Home is where the green chile is.

Hello from my beautiful home state of New Mexico! I'm on the road spending some quality time with family and friends. It has been an amazing trip and I've also been gathering some thoughts to blog about. I hope you are all doing well and am look forward to my next blog post...when I get to a computer, since I'm sending this from my phone (gotta love technology).
New Mexico is a magical place where all of my senses become awakened. It's the place I love most and is where I started my journey to work in mental health. Nationwide, we rank within the top five for suicide rates. Many factors, such as high poverty and a large rural land make access to mental health resources difficult, and contribute to this statistic. However, giving up is not the answer and we all hold a responsibility to give back to our communities, leaving them better for future generations. It was disheartening to learn about our high suicide rates and what gave rise to a calling within me to help find a solution. There is no place like New Mexico...or her people! This is where I come to reconnect with those I love, the NM sky, fresh crisp air, mountains, dirt, and along the way myself. No matter where I have lived, I always call New Mexico home, because after all, home is where the green chile is!

Self Love

Self love and respect are two life essentials and lessons. May we all find the path that leads us to the road of self acceptance and may we never forget our inner strength, uniqueness, and ability to overcome life's challenges. To others you will always be too much or not enough of something, but what matters most is how you "See" and "Believe" in yourself. Once this is accomplished, you can "Achieve" anything your heart desires. Wishing you all a beautiful start to the weekend! Big hugs, Ane

"National Call to Action Against Suicide"

Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up" Should you or someone you know need help, contact the National Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) As I write these words, I am numb knowing that 17-year old Carlos Vigil took his own life in my home state of New Mexico. He was part of a well known youth center I enjoyed stopping by on visits back home. I always felt inspired by what the innovative things the youth were doing and the sincere caring nature of the staff always sent me back to Washington, DC with a new sense of hope. I write this as a message to those suffering in silence and to honor the memory of a young life gone to soon. No matter what troubles lie in your path, please know that suicide is not the answer. It does not matter if you knew Carlos Vigil personally, because every time a child dies by suicide, it is a tragic loss to all of humanity. From what I have read Carlos was a compassionate leader. He was a member of a well-known youth center in his communi...

See You At The Gym! On The Road To Becoming Physically and Mentally Fit.

I like many others made a resolution to get fit- both financially and physically. If I could do it once (during my pageant days), of course I could do it again, right? After two days of weight training (5 lb dumbbells) and stair climber I could barely lift my arms to get dressed in the morning, much less get in and out of my car without wincing. As I sat reeking of Icy Hot , reality set in...and it wasn't pretty. I was out of shape! Being physically fit definitely contributes to being mentally fit. A study by Arizona State has proven the positive effects related to mental health, through physical fitness. Findings showed that consistent exercise decreased feelings of anxiety and depression, and increased self-esteem, ability to deal with stressful situations, and contributed to better sleep patters. It is also hypothesized that regular exercise can combat the onset of depression (although further study needed to be done). Today, it is estimated that 1 out of every ...

See, Believe, & Achieve

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