Please welcome first-time contributor Samina, a Molecular Biologist who has an MSEd in School Counseling. She is also a wife and a mother. She was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 in 1985. Since then, she has fought and survived this disease with the help of medication, good psychiatrists, exercise, music, and love for and from her family and friends.

About this photo: “This series of photographs is called ‘PEACE.’ It was taken at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, where these flowers and general atmosphere promote peace and a sense of wellbeing. It is so very peaceful to be there, floral beauty all around you, and the fragrances of the flowers and even a waterfall. The air itself smells like PEACE! It meant so much for me to visit there and get my bearings when I wasn’t feeling well.”

Find more from Samina at her