Checking In After Some Celebrating and Some Coughing

Also: Looking ahead to another anniversary and the importance of September.

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My nephew Landon (front and center) is big on pretending to be “a businessman.” Apparently it’s contagious and apparently my mom understood the assignment.

First off, thank you to everyone who has supported the GoFundMe for my mom and dad’s 50th wedding anniversary. Beyond the money—nearly three thousand dollars—my parents have been so moved seeing all of the names. It’s an incredible mix of old friends, new friends, and family members. There are folks from TWLOHA, HEART CAMP, small-group conversations, and right here aka Ever Get Home as well. The names we don’t recognize also mean a ton. On behalf of our family, thank you so much. My mom mentioned a few days ago; so often people wait for a funeral to express how they feel about someone. Thanks for celebrating my parents while they’re alive to receive it. My sisters and I are truly grateful.

Speaking of my sisters, Emily was just here for a week. She lives in Los Angeles and so of course we loved having her home for the golden anniversary. We actually pushed the celebration—an epic family dinner—back a few days, because I was getting over COVID. (It’s been two weeks and somehow I’m still coughing.) Thankfully, Emily was still in town and so everyone was able to make it.

The big dinner was Monday night and then Tuesday was Em’s last full day in Florida. I was glad to spend some time with her before she left. Early mornings aren’t usually my thing but volunteering for airport duty on Wednesday meant one more hour together. We laughed a lot on the drive west to Orlando, an experience we’ve shared many times over the years. It’s never fun saying goodbye but always great to be together.

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I had counseling this morning. Near the end of the session, my counselor asked about what’s next. I told her that after being away, and then getting sick with COVID, which meant more time away, and then focusing on my parents, and then Emily being in town, it feels like a moment to get back to work and back to my routine. I haven’t been feeling 100% but I’m happy to be back at my desk, doing some writing after a quiet couple weeks. As of now I’m home for the rest of the month.

Next Wednesday’s small-group conversation is happening one year to the day since the very first one. I actually didn’t realize that when it was scheduled, but in looking back, sure enough, on August 23, 2022, we started with “I Wish I Had More Friends.” I had no idea that first online event would lead to months of sold-out friendship groups, followed by the chance to introduce other subjects—self-care, change, being single / dating, navigating the holidays, boundaries, confidence, and starting something new. From last August to the end of 2022, all of the conversations happened in groups that met once. At the start of this year, I introduced groups that meet weekly, where people were invited to sign up for a month at a time. My assumption was that people would show up for four weeks and simply move on after that. Little did I know, some folks would choose to stay for six and seven months straight. Many have done multiple months, taken a break, and then returned.

It’s hard to express how meaningful these groups have been, both the one-off and the weekly. They’ve taught me so much about vulnerability and connection, the power of showing up honestly and consistently, what we find when we give and receive undivided attention. The whole thing has been a beautiful gift, something I continue to treasure. I’ll share more in the days ahead as I reflect on the experience. For now I want to invite you to next Wednesday’s “I’m in a Season of Change,” which is happening on the one-year anniversary of the first small-group conversation.

Looking ahead to next month, I’m hoping to be busy and hoping to hit the road. September is important as it relates to mental health. World Suicide Prevention Day and National Suicide Prevention Week mean that people across America and around the planet will be invited into a conversation about saving lives and staying alive. It’s not limited to a single week, with September as a whole being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I have a couple things on the horizon. The first is a private speaking event for the FDA. (When that invitation came in, it’s safe to say I was surprised.) And then on 9/26 I’ll be in Monroe, Louisiana for an event that’s open to the public.

I’m sharing all of this here because I’m eager and available for more. If you want to bring a conversation about suicide prevention to your community, I would love to help. Whether it’s where you work, where you go to school, a group you lead, or a special event you want to see happen, we’re open to ideas. It can be a traditional keynote speech or something more interactive, like a workshop or conversation. If you’re interested, as always, please reach out to the amazing team at Collective Speakers. Feel free to email my longtime agent and friend Sean Lawton: sean@collectivespeakers.com

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