06/23/2024
Hey there!
Today is my birthday. I'm old enough not to care about birthdays anymore though I do enjoy spending time with my family and friends. This weekend will be a quiet one. That's what I want. A nice meal. Read a book. A walk. Simple things.
A couple of years ago, right after Sean, my son, passed away by su***de, I used the Facebook app to create a birthday fundraiser of sorts. Our family and friends on Facebook far exceeded the goal I had set for the fundraiser. They were so generous. It meant the world to Bernie and me.
This year I've decided that I'm going to make a contribution. It will be a gift to myself. Advocating for a better understanding of mental health issues is very important to our family as is supporting these charities.
So, I'm not going to ask you my friends, family, and acquaintances to donate anything this year. If you want to, great, please do. I'll put links for you to connect with some of the top charities. This year though, more importantly, I have a simple favor to ask you.
I am asking you to choose kind. To be kind. To value others in your life and let them know what they mean to you. Now, anyone can do this right? It's not hard. It's just being a decent human being which we all should aim to be. But often those with mental health struggles do not get treated kindly. I would like to think it is because people do not understand what others are going through.
Often those who need to feel love and kindness, don’t. The child being bullied. The neighbor who lost a spouse. The person caring for a loved one with health issues. Or even the person helping you during your day. They can be struggling but smiling so you don’t know how they feel. How often do you ask someone how they are doing, not expecting an answer other than “Hey, I'm fine, how are you?” How about we go a little deeper? Ask questions that will start a conversation.
Those who suffer from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts don't find it easy to share how they feel. That you're there for them and that they can talk to you. So, it's our job to ask them. Let them know that you care. That 5 minutes conversation with someone could change their life.
I'm sorry if this is a heavy post but as someone who's lost their child to su***de, nothing matters more to me and my family than helping others to not walk in our shoes. To not become a member of this club that none of us wanted to join. I would rather you talk to someone who matters to you before it's too late. I can assure you those in the club would give anything to be able to go back and ask those questions, the right questions so that their loved one would choose to stay.
So that's it all I want for my birthday is for people to be kind to one another.
Bernie and I thank you for listening.
***deprevention
