The Mind in Question
My name is Sandy Wyatt. Sandy Sue to some.
Emmett
My vision for this site is to use my bipolar disorder as a launch into higher consciousness, to be honest about the weird convolutions it takes, and to practice awareness with a mindset of curious compassion. Okay, that’s the ideal. As a very human being, I’ll end up somewhere south of that target, which is all part of the Adventure.
Along the way, I’ll play with my favorite toys—writing, artwork, psychology, myth, Star Trek, poetry, meditation, coffee, conscious evolution, movies, brain function, music, various spiritual traditions—with twisted humor and a fearless turning over of sacred rocks to find the slippery-slimies underneath.
Henry
My collage art accompanies most posts, and my fiction resides under Heaving Bosoms in the banner headline above. Comments and critiques about both are most welcome. If you’re struck dumb by the brilliance of my collage work, many items are for sale at my Etsy shop. The link is in the sidebar at right.
I’m sharing all I have here—the important stuff and the mundane. My hope is that visitors, with or without mental illness, will find something worthwhile to take away or leave behind.
If you’d like to check out a sampling of my posts, I’ve listed a few links below to ones suggested by The Seven Links Award that I received from fellow bipolar-artist-blogger Kathy McCullough.
1. Most Beautiful: Happy Summer Solstice
2. Most Popular: Haunted Houses
3. Most Controversial: The Truth of Truth
4. Most Helpful: Training Checklist—Plug the Leaks
5. Most Surprisingly Successful: If You Meet Carrie Fisher on the Road, Kill Her
6. Most Underrated: Tiny Windows
7. Most Worthy of Pride: Callinda
I live in Iowa with my Life Coaches, Henry and Emmett, who supervise my fiction writing, mixed-media artwork, and mental hygiene.
SandySue Altered
Apr 30, 2011 @ 20:19:33
Henry and Emmett are so cute! I have two dogs, Ralph and Lucy.
May 20, 2011 @ 04:41:38
This is one quality, heart-on-it’s sleeve site. I’m just beginning to read your stuff but I’m quite impressed by your candor and turn of phrase.
Keep it up, though you don’t look like your stopping.
K
May 21, 2011 @ 07:21:45
Thanks so much for visiting!
Jun 07, 2011 @ 16:52:29
You write beautifully, Sandy.
Sometimes when I think about losing fat thighs I self argue: ” I don’t want so much focus on food —– to keep track of all I eat, to plan everything, to count calories.” But what do I think of when I’m anxious or bored or celebrating?—–FOOD. “what do I feel like eating now?”
Jun 07, 2011 @ 16:55:25
So, true! We want to indulge, but not be accountable. Just human nature, I guess.
Thanks so much for visiting.
Jun 19, 2011 @ 23:04:39
Just looked at a few pages of your blog and I can very easily say… You inspire me!
Jun 20, 2011 @ 06:32:54
Thanks so much for visiting.
Aug 24, 2011 @ 18:30:38
I’m just coming down from a 2-month hypomanic episode, and I found your site. The following quote just about reduced me to tears because it’s so true, and so artfully stated. I hope you don’t mind if I quote it time and again when people want to know what it’s like.
“Hypomania, without anxiety and compulsions, is what most folks with bipolar disorder yearn for. It’s the cherry on top of a dark, dark sundae. The depression is absolutely gone and in its place is this hum of joy.”
Aug 25, 2011 @ 05:45:33
A 2-month episode–way to hang on, woman! I’m deeply touched by your comments, and so glad I could help in some small way. Come back any time.
Jan 27, 2012 @ 17:44:12
I nominated you for the versatile blogger award. Follow this link for more info! Love your Blog!!
http://larasweighdown.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/thank-you-so-much-bailey-for-the-versatile-blogger-award-nomination/
Jan 30, 2012 @ 11:16:37
Thank you, Lara!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 08:39:03
I’m hooked on your writings and openess of life! I have dysthymic disorder (chronic depression), and I struggle daily to find better coping skills, creating a better life, understanding what I am to learn from my experience. Observing nature has really helped me. I am subscribing to your blog via my RSS reader… I am so drawn to your words. I write this with tears… thankful to have another resource for encouragement! Thank you for sharing your life!
PS: I am originally from Nebraska. It did help me to move south to Oklahoma. I never did like nor appreciate the bitter cold and northern way of life! I’m happy as a clam in the heat down here!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 17:52:42
Thank you so much for all your kind words and for being a companion on this journey. I’ve love your creature stories and admire the life you’ve created for yourself and your family.
Feb 05, 2012 @ 13:56:48
I’m impressed. As a fellow writer, I can tell you have a powerful voice. And your writing is something I can relate to, as despite my young age I’ve already been through several medications, suicide attempts, and psychotic episodes. I’m new to this blogging thing, but I created my blog as a means of coping with my life (like keeping a journal), and I find it heartening to find people like you, who suffer from mental illness but don’t let it keep them down. Anyway, didn’t mean to leave such a long-winded comment. Keep up the good work!
Feb 05, 2012 @ 16:08:13
This is a terrific medium for self-exploration and growth while getting lots of support. I hope your blogging experience is as rich as mine has been.
Mar 05, 2012 @ 18:57:08
I’m so excited to find your site…I feel at home here.
Mar 05, 2012 @ 20:28:14
Sweet! Take off your shoes and scratch anything you want!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 18:19:09
Sandy – as you know I love reading your blog. I have nominated you for a Leibster Blog Award. The instructions for accepting the award are here:
http://strugglingwithbipolar.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/my-first-blog-award-the-leibster-blog-award/
It’s my first award and I was honored to get to nominate you!
Mar 20, 2012 @ 21:58:25
Kat, thanks so much. Blog awards are fun and can make you really feel like part of a community.
May 06, 2012 @ 20:28:26
Thanks for sharing your Soul with us. What delicious and thought-provoking offerings.
I love your list of all your favorite ‘toys’— “writing, artwork, psychology, myth, Star Trek, meditation, coffee, conscious evolution, movies, brain function, music, various spiritual traditions”. I found myself nodding my head and smiling, thinking ‘me too, me too!’
Much love to you xx
May 06, 2012 @ 21:15:42
So glad you came to visit.
Jun 09, 2012 @ 01:26:01
I have nominated you for the Reader Appreciation Award. Check it out here http://thesecretkeeper.net/2012/06/09/readers-appreciation-award-nomination/. I hope you like it. the secret keeper aka jennifer
Jun 09, 2012 @ 06:35:40
Jennifer, thanks so much.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 13:01:34
Writing, art, coffee, Star Trek, music and movies are things we have in common! Which Star Trek generation is your favourite? I was always partial to the Captain Picard era, though I’ve seen some of all of them! Great blog!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 17:29:03
Thanks so much! I loved Picard, and have a few fan-fiction short stories with him in my “Heaving Bosoms” section here. But, I also adored the last incarnation, ST Enterprise. My novel with Captain Archer is also a “Heaving Bosoms” posting. If you care to look at them, I’d love feedback.
Dec 09, 2012 @ 16:03:51
Sandy, I just followed Lori’s reblog link here and I’m loving what I’m reading so far. Thank you for being so willing to share your life with the world, warts and all! I can only hope to one day be brave enough to bare my soul like this on my own blog.
Dec 09, 2012 @ 22:39:19
Kim, thanks so much for visiting. I don’t have anything to lose by sharing my story. Some folks have to deal with stigma at work or in their social circles. Or they have families to consider. “Going public” can be complicated.
Mar 07, 2013 @ 22:19:40
I stumbled across your blog today and took the opportunity to read some of your posts. I like what I found.
In appreciation for your writing, I have nominated you for a “Liebster Award”. I see you have already been nominated for this and other awards, but if you would like to join the fun and recruit more readers to your blog, check out my nomination post -
http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/long-live-the-liebster/
Keep up the good work.
Mar 08, 2013 @ 04:20:51
Thanks so much for stumbling into me and sticking around for a minute or two. And also for the award.
Mar 08, 2013 @ 08:47:22
Barb and I met 2 days, ago.. Barb A was in a car on her way to KC when she discovered that we were preparing to meditate ! (: so… barb and I spent the hour poking around in fertile grounds of Beingness (: .. and spoke of you…that we missed you… and that the ‘no news is good news’ might apply… looks like it is… congratulations on these being recognized for all these achievements you have created, not just for you.. but for unknown thousands… lovely, when one of them lets you know how truly extraordinary you are.. laney
Mar 08, 2013 @ 08:57:33
Thanks, Laney. I miss you guys, too. Wish you all could come over and sit with us sometime.
Mar 08, 2013 @ 09:30:33
we might just do that, Sandy…