It’s not every day you see John Wick standing in the middle of a town gazebo, holding a piece of paper and preparing to read a poem. But then again, John is a Mental Health Warrior—a firm believer in the Mental Health Warrior Program, a man who knows that true strength isn’t about avoiding emotions but facing them head-on.
I stood in the crowd, arms crossed, watching as he adjusted his stance, the ever-serious John Wick about to deliver something unlike anything this town had ever heard. If anyone could push the boundaries of what it meant to be a warrior, it was him.
The crowd murmured in confusion. John Wick? Poetry? This was a man who once fought off an entire army with just a pencil. And now, he was here to talk about… feelings?
But that was exactly why he was doing it. Because warriors aren’t just strong with their fists—they’re strong with their hearts.
This I learned after struggling for 20 years with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Leaving me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But from these dark times I discovered something life-changing: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenges!
From my journey, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program- a revolutionary SELF-HELP approach – designed to help YOU take charge of your emotions, overcome challenges and build the life you really want!
John scanned the crowd, locked eyes with me, and nodded. Then, in a calm yet commanding voice, he began:
The Awakening of a Mental Health Warrior (Poem)
I hid behind the silence, afraid to be seen,
Wore a mask of strength—though cracked in between.
They told me to tough it out, “just be strong,”
So I swallowed my struggles, played along.
Each day, a battle fought behind closed doors,
A war within—uncounted scores.
Afraid that if I spoke, I’d shatter,
Afraid my pain would make me matter… less.
The weight grew heavy, a burden untold,
A whisper inside me, timid, yet bold:
"You are not weak, nor are you broken,"
But still, the world left those words unspoken.
Then one day, the silence screamed too loud,
I could no longer blend into the crowd.
I stood at the edge, lost in the fray,
But in that darkness—I found my way.
A truth emerged, steady and bright,
Like fire igniting the dead of night:
Mental health is not defeat, nor shame,
It's the warrior’s test, a battle to claim.
To feel is to fight, to speak is to stand,
To own my story with a warrior’s hand.
I was never broken, never weak—
I just needed the courage to finally speak.
And now I rise, not as a ghost,
But as the warrior I needed most.
For every challenge, every scar,
Has forged the strength of who we are.
So hear me now, loud and clear,
No more whispers—no more fear.
We are warriors, hearts unshaken,
With every step, the stigma’s breaking.
Today, we fight—not with blade or might,
But with words, with truth, with inner light.
No longer silent, no longer small,
Mental Health Warriors—we stand tall!
🔥 Triumph over challenges. Speak your truth. Warrior on! ⚔️
The Crowd’s Reaction
The air stood still as John finished. For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if a spell had been broken, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
I turned my head, and that’s when I saw him. Winnie the Pooh. Somehow, he had snuck in from the Hundred Acre Wood, sitting on a bench near the back, nodding in approval, honey pot in hand.
“That,” he said, in his slow, thoughtful way, “was the bravest thing I have ever seen.”
The crowd was murmuring, not just about John’s delivery, but about the message. People turned to each other, some wiping their eyes, some nudging their friends.
John stepped forward again. “Being strong doesn’t mean being silent. Being a warrior means embracing your emotions, taking action, and supporting others. And that starts today.”
Winnie the Pooh’s Takeaway
Pooh, who had never been one to let a profound moment pass without making it even more profound, climbed up onto the gazebo steps.
“I think,” Pooh said, tapping his chin, “that we should all do something today. Right now. Because the best time to start being a Mental Health Warrior is this very moment.”
The crowd looked at him expectantly. He straightened his red shirt and cleared his throat. “Here are three simple things we can all do today to embrace our emotions and be stronger warriors.”
Idea 1: Name Your Feelings to Tame Them
“Sometimes, I feel all rumbly in my tumbly, and that’s easy to understand—it means I need honey! But other times, I feel a rumbly in my heart, and that’s trickier. But when I say, ‘Oh, I feel sad,’ or ‘Oh, I feel frustrated,’ it makes the feeling less confusing and less scary!”
Take Action Today:
Pause for a moment and ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” Say it out loud or write it down. No need to fix it—just notice it. That’s the first step to understanding and handling emotions like a true warrior!
Idea 2: Let Feelings Out, Don’t Keep Them In
“Oh, bother… Whenever I keep my feelings all bottled up, they don’t go away—they just grow bigger, like a honey pot about to spill over! But when I talk to Piglet or write in my thinking spot, my heart feels lighter, not heavier.”
Take Action Today:
Choose one way to let your feelings out:
📖 Write in a journal (or just scribble on a napkin).
📞 Tell a friend, “I had a tough day, and I just need to talk.”
🎶 Listen to a song that matches your mood.
The more you express, the less it weighs you down!
Idea 3: Do One Small Thing to Honor Your Feelings
“Sometimes, when I feel sad, I sit under my favorite tree and have some honey. And when I feel worried, I go for a walk with Piglet. Doing something small that matches how I feel helps me move through it, rather than letting it take over my whole day.”
Take Action Today:
😞 Sad? Watch something that makes you laugh or hug someone.
😤 Frustrated? Stretch, punch a pillow, or scribble furiously on paper.
😟 Anxious? Take deep breaths and press your feet into the floor for grounding.
Feelings are like honey—when you handle them gently, they won’t make a sticky mess!
Wrapping It Up: Our Call to Action
John folded the poem and put it back in his pocket. “Warriors, it starts now. No more silence. Embrace Emotions, reach out, and stand tall.”
Pooh nodded. “And remember, Mental Health Warriors are never alone. Not as long as we have each other.” The crowd cheered. Some people were already texting their friends, others pulling loved ones into deep, needed conversations.
I looked over at John Wick and Winnie the Pooh standing side by side, two warriors from vastly different worlds, yet fighting the same battle. And in that moment, I knew something had positively changed in the day, thanks to the power of our emotions!
Bruce Schutter
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