President’s Message for November 2025

Tulips!

The Emerson Health Mental Health Working Group, which includes some of our affiliate board members, is again encouraging communities to plant yellow tulip bulbs in the autumn season. These Hope Gardens are inspired by the mission of the Yellow Tulip Project, to smash stigma.

Emerson Health provides signs for the garden that say, “When a community comes to together, plants a garden and talks about mental health, hope blooms. Hope gardens represent a commitment to breaking mental health stigma.” The sign includes a QR code to the Behavioral Health Resource flyers that are posted on the Emerson website and our own, namicentralmiddlesex.org/resources.

In the spring, community members gather to celebrate the tulip blooms and spread mental health awareness. Some choose to read the poem copied below.

May your personal winter be one of building strength to greet the spring sun. NAMI is here for you.

“Just Wait for the Sun” by Lisa Marks

When everything's darkness
And you feel so alone,
When the rain doesn't stop
And you can't make it home,
When it feels all is lost
And you just want to run,
It can't rain forever.
Just wait for the sun.

When family is pain,
When friends can't be found,
When you just want to scream
But you can't find the sound,
When it's all your fault,
And you feel like you're done,
Just wait for the sun.
The sunshine will come.

The storm always passes.
It won't last forever.
The rain always stops and gives way to good weather.
The brightest and warmest of days still to come.
Please wait for the sun.
The sunshine will come.

People who need you,
People who still love you
Can warm up your soul like the sunshine above you.
You're never alone,
No matter what's done.
Wait for the sun.
Just wait for the sun.

Dark clouds always pass.
I promise you, hun.
We're all waiting with you.
Just wait for the sun.