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As we grow up, we learn coping behaviors, intentionally or not, such as ways to communicate, express and receive love, and accept ourselves and others. This significantly influences our worldview and our interactions with others. Our After the Storm campaign has provided us with some insights and we are pleased to share them with all of you. Angelique and Drella each have distinct experiences in prioritizing their mental health and well-being and understand that you have your own unique perspective and experience too. This is why we want to start having these open conversations. What have you learned about yourself since we launched our After the Storm campaign  to raise awareness of the importance of mental health? AK: I did not realize how quickly the After the Storm campaign would gain such traction since we launched in 2023! Thank you to all who’ve donated thus far or shared a post to get the word out! I learned that there is nothing wrong asking for help or support from those trusted individuals around you. It's not a sign of weakness but more so an invitation to feel supported by those who could hold space for me. It also taught me that vulnerability is a huge relationship builder and that you don't have to go through life alone or isolated. I hope we can bring more awareness around this in the future. Drella: What I’ve learned about myself is that I am more resilient than I give myself credit for. Before we launched After the Storm, my experience with mental health has always been a negative experience. I always knew I wanted to help people going through what I have gone through but I never knew how, or where to start. I associated my struggles with being weak instead of being a pillar of hope. Being able to shift my mindset and see myself as stronger for what I’ve gone through after launching After the Storm has been a new learning experience to say the least.  What are some ways that you prioritize taking time for yourself whether that is to recharge, take space or find support? AK: A huge habit I am trying to form before taking any sort of action is to check-in with myself to determine what I need. How do I feel? This could be under slept, hungry, cold, anxious...whatever the answer is, starting there has been a huge step in the right direction to avoid some impulsive habits that I go to when I am not checking in with myself. Some healthier options I opt for when I want to be impulsive are to go for a walk, have a cup of tea or even just plop down and lie face up on the ground for a moment. Drella: When I’m feeling like I need to recharge, or take space, I make sure to communicate with people closest to me that I’m feeling low, (which can be a huge obstacle) but to be fully transparent is to be heard from the people around you. I take time to stretch and become present with my breathing, being aware of my body to ground myself if it ever gets too intense, and will try to move my body if that means going on a walk, the gym or to my local rink for a skate! Any advice for others around the topic of mental health awareness and self care? AK: Be a seeker of information to educate yourself on what resources may be available to the community. Curiosity is powerful. Group counseling, therapy sessions, discussions with friends and journaling are great ways to get to know yourself and make informed decisions when it comes to your health. Drella: My advice will always be to go at your own pace. Healing is never linear. There can be a day where you feel on top of the world and the next, you may feel like you’re back to where you once were. Keep going. We can acknowledge our emotions regardless of positive or negative and take it day by day to implement small changes that can change how you’ve handled “self care” in the past compared to now.  What would you tell your younger self regarding some of the struggles you’ve experienced thus far? AK: I would tell my younger self that I've got everything I need to be successful, happy and thrive but it won't always feel that way. Trust the process and more importantly, trust yourself that you've got this, whatever that looks like in the future. I would also mention that it's ok to lean on other people or even ask them to hold space for you through listening just to get something heavy off your chest. It benefits both sides and doesn't show weakness, if anything it improves maturity and a relationship with my inner self. Drella: I would tell myself that although the  journey I’m on is not easy, it will lead me to be the compassionate person that I am today. I will also tell myself that I am not alone!   If any of this resonates with you, feel free to take some time to reflect on your own perspectives around your forms of self-care and support! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to us privately if you feel comfortable! Stay Lucid <3

Lucid Laces make skating fun again Hello skate fam! We are back with another Lucid Laces blog for you all! As a small, women-run business, we wanted to take the time to connect and provide a little insight into who we are as individuals, as a team and as roller skaters! Read on for more and feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments! What is a skate habit you’re trying to break? Angelique: "I need to stop ignoring the beat by slowing down, listening and then flowing, lol." Drella: “Stop looking down, listen to music and flow with it instead of overthinking my next move.” What are you working on? Angelique: "I have been working on backwards JB, slow sets and thinking about pivots." Drella: “When I am not working on crazy legs and locks, I am working on freestyling and remembering JB combos.” What laces are you wearing? Angelique: "I am currently wearing 96" Cobalt and I wrap 2 times." Drella: “I am currently wearing 96" Goldenrod and I wrap 3 times” What inspires you as a small business? Angelique: "Honestly, what keeps me going is the joy of creating a product that other people find functional but also allows them to express their skate style. My DIY background is woven throughout Lucid Laces. It's a weird joy being able to say that every single pair of laces went through my hands. Drella is currently training in Lucid Lace-making." Drella: "To be able to fill a need for the community, to be accessible for beginners skaters, for example, who are learning to loosening their nuts off their wheels so the wheels actually spin. People don’t know that." What advice do you have for new skaters? Angelique: "Just skate and have fun! This is probably why you started in the first place, right? There are so many things to work on like footwork or musicality so keep a fresh outlook because the learning never ends and it's all about the journey along the way!" Drella: “Move at your own pace, social media creates this competition and I want new skaters to know that everything is based on their own timeline, not to compare themselves to other skaters. Let’s say for instance a friend and you are working on the same move like crazy legs together and you’re not picking it up as quick as you’d like, don’t get frustrated, just keep going and everyone’s journey is different. Long term goals? Angelique: "I want to keep pushing forward mental health awareness and education for the community in the hopes of having challenging conversations by creating a safe space to do so. Manifesting our own space in the future as well!" Drella: "Shop, studio space, safe space for community, lucid skate shops and skate lounge. It would be an honor to be a pillar in the community and provide a safe space. Tea station, coffee, water dispenser." Thanks for taking the time to get to know a little bit about us! Is there anything that came to mind during this post? Post in the comments any questions would you ask us and keep up with us on socials! Lucid Laces Angelique Drella

When our campaign with Hope for the Day first launched, we did had no idea what to expect or what was possible! Your engagement has energized us. We took to heart your feedback to continue to raise awareness about mental health is well-being, suicide prevention and shedding light on resources that are available to the community in and outside of Chicago. We are thrilled to share with you that we have SURPASSED our goal of $600 since our campaign first launched in February, 2023! With all your help via contributions, sharing our posts on social media, gifting After the Storm laces and spreading the word, we have raised a total of $744! Angelique was able to obtain a $400 match through her full time employer bringing the total raised for HFTD with your help has been, drum roll... $1,144 Thank you all !!! for your help in participating through donations, sharing posts and spreading awareness on how important mental health and well being truly is! We also are so excited to see that the conversation around mental health and support is happening in and outside of the rink! If you’d like more information or would like to participate, feel free to check out Hope for the Day here: https://www.hftd.org/events . Upcoming HFTD Events: Giving Tuesday Fundraiser Topics Orbiting Suicide - Mental Health Education Workshop , November 18th, 5:30 - 7pm CST Things We Don't Say | Part 1 — Digital Education , November 18th, 1 - 2:15pm CST Identity & Orientation—Digital Presentation , November 29th, 5:30 - 7pm CST If you are looking for more information that is available, resources to share with others or in need of support yourself, the help is closer than you think. https://www.hftd.org/find-help