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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cShe encouraged me to start off small in nursing school and move up as I became comfortable. I did just that. I started as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and am now a licensed vocational nurse. I started small, and now I\u2019m confident, although I\u2019m no longer practicing in the healthcare field. The same actions still resonate true in life and my current career at Halliburton Energy Services in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that Kristen knows help is available for her struggles, she lives a life that far outshines the one she knew in school.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure, we can go through the motions every day. And a lot of people define that as happy. They go through the motions daily, do the same thing every day, struggling but thinking they\u2019re okay. But if life isn\u2019t joyful, if you don\u2019t have fun, if you don\u2019t smile for yourself or bring a smile to someone else every day, it\u2019s not joyful. You have to filter out all the ugly that this world is offering,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kristen\u2019s filter is creative outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a hobby crafter. I have to release myself into something else. If I\u2019m anxious or feeling depressed, I have to find something creative to channel feelings and emotions into. Otherwise, I\u2019m just gonna get way too down. And life shouldn\u2019t be like that. It\u2019s too short for you to be miserable. Band was a good resource for me. It was something creative that I could use to channel something away from depression and anxiety, and just somewhere where I could feel like I fit in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the tools for managing her mental well-being, Kristen plans to live intentionally for the next years of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI recently told my husband, I feel like it\u2019s only in the last five years we\u2019ve become happy with ourselves, living in joy. Life is too short for you to wait until you\u2019re 35 to live in joy. I said no. Especially now, when we\u2019re 40. And we\u2019re only embracing it now. You need to live that as soon as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a philosophy she shares with her son, Austin, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI tell my son, \u2018Look at your better side. Don\u2019t compare yourself to other people because in 20 years, those people will not be the same people. Be yourself. Be happy with yourself. Then if people think you\u2019re weird, just compliment them. Say thanks. I appreciate that because I think weird is awesome. They may think you\u2019re an outcast, but God made you to stand out, not to fit in.\u2019 And on social media, they want drama and chaos. Stay off of it. If it doesn\u2019t interest you or bring you joy, stay away from it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the message she has for all young people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDepression and anxiety are a big deal. But let\u2019s get it fixed. Life is worth living. Let\u2019s get it fixed.\u201d GN\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AS A FRANKLIN County High School (FCHS) teenager, Kristen Hannah Brown felt lucky to get out. Forget dreams and aspirations; Brown was just counting the days until her graduation in 2001. In hindsight, she understands that her struggles weren\u2019t so uncommon \u2013 people just didn\u2019t talk about it.\u00a0 \u201cHigh school was hard for me. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n