Speech at the Salvation Army; Seeing Old Pals

Hey Friends,

So I gave my speech today about suicide and my walk at the Home League which is held at the Salvation Army. I was very nervous, but am very glad I took a speech class in my spring semester! There were very great questions, and comments. People were sharing stories about the loved ones that they themselves lost to suicide. I was sad to hear of the loses, and again I am sorry for anyone who has lost someone to suicide. But I am glad we are losening the stigma and being able to talk about it.
Today I also stopped by to see my old guidence counselor at my High School. As I walked into the school I was stopped by a familiar face, the old intern secratary It was great to see old faces, and once I told her about this awesome walk, she jumped aboard. Then if was off to see my counselor, a woman who was there since the beginning of the loss of my mother. We greeted each other with enthustiastic hugs and hellos. She was excited to hear about my walk, and was ready to pass the word around.
I saw many old and new faces today, but they all heard about the same amazing opportuinty to save lives. Thanks to all that are making this possible!

Theraputic Poetry; "Meeting"

Hey Friends, this poem was written on May 11th, 2008. A year and a half after I lost my mother, I started attending a meeting called "Survivors of Suicide." I go to this meeting once a month, and it is my family. People go to this meeting because they have lost a loved one to suicide. I wanted to express my appreciation for this meeting, so what better way then writting a poem.

Meeting

I went to my Survivors
meeting.
My family,
my friends,
my hope.
I cried because of my hatred
for you.
I cried because of my love
for you.
I felt as a little kid at this
meeting, as though
my questions of why
could never be
answered.
“Why wasn’t I enough?”
All eyes looked down
showing me
the answer.
That they have felt
this way too.
A quick sigh, but my heart
was beating for an
answer.
But the question
was not that I was enough,
it was why couldn’t she fell
my love.
Depression.
I cried even more, because
I hated her, but loved her.
I was a child facing a problem
even God would question.
There are so many questions,
but when the realization
comes that there are
no answers, it feels
as though breath is taken
from your body.
But when others look at you
with the same pain
in their eyes and
still construct a
genuine smile,
your breath returns.

Week 3

Hey Friends,

Hope all is well with all of you. This week again was very busy. I sent out the letters and flyers, and even had others send them out for me, thanks guys!! I received three donations this week, thank-you for helping to save lives! Through this fundraiser I am hearing some amazing stories, about how many have been affected by suicide. It is very sad to hear these stories, but I am glad we were able to talk about it. Slowly by telling our tales we are breaking the silence.
On Thursday, February 26th, I will be giving a speech about suicide at the church I attend. I'm hoping my nerves will stay calm, and people will see my passion for this cause; cross your fingers for me everyone.
Please feel free to comment or send me e-mails, I love to listen. Hope you all have a great week, keep on checking out this awesome site!

Theraputic Poetry; "Placed a Rose"

Okay, so from my site you've seen the scary statistic that every 16 minutes we lose someone to suicide, well here is another one. Every seventeen minutes, someone is left to make sense of it, and on average the loved one lost to suicide leaves six people behind. After hearing this statistic I decided to get out my lucky green pencil and write and this is what came out...

Placed a Rose

Look up at the sky
full of dark clouds.
Now the clouds cry
dark tears.
Steps are taken towards
the casket.
Her love and father of
her children places a
bright rose on her casket, the
rose leaves his fingers
just as she left his.
Her father and mother walk
brokenly gripping each
other.
Her mother looks away
not wanting to see
that she could no
longer help
her.
Her father places a rose,
fully bloomed, looks
at her face and
wishes for a
smile.
Her sister walks up to her looking
back.
A rose is placed, and she
walks forward.
Her eldest daughter walks up,
then back, then
up again.
Tears roll from her face
to her mothers.
She looks up then down,
slowly the rose is places on her
casket.
Her son looks down, only to look
up to know he is
There.
He looks at her yearningly.
Very slowly he places the
rose on her casket,
and looks up.
Her youngest daughter takes baby
steps towards her.
Closes her eyes and takes
a deep breath.
She looks away and bites
her lip.
She grabs her hand, cold, hard.
She looks at the rose then at her.
Placing the rose on her casket she
places her love.
One person, six roses.

Theraputic Poetry;"Walk"

Yes my friends, poetry. After I lost my mom I began to write poetry, and if I didn't have it I wouldn't be as stable as I am today. I wrote this poem almost two years ago, and I found it very suitable.

Walk

I am a girl,
fighting to live,
fighting against myself
to live.
My mother my best friend
she drew her last
breath.
and left me here to
breath without her.
Courage, my courage laid
with her in that coffin.
Now I walk this gray
path, telling my story.
Hope and strength run through
me.
Many changes occurred for
me to be
this way.
I am a girl with a
story.
My mother made herself
breathe her last breath.
But I will still stand.
My story is to never
take your life.
I walk everyday
without her.
Breathing without her.

Week 2

Hey Everyone,

Hope all is well with all of you. So week two, it was great. I got my business card for this walk today! It looks great, and I will pass them out to everyone. The colors on the card are purple and blue because they are the colors for survivors of suicide. I also got my flyer and letter printed today, special thanks to my friend Dan, he fixed my horrible grammar. I'll be sending the letters and flyers out on Monday. I'm crossing my fingers that word spreads and they help support this awesome cause. March 6th, mark it on your calendars my friends, there will be a bake sale to raise money. I'm not the best cook, so I am very thankful that many of my family and friends have volunteered to make some goodies for the fundraiser.
On to week three, thanks to all that are making this possible!!

Week 1

Hey Friends,

I have to say this has been a crazy week! I have spoken with many genorous people this week. Things are really coming together.
I spoke with my director at work (West Shore YMCA) and he is on board; letting me do fundraising at YMCA. This is great, I can really get the word out. There I will be holding a bake sale on March 6th, 2009. All the money raised will of course go to my walk. Tell all your friends to come get sweets, and help save lives!
I also spoke to my pastour this past weekend and he is also on board, were still ironing out the details. But I will am going to talk to the teens at the church about suicide. This is what I am really excited about because I'm helping fight the ignorance of suicide.
I will be sending letters out to many people across the states, hopefully it begins a chain.
So this was the first week, things are begining to roll. Keep reading my friends!

* A special thanks to all the genorous people that have helped me, thank-you.