From Anne Moss
Nimicks Rogers:
I have a blog
called Emotionally Naked and about a year ago I started writing posts for the
express purpose of appearing at the top of google for when people were
searching for ways to kill themselves. My post didn't offer step by step
instructions like most of them did but instead offers hope and resources and a
human being that answers them and cares.
I lost a son to suicide and I know he "googled" how to fashion his instrument of
death so that's my inspiration. So after a lot of hard work and persistence,
those articles are competing with sites offering step by step instructions. So
I got an email this week from lady around 50 who wants to kill herself and
we've been corresponding. I don't know if she will ask for help or live. All I
can do is try to let her know someone is listening. I want her to know she
matters. As funny and talented as my son was, his greatest gift was letting
others know they matter and that's what I want to carry forward.
---Thank you so
much, Anne Moss, for sharing here in Theo's Stocking, and for doing what you do
in the world.
Anne Moss recently
spoke at Richmond TEDxGraceStreetWomen about Showing Up. You definitely show up
in this world, helping thousands of people through your blog and your work. A
beautiful, meaningful way to continue to parent your beautiful son and carry
his legacy and his gifts into the world, letting others know they matter. Thank
you.
From Mr. Tucker
Smith:
Today, I walked
past a homeless man who often sits on the street corner next to my house. He
usually asks for help from cars stopping at the traffic light. I initially
walked right by him because I was in a rush. Everything is a rush during finals
week, and in my warped, college-student brain, lunch also falls victim to this
rushed mindset. So, I passed right by my fellow human without giving a thought
to how I could quickly help. Even when I was getting my food, the thought never
occurred to me that I could drop him off some snacks on the way back home,
without altering my path at all. I hold myself to be constantly practicing
mindfulness, but neuroses brought on by looming final exams can cloud even a
practiced mind.
So, I had bought
two apples, one for my roommate and I. On the way home though, I decided to
give the apples to the man after passing him again. He looked me in the eyes
and thanked me sincerely. Looking back, some of the most meaningful acts of
kindness I've received were unpremeditated, simple, and random. The opportunity
to help others might be easier than we think, as long as we can take a second
to think about it in the first place.
---Mr. Tucker Smith,
Service-Learning Teaching Assistant extraordinaire
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