I commissioned this artwork in a shadowbox to feature Charles’ words.
From the artist, Summer DeCoste: This has various labors of thought. The brokenness, yet the thoughtful love he had. The straight pins…the pain in his addiction.
The love in his heart for his family and the spaces in between that mentally he could not piece together. But in all of this he loved you and I hope you realize that you could not fix those pieces. You did the best you could as a loving parent.
It doesn’t mean he was bad or that he wanted to hurt himself or hurt you. I truly believe that reading his thoughts that he did try to “get it.”
This photo shows the shadowing that will happen depending on your lighting where you’ll place it. I ended up using words from both “Family Matters” as well as “Diary of a Broken Mind” and made a collage of sorts.
What is the #griefheart project?
I explain my #griefheart project here.
See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.
Published by
Anne Moss Rogers
I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief.
As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory.
Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
View all posts by Anne Moss Rogers
Having gone through the addiction cycles, having felt the crushing weight of depression and knowing how Summer puts her heart into every project she takes on, I cannot think of a better collaboration.
I’m so terribly sorry for the loss you and your entire family have gone through. Just please do not take on that guilt as your own. Your son appears to have been quite a shining star – and you cannot be responsible for all his choices. You can always know, however, that he loved you and knew you loved him.
I hope I haven’t overstepped any boundaries – I just felt compelled in my heart to send this message.
Great job as always my dear friend, Summer. You just seem to get it right ❤️
Linda- Thank you. You have not overstepped.
I left a little piece of my heart there. I could tell he love his family so much. I could identify and I’m so honored to have been a part of Charles’ wisdom in words. He was a lovely soul…still is.
Thank you so much Summer
awesome art piece
What an amazing piece of art… That is a treasure because of Charles’ words and because of Summer’s loving interpretation of them. Beautiful.