From Isabella _1
To Dave Grohl and all the Foo Fighters,
Whether you will read this or not I am not sure as I can imagine you are a very busy men. However, on the off chance you will, it is worth trying to commend you on your amazing talents, although I’m sure you already know you are all incredibly talented, but your lyrics have especially touched the heart of a 24-year-old NHS worker.
Firstly, I hope you’re well. These last few years have been tough for everyone, especially so for the arts. I felt compelled to write to you as the lyrics you write for your songs are so beautiful, real and raw. I have struggled with my mental health since I was 14, like many people it has been a difficult road to navigate my brain through this world and life. Your song “walk” especially touches me on many levels, especially since now being in mental health recovery. I interpret the lyrics as the road to recovery, not sure whether that was your intention but even so it is an incredible song with very moving lyrics. The song now makes me teary but with happiness at how far I have come, especially your passion through the verse “I never want to die”.
I hope I can help others who think they will never reach recovery or that life will never get better, get there themselves. As I really thought I’d never get here either. It is like seeing the world through different lenses, looking for the colour, the joy, the good. Seeing that most humans are either on their own journeys of healing or not quite there yet and actions of others reflect where they are in their life or journey and is not a reflection of ourselves. I will do whatever I can on my mission to be a part of making the mental health sector through the NHS better. With the hope eventually that everyone can have access to good mental health services in the UK.
I can happily say I do not want to end my life anymore. Although, it is something that may crop up in life with its traumas which we all face, I now know how to deal with it. How to come back stronger and how to rise from the ashes. I also feel I reached a point in the depths of darkness where I needed to ask myself, if I am not going to leave the world, what can I do to try and be a part of making it better for myself and for anyone else that may feel the same as me. What can I do so myself and others stop feeling that way? So, I now use my lived experience of mental health issues to co-facilitate psychology groups and work with mental health trusts in the UK to be a part of making it better. This is a huge mountain due to lots of things, funding, government, opportunities available and LOTS of barriers/red tape. However, I am not naïve I know it is a long road ahead but my hope is that during my life I do what I can to make it better, even a little bit better than before I was here.
To conclude, thank you for doing what you do. For writing beautiful lyrics. For being passionate, raw, real, kind and inspirational. Perhaps you are aware of how much impact your lyrics have on others lives, and perhaps not. If the answer is not, I hope that this reaches you.
Warm regards,
Isabella (a lil conqueror)
