Firstly, I’m currently in the USA (in the gloriously sunny ‘Sunshine State’!) and the walls are paper thin where I’m staying so apologies for the door banging and other such noises!
Secondly, i'm finally taking a proper, total step back from all my 'public' work in mental health now. I've been doing it over a decade and it's taken a toll. I need to prioritise my wellbeing going forwards, as well as focus on other areas of my life.
Lastly, in this video, i forgot to mention from my scribbled notes that I am well aware I’m ‘self-obsessed’ as a few people have commented in the last year. In the words of John Lennon, “Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty.” This is something I desperately want to work on. I need to let so much s**t go. Both in terms of what everyone thinks of me, but mostly my own self obsession, judgements, doubts etc. And to stop overthinking everything always argh!
Oh and the final thing I want to leave you with are the lyrics from one of my favourite Dusty Springfield songs, Goin’ Back:
'Let everyone debate the true reality,
I’d rather see the world the way it used to be.
A little bit of freedoms all we lack,
So catch me if you can…I’m goin back.'
It sums up the way I feel perfectly right now. It's such a f***ing divided, intolerant, harsh society to be part of at present. I seem to fit into this modern world less and less as time goes by. But I pray that we all find freedom, as well as peace and love, unconditionally :)). Jonny x x
PS There’s things I haven’t said here because I’m too much of a coward, not strong enough currently, and frankly too paranoid atm...but there’s another major reason for totally stepping back. Over the last few months, I’ve been ostracised, gaslit, and even bullied for standing up for ALL of humanity, especially children. I know it’s been a shock to people around me because I’ve always seemed quite passive to them, but I cannot comprehend seeing so many innocent kids suffering in Gaza, and so I’ve been especially vocal about it on Instagram. Why would I have given the last 5 years, completely unpaid, to setting up a youth mental health charity in the UK if I didn’t care about ALL children’s wellbeing??? Worst of all, I was libelled/witch-hunted on Twitter/X by a user who lied i was "violent" at a vigil in a series of tweets. It's something I’m still processing tbh. But it’s too much of a dark and difficult world out there right now for me to navigate. This period has literally been pushed to breaking point and I truly don’t know who to trust. It's so sad to see how normalised bullying has become thanks to technology-and specifically social media. You can say what the f**k you want without any repercussions for the damage done when you’re hidden behind a screen can’t you. If society cared about mental health as it consistently says it does, they would make a difference, starting with some education/tools/training etc for our kids, but it’s simply profits before people. So, I plead again for a real revolution of humanity. For the sake of the next generation's futures if nothing else. Anyway, i really am signing off now, My priority must be me and my wellbeing for the foreseeable future x
PPS December 2024:
https://youtu.be/4ZYyfP2jVMI?si=9bcu3TTXG9whlUUt
So, injustice wins. I'm gutted. I’ve come to the conclusion that I might be slightly mad, but it’s this world which is truly, utterly insane.
PPPS All the activists and campaigners who never ever give up…you are my heroes ❤️❤️❤️