#SWW: A Conversation with Mia Sutton, Former Lead Editor for Dream On Youth
What is up, y’all? I’m so excited to share this interview that I conducted with Mia Sutton. I’m going to keep this part brief because she drops such a beautiful amount of knowledge that I would hate to deter you from it.
Maya: Who are you and what was your role with Dream on Youth?
Mia: I'm Mia. I'm a 30-something woman who lives for words and stories. I'm your stereotypical introvert - only child, Pisces, INFJ, empath. I'm a writer, editor, blogger, poet, dreamer, bookworm. I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we have 2 sons. My role with Dream On Youth was Lead Editor. Essentially, I got to work with a great group of bloggers (like you!) on editorial content for the site. It's been a pleasure to be a part of the team!
Maya: What inspired you to join Dream on Youth?
Mia: I had been a follower of Dream On Youth and Cydney on social media for a while and I really loved her energy and her message/vision regarding mental health. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, it was refreshing to see her talk so openly about mental health topics and be a source of encouragement and empowerment to others.
Maya: What do you include in your toolkit for your self care?
Mia: Rest. A lot of rest. Not necessarily sleep, but that helps, too. But more so listening to my body and knowing when I need to take it easy and not have so many things on my plate. It's taken a long time for me to realize that I need to set boundaries and stick to them.
Maya: As a woman and a person of color, how would you best describe your relationship with mental health?
Mia: My current relationship with mental health is one of peace and understanding. I know now how to cope with the struggles that come with my anxiety and depression. I know now how it feels and what works and what doesn't. I know now how to ask for help when it's needed. My previous relationship with mental health was one of denial and misconceptions. Mental health was NOT a topic touched upon growing up in my household. Words like "crazy" were thrown around all the time in reference to anyone who struggled with any kind of mental health issues or saw a therapist. It took a long time for me to break that notion for myself.
Maya: Can you share some of the resources you use to navigate that?
Mia: I rely on support from my family and friends. I have also taken medication in the past and am currently taking it now to help manage my symptoms, along with seeing a therapist. Journaling helps me the most. I try to journal at least a few times a week. Some seasons are harder to navigate than others, so giving myself grace is important.
Maya: Who are your role models? Why?
Mia: My role models are people who have been through trauma and have come out the other side determined to succeed, to thrive, to break out of the victim mindset. You are not what happened to you. It doesn't have to define you. As a survivor of sexual abuse, this topic is close to my heart!
Maya: If you were to give a Ted Talk, what would you share?
Mia: Ooh, this is a great question. I have a few different topics, so maybe I could do multiple Ted Talks. 1) Why feeling anxious and having anxiety are not the same; 2) How to find your identity as a multi-racial woman; 3) As mentioned above, how to overcome trauma and thrive.
Maya: When you reflect on your life, what is it that you would want to have achieved/accomplished?
Mia: I used to say that I wanted to write a book, so that I could leave a tangible legacy behind. I do still want to do that at some point in my life. But honestly, I just want to know that I was able to bring happiness to those around me. That my friends know I care. That my family knows and feels my love. That I felt happiness and fulfillment and have few regrets at the end of my life.
Maya: Describe your perfect Sunday.
Mia: In my house, we have "Lazy Sunday". We all sleep in late and then I make a big breakfast: bacon, eggs, pancakes or waffles, fruit. And we stay in our pajamas pretty much all day and spend time together. I look forward to it every week!
Maya: What is self-worth to you?
Mia: For me, self-worth is self-love. I didn't used to think they were synonymous; now I do. Because I can't take care of anyone else until I take care of myself first. I can't tell my kids or anyone else to love themselves if I'm not doing the same. Self-worth is believing in myself and being my biggest cheerleader.
Maya: What’s something you wish we weren’t struggling with society wise?
Mia: Oy. So many things. But the biggest one is access to healthcare, especially for mental health. It shouldn't take me five months to get an appointment with a psychiatrist. I feel like I've been waiting forever. Every place I've called in my town has a long waiting list. And the only alternative, if you can't wait, is to go to the hospital and rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills. It makes absolutely no sense. And I'm someone who has decent medical insurance, I can't even imagine what it's like for someone who can't afford insurance. I don't know what the answer is, but something absolutely needs to change!
Maya: Where do you seek inspiration?
Mia: Music. I'm a big music nerd and listen to all different kinds of artists across all genres. Something about the words and the melodies really get my brain going. When I'm struck by writer's block, listening to music helps get me inspired again.
Maya: What quote gives you the most meaning?
Mia: Don't laugh, but it's a quote from the movie The Crow: "It can't rain all the time." I got that quote tattooed on my arm a few years ago and it serves as a reminder to me that no matter how bad things get, they will always get better eventually. There's nothing I can't overcome.
Maya: What’s the most meaningful thing somebody has said to you that still brings tears to your eyes?
Mia: My dad read a poem that I wrote not too long ago and he emailed me and said, "I love it! Wow. Do you have any idea how talented you are?" I cry every time I read it. He's my favorite person in the world and has been my lifelong supporter, especially of my writing. And for him to read my words and be so proud of me means so, so much.
Maya: What brings you peace?
Mia: Love. From my husband, from my kids. I was that person who swore up and down that I would never get married and have kids. Ever. I was going to be "free" and travel the world and do whatever I felt like doing. And then I married my high school sweetheart and had two kids. Life is funny that way. But being with my family brings me peace and anchors me in a way that nothing else has ever been able to. I'm a lucky woman.