Alright, let me tell ya somethin’ about this… this “inclusion” and “mental health” stuff. Don’t go gettin’ all fancy on me now, I ain’t no scholar, just a plain talkin’ person.

So, this “inclusion,” what’s it all about? Well, from what I gather, it means lettin’ folks in. Ya know, not leavin’ nobody out. Like, if you got a party, you invite everyone, not just the pretty folks or the rich ones. Everybody gets a piece of the pie, that’s what I say. And that’s a good thing, ain’t it? Nobody likes bein’ left out in the cold, feelin’ like a stray dog.
Now, this “mental health,” that’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish. Folks used to call it bein’ “touched” or “not right in the head,” but it’s just… well, it’s about how your brain is workin’. Sometimes it works good, sometimes it gets all tangled up like a ball of yarn. And when that happens, you need help. Just like when your leg is broke, you go to the doctor, right? Well, same thing with your brain.
So, how do these two things go together? Well, seems to me, if you’re feelin’ all alone and left out, that ain’t gonna do your head no good. It’s like plantin’ a seed in bad soil – it ain’t gonna grow strong and healthy. You need sunshine, good dirt, and water. And for people, that sunshine is other folks carin’ about ya, that good dirt is havin’ a place to belong, and that water is, well, just plain kindness, I guess.
Think about it. If you’re always bein’ pushed aside, made to feel like you ain’t good enough, that’s gonna wear you down. It’s gonna make you feel small and worthless. And that can mess with your head somethin’ fierce. I’ve seen it happen, ya know. Good folks, just needin’ a little bit of understandin’ and a friendly face, and they get treated like dirt. It ain’t right.
But if you’re included, if you feel like you belong, that’s like a strong medicine. It makes you feel like you matter. It gives you somethin’ to hold onto. It helps you keep goin’ when things get tough. And let me tell ya, life can get mighty tough sometimes. We all need a little help now and then, and knowin’ that there are folks out there who got your back, well, that makes all the difference.

- Inclusion means lettin’ everyone in.
- Mental health is about how your brain is workin’.
- Feelin’ left out can mess with your head.
- Bein’ included is like a strong medicine.
So, what can we do? Well, for starters, we can be nicer to each other. Sounds simple, don’t it? But sometimes the simplest things are the hardest. We get so caught up in our own little worlds, we forget to look around and see the folks who are strugglin’. We need to open our hearts and our minds, and let people in. We need to make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
It ain’t always easy, I know. Some folks are different, they act different, they think different. But different ain’t bad. Different is just… different. And we can learn a lot from people who are different from us. They can teach us new things, show us new ways of lookin’ at the world. And that’s a good thing, ain’t it?
We gotta remember that we’re all in this together. We’re all just tryin’ to make our way through life, and we all need a little help along the way. So, let’s be there for each other. Let’s make sure nobody gets left behind. Let’s make this world a place where everyone feels like they belong. That’s what inclusion is all about, and that’s what’s gonna help keep our minds healthy and strong.
And don’t you go forgettin’ what I told ya. Be kind, be open, and let everyone in. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s good for your head too.
Now, I gotta go, my biscuits are burnin’ in the oven. You kids take care, ya hear?

Tags: [Mental Health, Inclusion, Social Inclusion, Support, Community, Well-being, Recovery, Belonging, Acceptance, Kindness]