Meet Brittany: Professional Self-care Junkie and Mental Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is “Taking care of yourself is productive.” I have a bad habit of overworking myself, being a very ambitious person. It’s something I’ve done for as long as I can remember and it’s definitely gotten me results and moved me forward, but it also leads me to feeling overwhelmed and mentally paralyzed. So when I saw this quote, it was like a light bulb went off. I don’t have to push myself to a breaking point to achieve my goals. It reminds me to not be so hard on myself, especially if I need a break or need to slow down. It kind of puts things back into perspective and (as cheesy as this might be, lol) it reminds me that life if about the journey and not the destination. And taking care of myself is part of that journey. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When people see my work, it can easily be lumped in with other wire wrapped/crystal jewelry, but it’s a lot deeper than that. This is my personal way to fight depression and mental illness. Each piece is conceived as if it were a bit of armor against some aspect of mental illness. Whether it’s shame, depression, fear, envy, trauma– I worked to find the right materials and crystals that would facilitate a mental space that can overcome those kinds of struggles. I wanted to remind myself to take negative thoughts captive and to replace them with hope and positive affirmations. The easiest way for me to do that was to wear a physical reminder. That’s where the term #fashionselfcarereminder comes from. I think one of the biggest obstacles has been getting that message across quickly and easily. I know my work can be heavy and deep, and especially in online marketplaces, it seems difficult to market something so emotionally challenging. It’s like giving someone you don’t know tough love: they may not be ready to receive it lol, especially not from you! But I’ve chosen to not sensor my brand. I think of it like I’m talking to a loved one or my best friend. What words could I say that could help them? It has to come from a place of love regardless of how intense it might be. And that’s been the guiding principle behind my brand. I want people to feel safe to be themselves, to feel their feelings, and to heal however they need to. It’s what I needed when I first started this journey and it’s the greatest gift I can give.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a list for my fellow introverts, lol: *Quiet beach time at Daina Beach: I love this beach because it’s generally not crowded ever! *Fern forest for nature walks and wildlife sightings: they even offer guided hikes! Its’ really hard to find a nice woodsy area in South Florida so this is definitely a top pick for me. (also Tree tops park!) *Chill Vibes and coffee at Undergrounds CoffeeHaus : Rose Lattes and PB&J Paninis are the best! *Saturday night Exploration at Fat Village Artwalk (if they’re here for that last weekend of the month): great to just peruse live art, impressive art installations, and local vendors. *Sunday Brunch at Sistrunk Marketplace: this is brand new food hall and marketplace. it’s like a food truck event contained inside of a building. It’s such a fun vibe!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Most of the credit for my story belongs to Jesus. After an almost successful suicide attempt, the one thing that was clear after that experience was that being alive was a miracle, and that God had something to say through me. He put meaning behind what I went through. The logistics of sharing that message was facilitated by the mental health community I found at 9 Muses Art Center. I learned jewelry making there and their monthly art shows gave me the confidence to start treating my work as a viable source of income. They were a huge part of my healing journey in general, accepting me without any judgements and serving as a huge anchor for me as I rebuilt my life.

Website: etsy.com/shop/violstones
Instagram: @violstones
Facebook: @violstones

Image Credits
Violstones