Walking it Off

Wednesday, September 11, 2013
This week is Suicide Prevention Week. As you can imagine, this represents a triggering event for me, and as a result I'm having a bad week.

My feelings about suicide - and suicide prevention as it pertains to my daughter - are pretty confused right now, and I'm not really ready to talk about them. I suspect that it will take me some time to process my thoughts on this score, because they currently change daily, or even hourly.

And yet, into this maelstrom of confusion of grief rode the six hundred (or at least the two) in the form of our dear friends Stacey and J.R. They've decided to do something tangible in the face of my daughter's death, and their decision has helped to clarify my thinking and my grieving process. 

Taking positive action in the face of tremendous grief matters. Helping others in the worst days of their lives serves the categorical imperative, and thus makes the world less mean, more kind.

Which is why I'm proud and humbled to announce that Stacey and J.R. have decided to participate in the AFSP's Westchester County Walk Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in memory of my amazing daughter. "Maureen's Marchers" will walk on October 6th in Saxon Woods, with proceeds supporting Suicide Prevention.

Suicide prevention and resources are a net good in the world. Helping people who find themselves drowning in despair can only be a right action. Please consider joining me in sponsoring either Stacey or J.R. in their efforts to provide resources for this important work.

3 comments:

Stacey said...

I love this picture of Mo. Vibrant and Beautiful and Missed.

I'm inspired. I've raised my fundraising goal to $1,500. The money raised goes to research aimed at improving our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it as well as educational programs to increase awareness about prevention, warning signs and the psychiatric illnesses that can lead to suicide.

I suffer from depression and if I can help one person - just one - this will be a success to me in the ripples in a pond category. I'm tired of the stigma and I'm tired of losing people. I'm going to do whatever I can to lift the veil.

For those of you who have already donated, Thank you. For those that have contributed moral support, Thank you.

I love you my friend and send hugs from Westchester County.

Yogi said...

Dear Janiece,

If you need a shoulder from a stranger, but one who also lost a daughter, I'm here. You don't know me from Adam, but that's OK too.

We say, Always in our hearts.

All my love to you,

John

johnnysgarage.blogspot.com

smithjim1961 said...

I heard about walk out of darkness on Jim Wright's blog. I live in St. Louis so I can't participate in the walk but I made a donation.