Everything went beautifully with Chico's 5th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention this past Saturday. Approximately 450 locals joined our fight to raise awareness about mental illness, depression, and suicide, and we raised close to $11,000.
Most important to me is the fact that many people who, like me, have been carrying deep, dark, burdensome, ugly pains related to suicide losses, had a place to go for healing, compassion, support, and to take a steps towards a world without suicide.
I'd been terribly nervous about all the speaking I was going to be doing. I don't know why, but I was relaxed when on stage. I guess I liked the power of wielding a cordless microphone. Today, I thought about how empowering it would feel to carry a microphone everywhere I go...but enough about me.
First, more about me. I'm on TV below. Channel 12's Local Action News reporter Vanessa Vasconcelos was kind enough to attend unsolicited. She filmed parts of the Walk, did a very nice job editing and commenting, and interviewed me. It's VERY BRIEF, if you decide to view it.
You can see me here, a tad after 1 minute.
http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/out-of-the-darkness-walk-raises-awareness-for-suicide-prevention/
I'm (re)posting the poem I ended my speech with. I wrote this for the Out of the Darkness participants, and I'd posted it several months ago here.
Please
Believe
You're
Not Alone
Please believe
I know your pain
Your broken soul
That smile you feign
You say "I'm fine"
But it's a lie
You dare not share
Your urge to die
I know your rage
And hate
And shame
The burn that set
your heart aflame
Consumed by grief
Your life a curse
Cold lonely days
Still nights are worse
Please believe me when I say
Keep holding tight
You'll be okay
Beastly ills, you cannot halt
Go gentle now
It's not your fault
Mental illness has no cure
You're human with a heart that's pure
I know not how
I know not when
But you'll reclaim your life again
Embrace a faith you never knew
You'll be so glad you wrestled through
Please believe
And hold on tight
As strands of pain fade into light
And tender hues transform your sight
You're not alone
Please know it's true
I'm right here
Holding tight
with you.
