Somedays you feel like an empty shell–the grief so heavy your heart hurts. I miss my boy every day. And some days it’s so much harder. Today was one of those days.
I loved how Charles would ask me to lunch, give me hugs and come seek me out to talk to me. He’d remind Richard to get me a birthday card and Charles would always draw one especially for me. It was always hilarious. I ache I miss that so much because no one else really invests himself like he did to let another person know they matter. There is no “replacement” for that.
I am an emotionally naked TEDx 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 substance use disorder 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, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, 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.
Professional Speaker Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
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