WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:02.760 CJ Mueller: This is light at the end of the road. 00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:04.860 That's one of my signature pieces. 00:00:05.340 --> 00:00:08.700 I've been in six or seven of the calendars. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:13.950 It took me quite a while to struggle with, did I want to be 00:00:14.760 --> 00:00:17.160 known as a mental health patient? 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:25.720 And once I accepted that, it was easy to accept that there was a format to show 00:00:25.720 --> 00:00:28.930 my art and to let other people see it. 00:00:29.170 --> 00:00:33.640 A piece I call Peace was the first one that had the honor 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:35.140 of being in the calendar. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:41.140 That felt very good because it spoke as to what I was achieving 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:42.760 and what I was reaching for. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:51.405 I was going to wellness at Jefferson Center and they had an art time and I 00:00:51.405 --> 00:00:54.795 started playing with the paints and stuff. 00:00:55.155 --> 00:00:58.095 It felt like I was expressing myself for the first time. 00:01:00.555 --> 00:01:04.635 I had many losses. 00:01:04.635 --> 00:01:07.485 I had lost my job because of the mental illness. 00:01:08.745 --> 00:01:15.645 I had over eight overdoses and doctors tell me I should not be alive. 00:01:16.455 --> 00:01:22.875 I was in my early thirties before I reached out for any 00:01:22.995 --> 00:01:25.065 professional mental health services. 00:01:25.380 --> 00:01:30.210 I found Jefferson Center for Mental Health, and they got a handful. 00:01:32.490 --> 00:01:35.130 They got a handful because I was a mess. 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:43.410 I've been 10, 12 years without a hospitalization and I'm doing good. 00:01:45.300 --> 00:01:49.800 Each individual as they can, needs to stand up against the 00:01:49.800 --> 00:01:54.300 stigma and not be afraid to admit. 00:01:54.885 --> 00:01:58.395 That they have mental illness and I'm not afraid to admit it. 00:01:59.085 --> 00:02:00.705 I am able to help others. 00:02:02.310 --> 00:02:09.180 I have taken a stand in many ways with being in the calendar and being 00:02:09.269 --> 00:02:15.930 on the governor's board for mental illness and standing up for myself and 00:02:15.930 --> 00:02:19.320 other mental health patient's rights. 00:02:19.980 --> 00:02:25.595 I'm at a point now that I'm more content than I've ever 00:02:25.595 --> 00:02:29.075 felt to feel like a human being. 00:02:29.435 --> 00:02:34.325 They came from that well of deep trauma. 00:02:34.924 --> 00:02:42.695 Painting has been very therapeutic in helping me to see beauty. 00:02:43.445 --> 00:02:45.695 The results have been amazing. 00:02:46.025 --> 00:02:50.255 I have passed out many calendars. 00:02:51.230 --> 00:02:53.059 And people 00:02:55.100 --> 00:03:00.589 go from the reaction of you, a mental health client with mental health 00:03:00.589 --> 00:03:04.310 problems, to, oh this is wonderful. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:09.380 This is great to see what people can do. 00:03:10.160 --> 00:03:11.839 Art has brought that out. 00:03:12.619 --> 00:03:16.790 People are proud to know me, and that's a good feeling. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:24.450 I know with the art that I've contributed beauty to a lot of people's lives.