Join award-winning author Nita Sweeney and other presenters and exhibitors at this health and wellness event.
How far can we go when we move together?
We are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Move Together Columbus event on Sunday, July 10, 2022! This celebration of community will feature community wellness workshops, programs, and plenty of fun for all ages and abilities! In a time when it is so easy to feel alone, we encourage you to move together!
Move Together Columbus has an entirely donation-based registration for all attendees and program hosts. All proceeds will go to our 2022 benefactors, Brown Girls Mentoring and Black Girls RUN! Columbus. Move Together Columbus will kick off with a 1 mile run/walk hosted by Black Girls RUN!, and the fun continues from there! Visit booths, attend workshops, and hang around for raffles, live music, and more!
Nita will present two programs:
Noon: Make Every Move a Meditation: How to Meditate While You Move
and
12:30pm: Depression Hates a Moving Target: Movement for Mental Health
Copies of Nita’s award-winning running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target, will be for sale after the presentations and Nita will happily sign as many copies as you want!
WELCOME to the WORLD PREMIERE of Jason Didner’s “RUN WITH MY TROUBLES!”
For the first 24 hours, nitasweeney.com is the only outlet showing the video.
THANK YOU JASON!
New Jersey musician Jason Didner featured Nita Sweeney and her yellow Labrador running partner Scarlet, along with other mental health runners in a music video of his original song “Run with My Troubles.”
Two of Jason’s life passions of running and music were the impetus for his latest musical endeavor. He hopes the song and video inspire people to take that hardest step—out the front door—for better mental and physical health.
Jason didn’t do it alone
To demonstrate how running can make a positive impact on an athlete’s life, Jason solicited videos from people with interesting running/exercise stories. He received contributions that exceeded his wildest imagination.
For example, Barefoot Ted, a runner prominently featured in Christopher McDougall’s best-selling memoir, Born to Run, provided a stunning slow-motion video. Jason was so intrigued by Ted’s unique running style that he invited Ted to participate in the music video.
Nita, author of the award-winning running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target, submitted a genuinely endearing clip of herself running with Scarlet. Her clip demonstrates the powerful connection that can be created between an athlete and a canine when they participate in outdoor activities, such as exercise, together.
The video also serves as an excellent reminder that not all humans move on two legs. Wheelchair ultramarathoner Julia Beckley submitted a breathtaking scene of her training on a Montana highway with her mom riding horseback behind her.
Additionally, friends of Jason’s submitted running clips, showcasing diversity in race, gender, age and geography.
Jason’s own crisis prompted the song and mental health video
“Two years ago I was at a crossroads,” Jason says. “My physical and mental health were under profound stress. Years of insomnia culminated in a likely anxiety attack that landed me in the emergency room in the middle of the night. I considered seeing a psychiatrist to explore the possibility of a prescription. But first, I was willing to see if exercise could bring the balance I was lacking. That experiment worked.”
“This song is a celebration of what I’ve learned.”
The music reflects Jason’s passion for rock, and, in particular, the indelible impressions made on him by the late and great guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. “I really wanted to honor Eddie’s memory with the guitar solo and worked hard for precision in the fast passages,” Jason says. Still, he also allowed himself to draw inspiration from the next generation of Van Halens. “Hearing Eddie’s son Wolfgang record every instrument plus vocals inspired me to learn drums so I could record every instrument on this latest round of songs,” he adds.
Jason’s wife Amy, a mental health blogger, co-wrote the lyrics and co-directed the video. Amy and Jason often exercise together, along with their 10-year-old daughter. Their shared routine includes walks, strength training cardio boxing and the use of a treadmill and exercise bikes side by side.
Roundtable on Youtube!
We’re still finding a date that works for everyone, but Jason will hold a Roundtable Discussion about Mental Health on his Youtube Channel. If you subscribe to his channel and click the “bell” you will receive a notice.
Upcoming Album; Single on Bandcamp
The song “Run With My Troubles” will be featured on Jason’s album, currently in progress but set for release this year. It focuses on coping with mental health issues, including exercise, gratitude, recognizing hard-earned progress and self-compassion.
Jason released the single “Run with My Troubles” on Bandcamp,. Listeners can stream the track for free or download it for $1.
If you purchase something through the affiliate links on this page, Write Now Columbus, a collection of resources for central Ohio writers and readers, will receive a small percentage of the sale.
Fewer Meds? Yes, Please!
A review of Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy
Mari had me on page 2:
After a year or two of regular writing therapy, I found I didn’t need the masses of prescription drugs I’d been taking.—Mari L. McCarthy
As someone once on six different medications, Mari’s pronouncement that she too found a way to reduce (or eliminate) her dependence on pharmaceuticals sparked my interest in reading more of Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live. In this part memoir, part how-to book, Mari L. McCarthy shares how her worsening symptoms led her on a search for health, and shares what she discovered so we can all benefit.
For Mari “writing therapy” was that missing piece.
Physical health is so completely intertwined with emotional health that it’s a wonder that so many of us deny the link.—Mari L. McCarthy
Mari suffers from MS and the onset of more extreme MS symptoms took away her option for the exercise she previously enjoyed. When she discovered Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” (three handwritten pages first thing each day) Mari soon experienced the kind of profound shift that I found in running.
At one of her lowest points, Mari could no longer write with her right (dominant) hand. Thinking of it solely as physical therapy, she trained herself to write left-handed. In that process, she not only discovered the way therapeutic writing transformed her emotions, but the act of dragging her pen across the page brought back circulation into part of her body being ravaged by MS.
Before I took up running, in addition to taking those many medications, I studied with and assisted Natalie Goldberg for several decades. Natalie teaches “writing practice,” the freewriting technique she founded based on her Zen practice. Similar to Mari’s journaling results, writing practice offers insights, and infuses the writer with a sense of calm and clarity.
Writing Practice
In the years before I began to run, I’d stopped my daily writing practice. But the pandemic and my husband’s health crisis drove me back. I began to study with Natalie and and “met” online or over the phone with other writing practice regulars to write and read out loud. While Natalie didn’t intend writing practice to serve as therapy, similar to Mari’s “regular writing therapy” writing practice is therapeutic.
You Should Be Writing, the writing journal I co-authored with Brenda Knight, serves as a safe landing spot for therapeutic thoughts. Our journal offers author quotes to serve as inspiration and instruction. Whether a person wants to write for publication or seeks healing, the quotes in Chapter 8, “Writing as Medicine” show how writers throughout history felt the salve writing offers.
Meditation
Mari’s method of journaling is also a form of meditation. Mari writes:
Instead of reaching for more caffeine, I would just sit with the tiredness, breathe deeply and acknowledge: “You are exhausted. Let’s just explore what’s going on.” I would approach my issues from a heart perspective. I stopped reacting in a knee-jerk fashion and expecting instant solutions. I learned to live more in the present moment.
Because of the scientifically-proven benefits, meditation earns a spot in my “Three Ways to Heal Your Mind,” completing the body—mind—spirit trifecta we require for stable health.
Mari found her own wellness trifecta, with a pen.
About the Book
Can the simple act of putting pen to paper every day lead to healing?
This best-selling self-help memoir teaches you how to use your own journaling power to heal the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual issues in your tissues and embody and empower your True Self. You get step-by-step guidance on how to:
Reduce physical pain and overcome illness
Heal emotional wounds from past traumas
Resolve inner conflicts and create self-compassion
Eliminate limiting beliefs and fears
Reconnect with your inner healer
Reduce stress and find your inner wisdom
Set realistic goals and discover the motivation to make them happen
Whether you need to heal from stressful life events or learn how to put yourself first, Mari L. McCarthy guides you on a journey of well-being and self-care. With Journaling Power, you unlock the powers of this self-healing tool to lead a life of joy, compassion, creativity, and growth. So, grab a notebook, a pen, and a quiet space, and reveal the strength of your unconscious mind.
About the Author, Mari L. McCarthy
Mari L. McCarthy, Founder and Inner Work Tour Guide of CreateWriteNow.com shows curious health-conscious people how to use Journaling For The Health Of It®️ to heal the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual issues in their tissues and to know and grow their True Self. She’s the multi-award-winning author of Journaling Power: How To Create The Happy, Healthy Life You Want To Live and Heal Your Self With Journaling Power. Additionally, Mari created 20+ Journaling For The Health Of It® Inner Journey Workbooks that include Who Am I?, Declutter Your Life In 28 Days, and Take Control Of Your Health In 24 Days.
March 1st @ WOW! Women on Writing – Join us as we celebrate Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. Read an interview with the author, find out more about the healing powers of journaling, and enter to win a copy of the book. March 4th @ Reviews and Interviews – Visit Lisa’s blog and read her interview with author Mari L. McCarthy about her book Journaling Power. March 5th @ Bareroot Health – Visit Heather’s blog where you can read her insights into Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 6th @ CK Sorens Blog – Visit Carrie’s blog and read her review of Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 7th @ Joan Porte – Visit Joan’s blog and read her review of Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy.
More reviews!
March 8th @ Author Anthony Avina
Visit Anthony’s blog and read his review of Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy. March 9th @ The Potpourri Parlor – Visit Chelle’s blog and read her insights into Mari L. McCarthy’s Journaling Power. March 10th @ World of My Imagination – Visit Nicole’s writing blog today and you can read guest reviewer, Angela Clay’s review of Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy.
March 10th @ Leslie’s Voice – Join Leslie as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy book Journaling Power.
March 11th @ Living Upp – Join Stacy as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 12th @ World of My Imagination – Visit Nicole’s writing blog today where you can read guest reviewer, Wendy Kipfmiller-O’Brien’s review of Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy March 13th @ The Faerie Review – Lily shares her insights into Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 14th @ Book Review Crew – Join Sara where she reviews Journaling Power by Mari L. McCarthy March 15th @ Freeing the Butterfly – Visit the Freeing the Butterfly blog and read her review of Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power.
Even more reviews!
March 16th @ My Question Life – Visit Kara’s blog today where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 16th @ Pamela Cummins – Visit Pamela’s blog where she shares her thoughts about Mari L. McCarthy’s Journaling Power. March 17th @ Nicolle Nattrass – Visit Nicolle’s blog today where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 18th @ Deborah Zenha-Adams – Join Deborah as she spotlights Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 20th @ Because of Words – Join Cassie’s blog today where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 22nd @ Not Without My Coffee – Visit Angelica’s blog today where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 24th @ Anne Janzer’s Blog – Join Anne today at her blog where she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 25th @ The Frugalista Mom – Visit Rozelyn’s blog where you can read her review of Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 26th @ Melanie Faith – Visit Melanie’s blog today and read her insights into Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power.
March 26th @ Nita Sweeney – YOU ARE HERE! Join Nita as she shares her thoughts into Mari L. McCarthy’s new book.
March 27th @ Anne Greenawalt – Join Anne as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s new book. March 28th @ Christy O’Callaghan – Join Christy as she reviews Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. March 28th @ The Knotty Needle – Stop by Judy’s blog today and review Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. April 1st @ Eden Literary – Deirdra will be spotlighting Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power. April 2nd @ International Association for Journaling Writing – Read Lynda’s review of Mari L. McCarthy’s book Journaling Power.
If you purchase something through the affiliate links on this page, Write Now Columbus, a collection of resources for central Ohio writers and readers, will receive a small percentage of the sale.
Upper Arlington, Ohio author Nita Sweeney’s running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me back from the Brink, was selected by the Upper Arlington Progress Action book club for discussion at their October 30th meeting. Nita will attend the discussion to answer questions. Books will be available for sale and signing.
If you are interested in attending the event or for more information about Upper Arlington Progressive Action, please visit the UAPA website. You may also follow them on Facebook.
Nita Sweeney Reading in “This is My Brave” Live Show
Please join us for a live “This is My Brave” presentation of essays, original music, comedy and poetry performed by individuals living with―or loving someone with―a mental health condition. Be sure to join us in the lobby immediately following the show for a meet-and-greet with the cast and creative team!
*Due to some adult content and strong language, parental guidance is advised for children under 13.
Nita Sweeney will be one of thirteen mental health warriors sharing moments from their mental health journeys.
