunities and experiences makes our lives incredibly dynamic and engaging. While our days are filled with various challenges, it's inspiring to see how we navigate through them with resilience and strength. Every day brings its own set of demands, but it's essential to remember that not all stressors are negative—many are opportunities for growth and positive change. The multitude of activities and commitments we juggle showcases our adaptability and determination. However, navigating through the day-to-day can weigh on our mental capacity, whether the challenges are good or bad. We are constantly being pulled in different directions, making it difficult to find space free of concern. Recognizing that everyone occasionally needs support, I’d like to focus on strategies for handling some of those stressors, as well as recognizing them in others - helping us all thrive in our busy, vibrant lives.

Now we all know what we should be doing to take care of ourselves, right? Eat well. Get regular exercise. Sleep enough. Be mindful. Be realistic about goals and objectives. Accent the positive. Connect with people. Be creative. Don’t pressure yourself. Spend time in nature. The list itself is endless and at times can be overwhelming. Of course, kudos to you if you can do any or all of it on any given day or in any given week, month, or year. We should all aspire to that. But when I see lists like this, it sometimes actually lessens my mental well-being because I feel like it’s just too hard and that somehow I’m missing out while everyone else is finding their fulfillment. But then I think go practice “mindfulness” while you’re trying to change a diaper on an octopus-like, natural-sugared-up toddler. Good luck (and please report back as I need the laugh).

Obviously, having a toddler has given me a profound understanding of why we need at least a month dedicated to mental health awareness—though if it were up to me, I'd extend it to at least half a year. Raising Jack has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. However, it has also come with its fair share of challenges, especially as I navigated the transition back to work and resumed my role as WTS-LA president. Balancing these responsibilities often leads me to become Heather-o-centric, focusing intensely on Jack and my immediate world. But then, I pause and think about my board and the myriad of unseen challenges each member might be facing. This reflection reinforces the importance of mental health awareness for everyone, as we all juggle our unique sets of responsibilities and stressors.

The WTS-LA Board sounds like an all-purpose monolith, like it just exists in an office or boardroom somewhere and offers support, guidance, and action whenever needed. It’s all too easy to forget that these are people who also have a million things going on in each of their lives, with added stressors from work, home, politics, family, climate change—you name it. Yet, they still show up each and every time they are needed and required—and many times when they’re not obligated—to help WTS-LA succeed. For what it’s worth WTS-LA Board, please know that your extraordinary work and tireless dedication is greatly appreciated. And that leads to one thing that I think we can all do that matters quite a lot—recognition.

I’m not talking about awards, citations, or honors. I believe that we at WTS-LA already do that very well. I’m talking about reaching out on a one-by-one basis and letting someone know that you know they are trying their best, giving their all, or just working through something difficult. No matter how heavy your emotional load may be, take a second and acknowledge someone else and their circumstances. Recognize a person who might be going through something particularly difficult and just give them a moment of understanding, of humanity, of connection. Reach out to someone you haven’t heard from in a long time and see if they’re okay mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Again, it only takes a second, but it can make a very real difference in someone’s mental state or emotional health. And what often happens is that not only do you make the world a slightly better place, you relieve someone’s burden of loneliness or hopelessness or aggravation. In doing so, you also feel better, you lighten your load just a little bit by connecting and helping someone. It’s a win-win-win. And it’s worth the effort.

This is a very long, roundabout way of saying that we should all take a moment, no matter how overburdened we are, to take a breath, look around us, and see if anyone needs help. I strive to do this better myself, as we can't always see the difficulties others may be experiencing. Be kind. Be thoughtful. Through helping others you help yourself. And if it takes a special month to make us all aware of that, so much the better. I urge you all to reflect on mental health and the impacts it has on not only your life but also the lives of others, and if we have the capacity, celebrate all of the other wonderful things May can bring.

Heather Anderson, PE | HNTB

WTS-LA 2023-2024 President