Demons Amongst Daisies

The many ideas behind Coffee With Demons have accumulated over the past couple of years, and it has been a process to get where I am today. From the first blog post, which was the initial reasoning for CWD, my mind was set on helping others in hope I could help myself as well. But I didn’t know how to go about starting in the slightest. I was always the one to keep everything bottled in, and it wasn’t healthy whatsoever. Unfortunately, I had let my troubles pile up for far too long, and the darkness that fell because of that was unlike anything I had ever felt before. Sure I had been sad, but when I hit the breaking point, I hit it at 100 miles per hour. I knew how I felt, and I knew that I couldn’t be the only one feeling like that. Why? Because nothing in my life was utterly wrong. I was living with demons amongst daisies, and one of my most persistent thoughts was also the one that was hurting me the most… I kept telling myself that I was okay, that nothing was wrong, and I didn’t have a reason to be sad. I knew in my heart that my declining mental stability and mental health were not dissimilar from my peers, whether they liked to talk about it or not, and most of the time it was the later.

After too many nights spent wondering where I was going wrong, I decided to do something I had never done before, which was starting the blog. I needed a medium, an outlet, an art form to express myself, my hardships, and let go of my demons. Putting my feelings down on paper was very unusual for me, because like I said, I didn’t communicate my problems to anyone, let alone put them out there for anyone and everyone to see. I was so fed up with feeling down I had to do something, and writing was where I started. Luckily enough it went well, as it seemed to help clear my head and relieve some very unwanted emotions. I had made an improvement in my mental state by expressing myself through communicating my feelings, something that seems so easy but yet so rare. Like traditional psychological services, I had opened up in a pretty straightforward way, a way that worked for me, but might not work for others. So just because someone isn’t willing to open up in a traditional setting means they can’t find the light in the dark, help is too far out of reach, or they are stuck being miserable? That was the question I was struggling with, because I knew there were people fighting with all their might with little to no relief from the internal pain.

It became very apparent to me that there are issues that plague our society today that we haven’t seen in the past, and those issues require solutions that we haven’t used, or haven’t used in every way possible. One program that has been successful countless times is that of Alcoholics Anonymous, a group therapy of sorts where individuals that are fighting the same battle get together to help one another and overcome their addiction… what a brilliant idea! The cogs in my head started to turn, and through little changes of my main idea, Coffee With Demons is now aiming to find solutions for the people who have not yet found their way, direction, happiness, or just those struggling on a daily basis.

Utilizing a similar format to that of Alcoholics Anonymous, where participants communicate with others who have the same demon, individuals will be able to hear and experience the ways others have overcome their various demons. Due to the reality that everyone is different, there are bound to be different remedies that have been used to fight, grow, and overcome, and something that works for one person might work for another who has never tried or even thought about it. For me it was written word; I found solace in writing and letting my thoughts and ideas flow freely from my mind. It was the perfect escape for me, but I know it might not be fit for everyone. Hence the wonderful opportunity meeting attendees will have when sitting down and discussing issues within a safe and judgment free zone. No one is too cool, too hip, or too macho to be sad and lost; everyone has his or her demons. Coffee With Demons isn’t trying to make it cool to be sad and hurting, but instead trying to make it cool to seek out the help you need and deserve.

Through continuous growth I have learned to battle and overcome what was wearing me away day after day, and I want to help others struggling from similar situations. I’m not ignorant to the fact that one CWD meeting won’t fix someone’s problems, but it might just be the spark they need to shine light on the dark. All though I still love writing and helping others through my written stories, I want to reach a larger audience, an audience that might not even ever think of reaching out for mental health help, and through the new direction of Coffee With Demons and meetings alike, I think I am on the cusp of something truly amazing. CWD wants to help those in need fight their demons in a positive and enlightening way, taking life one step at a time, while creating a brighter tomorrow one person & one situation at a time.

No one is perfect, and everyone gets sad or slightly depressed at one point or another in their lives, and it can be an overwhelming emotion that has the capability to bring even the strongest person to their knees. Coffee With Demons is for everybody. I can’t stress that enough, so I am going to say it again. Coffee With Demons is for everybody! Improvements in mental clarity, stability, and health can always be made; you really never know when sadness will strike. I encourage everyone to check out a Coffee With Demons meeting in the near future, and even if it isn’t for you, go to try and help someone else. We only have today, and we only have each other. Life is too short for you not to be happy, so show love, spread love, and come help me create a brighter tomorrow.

“There is much to be known… and above all much to be loved, be it the turn of the seasons or the shape of a river pebble. Indeed, the more we find to love, the more we add to the measure of our hearts” –Lloyd Alexander

-Coffee With Demons, JG

5/24/19