From Deborah, as Climb Out of the Darkness kicks off today!!!!!!!:
I was borrowing my husband’s Old Spice deodorant the other day and noticed a cool slogan on the cap. And since it didn’t have a little trademark symbol, I thought I’d borrow it for us. And by us, I mean the hundreds of Climbers all over the World who will be taking part in our Climb out of the Darkness! So tomorrow or Saturday or whenever you do your Climb, as you are hiking or running or walking up that hill and thinking about all the hard work it took to overcome your pregnancy related mood disorder and sweat is mixed with perfume is mixed with tears of joy, remember that this is what courage smells like. This hill is nothing compared with the hopeless trough and seemingly endless black hole of postpartum depression or anxiety or psychosis. You kept putting one foot in front of the other when you had no hope and you did it because you loved your child more than anything in the world. And now you are cruising up that mountain into the sunshine as a proud Warrior Mama to let other mothers know these diseases can be beat.
And if you are sitting at home reading about this amazing global gathering of Warrior Moms and you haven’t showered in days and you can’t imagine how you will get through the next five minutes but you keep putting one foot in front of the other somehow because you love your child more than anything in the world, remember that this is what true courage smells like. You may not feel like it but you are the bravest of mothers and you will courageously get through this. Let us inspire you. Let your doctors and family and friends help you. And one day you’ll be a Climber, too.
Love, Deborah
