fbpx

New Years makes me feel like I am leaving him behind

Every year since Charles died, I feel guilty for celebrating a new year and ache that I’m leaving my child behind. As the fireworks explode I have my foot on an imaginary brake pedal as if I could stop the new year from happening.

I have always loved change and moving forward but am ambivalent about that now.

Will the memories I have be forgotten? Will he be forgotten? Will his picture look dated? Will I remember his scent? Will the feel of his hugs fade? Would he resent that I was leaving him stuck in 2015?

Happy New Year is not quite the right thing to say here to sign off. So instead I hope you find contentment.

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.

7 thoughts on “New Years makes me feel like I am leaving him behind”

  1. Your comments struck my heart. I thought I couldn’t wait for 2019 to end after losing my son to suicide on April 8th. Instead I found myself feeling exactly what you wrote. This journey is a difficult one to be on. Prayers for all who must make it.

    1. This journey has always been so different than my expectations. Including New Years. I expect it now but even that changes from year to year. Thank you for letting me know this was a feeling shred by you. It helps to know that.

  2. Oh my Dear Anne. Charles will never be forgotten. His memory will never fade. He lives forever in your heart and others feel Charles in your book🙏You spread your words to so many, you are kind and genuine and caring just as your Charles is watching over you from Heaven🌈✨

  3. Thank you, Anne Moss. You are an important part of my survival team since losing my son, Ray, to his long-fought battle with depression and anxiety 4 1/2 years ago.

      1. Ray died July 28, 2015 at the age of 39. My only child, my everything. He valiantly battled because he didn’t want to break my heart (he told me that himself). His pain at the end must have been horrific… Ray Carey- forever in my heart.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap