What advice do you feel like Charles would give right now?

Question from a high school student after one of my presentations.

That’s a tough one. (For those of you who don’t know, Charles is my son who died by suicide and I often speak to youth about mental health.)

To answer the question, I think he’d say be true to yourself and follow your passion.

Charles asked me once, “Mom are you following your passion?” I hesitated and then he said, “If you are taking that long to answer, you aren’t.

“You should follow your heart,” said the child with the world’s biggest heart.

So I did.

Charles’ personality was so big

Published by

Anne Moss Rogers

I am an emotionally naked TEDx speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my youngest son, Charles to substance use disorder and suicide 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, 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.

4 thoughts on “What advice do you feel like Charles would give right now?”

  2. I think Charles would say…
    Dear Mom I think you are so brave and have found your “passion” helping young people to open up about mental illness, suicide and death. Please don’t stop. I’m so proud of you👍❤

    Reply

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