Name: Mel Henry

Social Media Handle/Username: Twitter: @OUBad Insta: @OUBad_

Introduce Yourself/Tell About Yourself: I’m a writer, witch, and wanderlust. I’m a wife to the greatest man on earth, and mother to the three best adults you’ll ever meet. I love reading, doing puzzles, cooking, photography, and learning about the world around me. Between research and travel, there’s no where I can’t go (even if sometimes, it’s just in my dreams). I work part-time as a legal assistant, but when I’m not working, I’m usually home, spending time with my pets and working on my next writing project. I was a born storyteller.

What Inspires You Every day? : Music. There is so much music out there perfect for every mood. I’ve got a playlist for every occasion, and my music tastes vary widely: pop, country, heavy metal, classical, jazz, rock, and even meditational instrumentals. It calms my nerves, gives me hope, and refuels my imagination tanks.

What is some words of wisdom you live by?: The golden rule, of course: Do unto others as you would have done to you.
Watch where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
Everything happens for a reason.
Stand up for what’s right, even if you stand alone.

What is your ultimate goal in life? : To leave a positive impact on the world, whether it’s through words, actions, or thoughts. I can’t change the world, but I can change the world around me, so that’s what I want to do. I want to leave a lasting, loving legacy to my children and beyond.

How have you been during the pandemic and how has it affected you? : I isolated for about 4 months straight. I’m an introvert, so for the most part, it wasn’t too bad. I caught up on some reading, binged a lot of movies and TV shows, and managed to recover from a big surgery in that time. Later last year, I went back to work outside the home despite the dangers. I stayed Covid-free from March 2020 until February 2021. I’m fortunate that despite underlying predisposition the Coronavirus didn’t leave too much of a lasting impact, but that fatigue? It’s a bitch.

The pandemic as a whole (not just the disease, but societal changes, environment, my mental health, etc.) has been difficult. I won’t lie. But as my belief goes: everything happens for a reason. Pollution was reduced dramatically. We spent more time with our families. We learned that not every job has to mean going into an office building; it can be done from home or on the go. We got more exercise by spending time outdoors. We created memories we may not have otherwise created. We got fresh air and sunshine. I know none of those things make up for the 3,000,000+ lives lost in the last year, but we can move forward and make the changes needed to beat this virus and overcome the challenges we’ve faced.

What is a message you would like to give others? : I mentioned being a witch. For some, you’ve already tuned out and prayed for my soul. And that’s fine. For the rest of you who don’t fear me or my spirituality, my advice is to believe in a higher power. That can be God, Allah, historical gods and goddesses, the universe itself, your own inner spirit – just something. Whatever you believe in, channel that faith unconditionally. Love others, be kind in your words and deeds, and help people whenever you can. That being said, when you encounter toxicity in a person or relationship, it’s okay to say goodbye to it. You can love from afar, pray for them, wish them the best, but in order to keep your own peace, you must walk away from anyone who doesn’t add something positive to your life.

What else would you like to tell others about you or your life?: As a 40+ year warrior of mental illness and personal catastrophes, I can tell you with experience and wisdom: you will not always feel the way you do at this moment. Your circumstances may change, or you may grow emotionally from what’s going on right now. That’s all up to you. No one is going to save you, especially if you don’t want to be saved. So keep going. Put one foot in front of the other. Go slowly if you have to, but don’t stop moving forward. Inhale, exhale, repeat. You are loved. You are brave. You are worthy. You are enough.