Joy to see my oldest follow a dream he’s had since 8th grade.
Sadness that my youngest didn’t get to do the same.
Joy in the fact that Richard has a solid job at a good company (Tom Hanks studio, Hertzog)
Sadness that I have to leave and go home.
It’s hard to get used to the roller coaster of emotions grief brings. Pure elation one moment and feelings of despair the next. Every holiday, life event and family gathering carries with it that mix of emotions of joy and loss.
I am learning to live with Charles’ suicide and understanding that there is a lot of love and a lot in my life to be thankful for.
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
6 thoughts on “Joy and sadness”
It’s so fun to hear about Richard’s success and happiness. You have taken on so many people’s pain as you honor Charles’ life and work to #endstigma. I love seeing you relish in the joy of Richard’s life, fill your soul with time with your son, even as you deeply miss Charles. ❤️
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It’s so fun to hear about Richard’s success and happiness. You have taken on so many people’s pain as you honor Charles’ life and work to #endstigma. I love seeing you relish in the joy of Richard’s life, fill your soul with time with your son, even as you deeply miss Charles. ❤️
Thank you Amy. What a heartfelt comment.
Your boys sure look like you!!…blessings on ur son’s success ..and leaving him behind in LA
You think? I know he has a lot of my traits personality wise. Both of them do. Or did.
Such a handsome young man! I’m sorry, too, that Charles wasn’t there.
He is good looking! So proud of him