Ep. 41 Shining Light on Shadows: Community Check-in (Rough Start to 2026?)
- Neil Parekh
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
We’ve had a rough start to 2026. I have had a rough start to the year. How about you? I’ve had some unpredictability with work but more importantly, I’ve had a hard time just getting started. I feel like I’m walking through water. I feel like I’m just barely staying afloat. I’m muddling through, at best.
My co-host, Dawn, is definitely struggling. She’s been more open about her struggles on Facebook than I have been. A recent post, “I am not ok. I can't sleep. I'm sad. I'm scared. I'm worried. I want to be ok. But I'm not. This is crazy to me. 20 years at one job, only to find myself lost. I hate this.”
What about you? How are you doing? We want to hear from you.
We thought we’d start the third year of Shining Light on Shadows with a Community Check-in. Join us for Episode 41 on Thursday, January 15 at 7pm ET / 6pm CT.
How has the New Year started off for you? Recent events–the shooting of a Mom in Minneapolis by an ICE agent; the arson of a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi; the attack on Venezuela, and more–have left people on edge.
We want to open up our first show of 2026 to hear your voices, to have more of a dialogue. Good or bad. If the New Year has started off well, we definitely want to hear about it. We would love to celebrate something. If you’re also struggling, know that you’re not alone. Maybe it will give you some comfort to know that. It would certainly help both me and Dawn.
*Facebook will delete the video in about 30 days (approx. February 12).
Programming Note
We usually host our shows live on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. For January, it will be the third and fourth Thursdays. January 8 (the second Thursday) was just too soon after the holidays.
Background
Dawn and I launched this twice a month show (usually the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month) in order to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you for being part of our community.
We are proud to be in Year 3 of the show. If you are interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who might be interested, please let us know. We’re looking for people who would be willing to share their story, advocates and people who work in the field of mental health.
We hope you can watch the show and share your own thoughts in the comments.
Resources / Relevant Links
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline
800-950-6264 Or text "HelpLine" to 6264; nami.org
Mental Health America Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org; mhanational.org Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673); rainn.org
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