This is so much more than a shirt to me. It’s a statement. It’s a way of saying “I’m a warrior”. When I was coming up with ideas for Still I Run’s first shirt, I wanted it to be something I would wear myself. Something edgy, and athletic, but something that would spark conversation.

The word “run” is the focus of the shirt and it’s followed by a semicolon and nestled within two crossed arrows. Instead of having the word “run” come to an end, it’s continuing on in a sort of circular fashion with a semicolon. Also, I really wanted to use a semicolon because it’s become a sort of symbol of hope for mental health awareness.

There are also arrows on the shirt because not only do I really love archery (I just recently got my own bow), but they symbolize something for me. An arrow can’t go shooting forward into its target without be drawn back first. I try to remind myself of this every time I get anxious or depressed. When those hard moments hit me out of the blue, it can sometimes feel like a step back. I fully realize it is not a step back, but when depression strikes, you don’t exactly see the world as it is. You see a much bleaker version. So when I have depression and anxiety and I feel like I’ve taken a step back, I just remember that it means I’ll soon be shooting toward my target, straighter and truer than ever.

Wear your support

I sincerely hope that when people wear this shirt, they feel like they’re wearing something that matters. It’s a way to wear your support for mental health awareness. Most importantly, I hope it can help spark a conversation with someone that may be hurting and needs to hear that they’re not alone. If you’re interested, the shirt is now available in our shop. Because another goal of Still I Run is to raise money for mental health issues,  20% of every sale to Pine Rest Christian Mental Services patient assistance fund. The reason for choosing Pine Rest is because they helped save my life several years ago and I’ve been going to them ever since. I’m also passionate about helping others get the care they need, and I don’t think money should ever be a barrier to getting mental health. I really do hope we can all make a difference here.