Daily Inspiration: Meet Quitta Mitchell

Hi Quitta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Finding your happy place started in the Summer of 2016 after I lost my cousin to suicide. We had recently lost his mother to breast cancer in April 2016, and during our time of grief, I would be the one encouraging and speaking life into my family. I found myself repeatedly telling everyone to find their happy place, “we have to find our happy place in the midst of it all.” Not knowing I would be experiencing more death, after my cousin passing, I lost my father in 2017, my mother in 2018, whom both died a year and two days apart and many other closest relatives after that, and I went from raising 1 child to raising 3 children, so yeah, my life completely changed.

With me being a spiritual, grounded, motivated, optimistic person, and being a healthcare professional. I had to turn my pain into purpose because it could had easily taken me. The mind is a powerful thing. So during my grieving process, I told myself, If my family and I were hurting or grieving this bad, then I knew others were, too, but no one would talk about how they truly felt. Even when the phone calls, visits, and social media post all stop, and people go on their way, then what?

My cousin, who was the family’s favorite, death hit everyone extremely hard. So I had to do something in his memory, I birthed Finding Your Happy Place. I wanted to bring awareness to suicide and mental illness to the African American community because suicide or mental illness aren’t talked about in our community. We don’t speak about our feelings or emotions, we just sweep our issues and traumas underneath a rug and keep it moving, amd our men aren’t supposed to cry or feel weak at times. When in reality, we all are human and have feelings and shouldn’t have to always wear a mask without the fear of being judge or looked down upon because to be honest life be lifing lol.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh no!!!! It’s been a struggle, as I mentioned before, we don’t talk about our feelings, death, especially suicide or therapy in the African American community. So trying to get my people to show up for themselves, not to even talk about their issues, but to be in a safe space has been challenging. I’ve had to really step outside of my comfort zone to reach my people, and that’s not me. I, also, try and do everything on my own, so asking for help on anything is challenging, too.

I was so surprised when you all reached out to me because someone knows me, lol.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Finding Your Happy Place is my heart. I am very passionate about mental health, self healing/ care/love, and creating healthy relationships. One day, I pray to open up a Drop In(unwind) Day Center.

Finding Your Happy Place mission is to bring awareness to suicide and mental illness in the African American community. I host monthly group sessions/ Full Moon Releases in the Nashville Area, where we link up in nature and talk about life and support one another underneath the moon. I have merchandise such as tshirts and journals, and I’m currently working on an inspirational, self love/healing calendar and planner. I have private support group on Facebook, where I check in with them weekly, share helpful tips about self love/care, healing trauma, mental health such as depression and anxiety, and resources. We participate in a community events and in the Out of the Darkness suicide walk, there’s one coming up September or October of this year, which I hope to see more Black/African Americans people walking with us.