When the challenges of life have gotten your spirit down,
and their is no smile on your face, only a frown,
remember things can happen for the best.
Think positive thoughts and forget the rest.
Believe in the favorable outcome you desire.
It will lift your spirits up and take them higher.
Use the light of hope to illuminate the darkness of your thinking.
Give hope a chance and a good feeling it will be bringing.
Promote hope in what you think and say,
and hope will make for you a better day.

– Gabe Kardos, January 2, 2010,  The New Jersey Mental Health Players

The NJ Mental Health Players performed Tuesday evening the 11th at the Bernards High School.  The did role playing of families living with depression, anxiety, grief.  It was a great performance and interactive discussion between the actors, in character, and the audience moderated by Sharon Curran.

Gabe was one of the performers. He suffers from a bipolar disorder that has had him in and out of hospitals for most of his life. Hope is what keeps him going. Hope, each morning, that today will be a good day.

We had a small turnout for the event.  So I learned that it would best, next time, to have a very targeted topic and a captive audience.  The Mental Health Players perform in schools, churches, in front of police organizations, and at judge conferences.  But they do deserve a stage!