I was so moved recently, looking back through my archives and finding a nomination from Jamie (Jamie@beingpositivewithadepressivesoul) for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.
This blog has always been incredibly important to me—not just as a record of my own journey, but as a means to meet others who are navigating the same "messy middle" of mental health. Receiving this was such an honor because it recognized the heart behind A World Outside My Window: the belief that we are stronger together.
I still encourage anyone struggling with mental health, either personally or as a caregiver, to seek out voices like Jamie’s that lead with honesty and positivity.
In the spirit of this award, I want to keep the names of these incredible creators in our archives. These are the bloggers who have brought inspiration, creativity, and light to my journey over the years:
Charlotte @ Waltzing Matilda
Karen @ GraphicsFairy
Ginger @ mysistersscrapper
Emily @ sweetlyscrapped
Stacy @ Abidingwoman
Lori @ clipngirl
Stephaine @ withagrin
Lyndsay @ thefrugalcrafter
Charlie @ Mycreativespirit
Susie @ creativecafegirl
While the original award links and badges have aged out, the sentiment remains. To all my fellow travelers: thank you for your hard work and for the light you bring to the digital world. You are not alone in this journey.
— Tracy
A Note from AWOMW: > This is a legacy post from our archives. While the original award links have been disabled, the community we built then is the foundation for what we are building now!
Join us at our new home on Substack for current lived-experience wellness and honest conversation:
https://aworldoutsidemywindow.substack.com
It is so brave and grounding to revisit these words, Tracy. This post is the definition of "Lived Experience"—it’s raw, it’s honest, and it perfectly aligns with the "Safe Refuge" we are building for AWOMW.
I have "dusted it off" by leaning into your Sage and Ivory aesthetic. I've used clean formatting to give your powerful story room to breathe, removed the old links, and added the transitions to your new home on Substack.
Since I can't peek directly into your Keep notes to grab that specific code, I’ve placed a [Placeholder] where you can paste it.
We have spent a lot of time talking about the things I’ve done (and thought about doing) for my mind and my body. You may have noticed that I am often more thorough with my follow-through regarding my mind than my body.
I’m going to work on that. Honest! But the part of this process that keeps me moving forward—the part that truly sustains me—is the section I call Soul.
Throughout the turmoil of the last few years, even in my darkest moments, I have had the reassurance of a higher presence in my life. Many may wonder how one can believe when life feels heavy or unfair. To that, I say: “How do I go on when bad things happen without the promise that there is a purpose in the end?” My faith has been the light I cling to when all hope seems lost. When the darkness felt overwhelming, and I felt truly alone, I found comfort there.
To understand where I stand today, I want to share a bit of the history that formed my foundation. Over the years, I have watched a plan unfold in ways I never expected:
On Motherhood: I was born with a rare syndrome that meant I would never conceive. Yet, I was brought 45 wonderful children through foster care. Through that love, I was able to adopt four of them.
On Trauma: Having survived mental and sexual abuse as a child, I found I was uniquely able to understand and support the special needs of the abused children who arrived in my home.
On Forgiveness: My father passed away before I could understand the complexities of our relationship. Almost immediately, my own journey through anxiety and depression began. It showed me what he likely endured in his lifetime, allowing me to reevaluate our past with a new lens of empathy.
On Grief: The loss of my best friend—just days after celebrating my son’s baptism and her own miracle pregnancy—taught me the true depths of grief and the vital need to reach out to others in their pain.
As I sit here waiting and praying, I find myself returning to these words. They remind me of the person I want to be, even when the path is difficult:
Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of my life, in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted... Let me profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden or embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable; that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow or proud or over
bearing.
I know there are plans for me, and I am learning to be patient while I navigate what this journey with Social Anxiety and Panic is truly for. Maybe the goal is simply to reach you. To let you know that you are not alone in this "messy middle."
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
— Tracy
A Note from AWOMW: > Because this is a legacy post from our archives, older links have been disabled. However, the journey continues! We would love for you to join our growing community for more lived-experience wellness and honest conversation.
Join us on Substack for the full blueprint:
https://aworldoutsidemywindow.substack.com
Some days, anxiety feels like running into a wall you didn’t see coming. It’s sudden, overwhelming, and exhausting—like my panic attacks when leaving the house. I’ve come to recognize it as my personal “wall,” similar to how athletes sometimes hit their physical limit.
Even after years of managing anxiety, “the wall” can still appear without warning. It’s not failure—it’s your body and mind signaling that something is overwhelming your system.
Noticing these early can give you a chance to pause, breathe, and use grounding techniques before the full panic hits.
Personal Reflection: I’ve learned that the wall is not my enemy—it’s a signal to pause and be present. Over time, acknowledging it without judgment reduces its power.
External Links: Calm App, Mindfulness Study 2025
