Magic.

When I was 17 my mother laughed when I told her I believed in magic. Of course, I was a hopelessly romantic teenager back then and my reasons for believing were much different than they are now.

What I’ve come to learn about magic is that it’s what makes each of us so unique. There will never be another you or me and when we truly embrace this truth, there’s an easy sense of freedom — a feeling of relief that places it’s warm energy around our shoulders and stays there for a little while.

Now, the magic of our mind and soul is that each of us works so differently. These differences are meant to be explored, understood, accepted, marvelled at, appreciated and celebrated.

Getting to be a part of this discovery as I begin important work with The Better Because Project fulfills a creative desire that’s been in me since I was a child - creative advocacy - and I am so grateful.

The BBP was created by Rebecca Massie, who’s first hand experience with mental health challenges gave way to the idea that telling and sharing our stories is vital to fostering stronger, inclusive and supportive spaces for people to connect.

The BBP invites you to share your story, which will serve as catalyst in the creation of community and dialogue - two elements that are essential to expanding awareness around mental and emotional health as priorities for every individual.

Through creative advocacy efforts, we are humanizing what it means to grow out of and into ourselves, documenting our mental health journeys as not only a way of connecting but remembering who we are, where we’ve been and how we’re getting to know ourselves better.

If you’d like to share your story, head to thebetterbecauseproject.org to learn more and please stay tuned as the BBP launches its social channels in the coming days.