Giving Thanks: Jess Howard.

I have only had the pleasure of meeting Jess once, and even then it was a very brief "omg! yay! I'm so glad I ran into you" type of exchange at BlogHer last year. She was very shy, and it was wonderful to get to meet her, if only for a few minutes. I have been reading her site, drowninginkids, for about 3 years now. We have emailed a few times and exchanged blog comments. I am grateful for Jess because she writes so candidly about her battle with depression. She is raw and honest and has written about attempting suicide, her divorce, her mental demons, medication, financial struggles - she lays it all bare. She also writes about her overwhelming love for her kids, and is one heck of a fine photographer. Knowing that she is in the world, getting up every morning and doing her best to figure it all out, staring at the ceiling many nights unable to sleep, that her thoughts run dark and wild, helps me know that I'm not the only one who struggles. I only wish I was as brave as Jess and able to write as openly as her. Maybe one day.