Wow, I’d really like to be in Florida this weekend.

Both Patty Duke and Elyn R. Saks are going to be Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. talking about their experiences with mental illness at a free community education program called “Journey into Wellness from Mental Illness” that Sunshine From Darkness is sponsoring.

Duke is a pretty well-known celebrity voice for mental illness advocacy, and Saks is just - well - amazing in my opinion. I read her memoir, The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness, a couple of years ago, and was (still am, actually) in awe of the woman. She enrolled in and graduated from Vanderbilt, Oxford, and Yale Law School - all while struggling with schizophrenia - before going on to build a resume that boggles my mind. She’s currently an associate dean at the University of Southern California and teaches psychology, psychiatry, and law.

If you haven’t read The Center Cannot Hold, I highly recommend it. It’s an honest, very raw inspiration to anyone dealing with mental illness.

And, if you happen to live near Sarasota, check out the event. It’s sure to be enlightening and, hey - it’s free

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