20 YEARS?!?!

For Drew, Tiffany, Brooks, and Kevin.

So it's been 20 years since I graduated high school. We recently had our high school reunion, and to be honest I wasn't going to go at first. I wasn't going to go because for one I was scared. I didn't want to discuss how I'm currently doing. Since my job requires me to talk to college kids, I didn't want to have the conversation, "Oh I go back and forth with teenagers. Just living the dream!" My anxiety was speaking loudly.

 I've never been good at mingling with people. I'm currently working on how I talk about myself or speak about myself, but if I can be honest, I still have that low self-esteem that I've always had growing up. Discussing how I'm doing is still not easy, but with therapy I feel like I'm getting better.  That feeling of expecting the worse was heavy as well. As well as that feeling of comparison. Bottom line, like I've stated in previous blogs, I can type stuff out better than I can speak it. 

Getting to the reunion was a trip in itself. Unknowingly I put in the wrong address on Google maps, so when I got to where I thought was the destination I was confused because there was no where to park. At first in my mind I thought this was a sign to turn around and go home. Again my anxiety was telling me this was a bad idea even going to this thing, but I digress. So I found a parking lot and put in the right address. Even while I was parking in the correct parking lot I was telling myself, "Well you already paid for your ticket might as well..."

I was told by one of my therapists to try and have fun. My mom told me not to overthink things. I went in the place and found my old high school picture, and first thought was I remember that guy. They spelt my last name wrong because of course they did. Anyway, a couple of young ladies I knew of in high school, asked me to take a picture at this photo booth gimmick they had set up. I didn't want to take any pictures but I didn't want to be the typical asocial person I've been since ever. Asocial meaning lacking motivation for social interaction, and of course I told my sister, I was dragged to take the picture, but moving on.

One of my other fears going into the reunion was crying. I didn't want to cry, and by the grace of God I didn't. One person I feel tried his best to get me. We started talking about whatever we were talking about and he brought up how my smile always made his day better. Oddly enough, I don't remember smiling much in high school. Anyway, this guy said I should do, "A Day In the Life of Daniel" TikTok.  I vowed to myself to never ever get on or create a TikTok, but according to some people I should get one. Even my sister said, "I got the personality for it." I don't know, maybe---

While walking around I noticed that there was a tribute to those that were no longer here. That almost got me because I could've been up there. With my congestive heart failure, with my kidney issues, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and even thoughts of suicide...so yeah, my heart sank a little bit when I saw that tribute. 

The rest of the reunion went fairly well I think. The question comes did I see any of my old friends or reconnect. Here's the thing about some of the people I hung out with in high school, some of them where a couple of years younger, and even the ones that were in the class of 2005 with me....we were kind of a weird group anyway. I mean of course I would've loved to see some of the old crew, but it just wasn't meant to be. 

So that was my 20 year high school reunion. The past 20 years hasn't been the kindest to me, but I'm still here. If you're reading this, and you were at the reunion, thank you for being nice to me. Yes I had a great time. On to the next one I guess. If you're read this far, I thank you. Please share and repost this so others can read. Please read and share my old blogs if you so choose.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

I know I wrote about keeping the dream going. Well it's been a little over 4 months since my last entry. I wish I had a good explanation, but I hope this makes up for it.

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. On May 31, 2025 John Brenkus lost his battle with depression. John Brenkus was an American producer, director, and a television personality, but it wasn't enough. He was a father, but that wasn't enough. I know they call depression a silent killer, but I don't think it's that silent anymore. Well, it was never silent for me. It's something that I've dealt with, and may I say still deal with at times. I've been in therapy and on medication going on three years now.

I've heard it said that men suffer in silence. Men get told to "man up" when there's even a slight sign of weakness. Professional wrestler, L.A. Knight, said in a promo, "If something arises in your life that hits you your feels and you have to cry. Let it out. It's good for your mental health, it's good for you, it doesn't make you any less of a man." Now you got your naysayers that tell you to "man up," do some pushups, and all that. This is why some men suffer in SILENCE because they feel nobody cares. The community that's supposed to be supporting them, are burying them. Then when it's too late, "Why didn't they say anything?" 

As Charlamagne tha God would say, "I did my research, and by research I mean Google." Google says, that "Men may not be diagnosed with mental health conditions as readily as women due to various factors, including societal expectations and a reluctance to seek help. Men are more likely to die by suicide than women, and mental health conditions play a significant role in these statistics." 

I remember watching a wrestling show and one of the performers took a mental health break, and a performer by the name of CM Punk got on the microphone and said, "And I’ll say one last word about it — if anybody here or anybody at home watching television if you’re in a place where you think you need help, get it. Ask for it, reach out, text somebody, call somebody. There's nothing harder that you can do in the world, but there's nothing more courageous as well." 

Me personally I was suffering for a long time. I was writing blogs regarding my mental capacity. Fortunately for me somebody was listening to my cry for help, and I ended up starting therapy and medication. Shout out to the two therapists I've had. I'm on Zoloft and Abilify. I'm still a work in progress. As the saying goes, "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be." 

So I say continue to cry out for help. Somebody is listening. Old hymn says, "Have a little talk with Jesus. Tell Him all about your troubles. He'll hear your faintest cry, and He'll answer by and by. When you feel the little prayer wheel turning, just know that the fire is burning. Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right." 

Another song says, "I cried and I cried. Cried all night long. I cried and I cried until I found the Lord."

Jay Glazer, a Fox NFL analyst and a Mental Health advocate, tweeted this in response to the death of John Brenkus, "The darkness convinces you you’re better off dead, it seems so convincing, it’s NEVER EVER EVER true!!!!"

I know people would love for me to be more open to having conversations, but I've stated before I'm not good at getting my words together out loud. I'm much better at typing them out like this. 

That's all I have for this one. I hope you got something out of it. Continue to pray for men who are suffering silently and loudly. To the men reading this that may be suffering, it's ok to seek professional help. It's ok to reach out to tell somebody what is going on. Don't suffer alone. Find your community. I ask that you share this with all you can share it with. Hopefully it won't be another 3 or 4 months until the next entry.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
DanRich618@yahoo.com

DREAM ON

 Happy 2025!

I've gone back and forth with what I wanted to blog about. Then I came across a cover of a song that many consider a classic. That song is Dream On by Aerosmith. I've always liked the song, but the way I heard the artist J Paul sang the song dare I say ministered to me in a such a way to, not to be corny, to dream on. I've been stagnant in my writing and other things that I'm passionate about. Reasons varying to mostly lack of motivation. When I listened to J Paul's cover of Dream On, he adlibbed, "Dreamers keep dreaming. Singers just keep singing. Writers just keep writing." 

"Dream until your dreams come true." 

We all got gifts. We all have dreams. I believe God gives us dreams for  reason. Just because others in your family gave up on their dreams, doesn't mean you have too. Dream until your dreams come true. It is written, "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Song writer said, "Tomorrow may never come. For you or me, Life is not promised." Go after your dreams while you can because "maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away."

We all have our own specific assignment. Song writer said, “No one God created is quite like you

No one earth is quite the same

In the body of Christ there's a need for your life

There's a work, there's an assignment just for you

There's a purpose for that gift that lies in you”

Some one is waiting for your dreams to come true. Your dream isn't just for you. It is written, "A man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men." Work your dream. Work your gift. Don't sit on your gift. 

I was at work the other day and I heard a voice say, "This is not your final destination." 

So dream on people. Don't let the doubts of anybody stop your from dreaming. Even if they're so called friends and family. Don't let self doubt stop you.

And that's all I got for this first blog of 2025. I hope this finds you well, and I hope you're encouraged to dream on and keep on. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Dream On (J Paul's cover) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLzau26-TUg