So when I was younger, I was considered a shy, awkward girl who normally stuck her nose in a book or buried and hovered above a sketch pad. Misdiagnosed and misunderstood with my parents, they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I withdrew from friends, developed depression and an eating disorder, all while trying to grow up and navigate high school.
Later in my life, around 3 years ago, I was finally correctly diagnosed with ADHD. It brought a lot of grief because essentially I thought many mental health crisis points in my life could have been avoided. The pain it caused my family could have been prevented. But it also gave me a sense of relief; and an acceptance of myself and how God made me.
Through those low points in my teenage years, Sailor Moon was my everything. I had remembered watching episodes on TV when I was too tiny to actually understand what was going on, and wanted to see what it was like in the original, Japanese version.
I was blown away! The dialogue was clever, their voices so petite and cute, the action included more realistic, violent cuts. They cussed, their transformations more lewd, and even lesbian & trans/fluid romances! My tween heart exploded. I was obsessed, and having something to focus on really helped against those dark moments.
Loving Sailor Moon made me love to draw even more, and throughout school I always had a sketchbook in hand. Doodling calms my anxiety, and when I have racing thoughts sometimes centering yourself with something to focus on really brings you back to earth.
Literally, Sailor Moon is the superhero I’ve had by my side since day 1
She taught me to have hope, to fight, to protect the things you cherish, and to sacrifice for the ones you love 💗 She’s taught millions of girls that she isn’t the only superhero, that there’s one inside ourselves, all of us
@missy @penny
