Author: jewelsangels

Helping teens see that they are not alone with depression and educating on the awareness of suicide.
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A Souls’ Connections

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A SOULS’ CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DESTINY AND LESSONS

I try to write a blog post at least once a month, but sometimes this can be a challenge. I like to let ideas flow into my head, so when this quote appeared I thought it would be a fascinating piece to write. “When we break our connection with our soul, do we lose touch with reality?”

I found an amazing YouTube video on this subject narrated on a theory by Carl Jung called “The Energy of Two Souls Aligns, No Force Can Keep Them Apart”. Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist known for his development of analytical psychology.

Carl Jung – When the Energy of Two Souls Aligns, No Force Can Keep Them Apart

Carl Jung believed in a theory called synchronicity, meaning alignment. We don’t always understand why some people are placed in our lives, while others are only in our lives for a short amount of time. This may be through death, break-up, or a mutual decision to leave the relationship. The relationship doesn’t have to be romantic, it can be a friendship, family member, our children, and even our parents. But for whatever reason, our souls connect with some but not others.

Some connections are destiny, whereas others are lessons. “You attract what you haven’t healed”. Our destiny in this life is to find love. Some of us are hopeless romantics. We want love so deeply that we will almost go to all costs to find it, even if it is at the expense of our own healthy inner-self. Love is a frequency which attracts us to people that we need in our lives at that time. Sometimes these relationships may be healthy and other times not so much. When we find that perfect person that makes us whole, that is our destiny. When we find that person that feeds our inner securities, that is a lesson.

Destiny is finding that connection between another person – our souls find each other because we are made up of energy and energy is directly proportional to its frequency. We may be attracted to that person in a healthy fashion. We feel at peace with them. They make us whole, not complete, but whole. We feel at home with them. True love to say. We are a mirror. What we see in that mirror reflects who we become. Are we a mirror of denial and fear showing us our truth? Or are we mirrored with a self-confident, strong individual?

When a connection becomes a lesson is when our unhealed traumas find love. We are attracted to our traumas, either to find healing within that other person or simply a mirror of ourselves. Ask yourself, “what did this awaken in me that I needed healing?” The mirror never lies because our triggers, brought on by our traumas, are messages to ourselves, reflecting to us. What we seek in others is often the thing we are withholding from ourselves. If we are afraid of abandonment, our fear of this will attract us to someone who will leave us. If we are desperate to find love, without fully loving ourselves and being okay with being alone, we will attract people who don’t know how to love us.

In order for us to be truly comfortable in our own skin, content, and at peace, we must learn to heal from our past traumas and triggers so that the energy we put out there into the universe is one of the same we wish to receive.

Certain people who cause us pain aren’t put into our lives to cause us suffering. They are put into our lives as a lesson for healing. Look at a break-up, death or end of a relationship as the role it was intended. Was it destiny or a lesson? Are we mirroring our pain into the choices we make in our relationships or choosing people that our souls’ frequencies have connected to? Love shouldn’t be hard. Pain isn’t a punishment; it is a teacher.

I will finish with this quote that I love from Carl Jung, “Intensity without stability is a fire that burns everything down. True love doesn’t feel like an addiction; it feels like an alignment of our souls.”

Photo Credit: JME

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Kindness is Mental Health Awareness

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MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

In honor of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s remember to be kind to others and practice self-care towards ourselves.

Some simple acts of kindness may be offering a compliment, a smile, a simple recognition of someone’s time or efforts, or even a kind thought. Pass it forward when in line at your local coffee shop, restaurant, or any place of business, by offering to pay for the customer in line behind you. Kindness is contagious. Watch and see as your act of kindness passes onto the next person.

When we put out positive energy, it surpasses the ability beyond our circle and flows out into the universe, surrounding others who may later come into direct contact with us, either knowingly or unknowingly. Have you ever noticed that when you are smiling and engaging in eye-contact, others notice this light in you and often will smile back at you? Afterall, we are made up of energy, and that energy is transferred from us to others; subsequently, having a domino effect. We smile at someone, making them feel good inside, and they transfer that energy to the next person, and so on and so on.

Recognizing self-care is also important, not only during the month of May but throughout the year. One way to do this is through diet and exercise. I believe a healthy diet with a regular exercise plan is always a good resource to lift my spirits. Sometimes our mood drops when our bodies are not properly nourished. Regular exercise is known to increase serotonin in the brain, as well as endorphins. These natural occurring chemicals help to boost our energy, enhancing our moods.

The second factor to a healthy diet and exercise is that it has a direct impact on our self-esteem. When we feel good about ourselves, we have a better perspective and attitude about who we are and our lives in general. Some examples of a healthy meal may consist of a balance of nutrients from protein (beans are an excellent source if you are a vegetarian), carbohydrates (brown rice, whole grain, quinoa, edamame), vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and lots of water. Exercise can be anything that you love, such as the gym, a brisk walk, swimming, bicycle, yoga, stretching, or Pilates to name a few. I love to do yoga several times a week. During the summer months I get out to the lake on my paddleboard and during the winter months I love to ski with my daughter.

Most importantly, pick something that you enjoy and have fun doing it. This will allow you to continue exercising without thinking of it as a chore. And of course, take a day off from exercise if you are feeling tired and find something that may be more relaxing, but still a positive coping tool, such as reading a book or baking.

So, the next time you are out and about, thinking that your smile, compliment, or positive thought doesn’t make a difference, redirect that thinking process towards a more positive perspective because it does make a difference. This is what we all need during turbulent times – positive energy flowing through ourselves and into the universe, not hate, but pure love and kindness.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideations there is help. Reach out to someone you trust or contact the suicide 988 Lifeline at https://988lifeline.org/ or texting 988.

You are not alone, and you matter!

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The Secret Parasite Entangled in Depression

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THE SECRET PARASITE ENTANGLED IN DEPRESSION

Depression is a parasite that grabs hold of you, unwilling to let go.

What does depression look like? It is the one who brings the light into your world of darkness, feeling a happiness growing inside of you, flourishing and making you feel alive again, but it lies to you because it will take it all back.

It has a special charisma and charm about it. Its smile is contagious, making you laugh and cry, maybe even in the same day. It could be for something validated or for nothing at all. It has so much in common with you that you find an instant connection with it but also wish for it to go away.

Have you ever met it? It catches you off guard. You make deals with yourself on the good days, feeling like yourself again, forgiving those who have wronged you, feeling like you want to be a better person. Liking who you are in that single moment, because you have a new sense of peace. You want to smile at strangers, as you walk by them because you are genuinely happy.

But then that one day the sunshine hides behind the cloud, as the cloud becomes dark. A darkness evolves, suffocating the light that once surrounded you. You’re confused because you didn’t see this darkness, you thought it had gone away. It wasn’t there one day and then it suddenly reappeared.

The darkness is called depression. You had been filled with the light of happiness; however, now engulfed in the darkness of depression. You try to bring the light back out and to life, but you can no longer see it. Glimpses of it appear every now and again, but then the light fades, until one day the light doesn’t come back on. And what you’re left with is only the darkness.

Depression is like a parasite. It feeds from your soul, taking all your energy and light, until you are left with nothing. You’re tired, exhausted, and weak and unable to fight back. You try to fight back, but it’s all consuming, allowing no light to come back into your world. It has taken over and once again it controls you. It consumes you like a black cloud, suffocating you until you can no longer breath, so you give up.

You know the sunshine is out there, somewhere because where there is darkness, there is also light. Nothing stays dark forever.

There are not just two choices, to either fight or to give up. It’s not all black and white, there is a lot of grey in between too and it’s called healing.

There is hope. Depression is real, but it doesn’t define you. Don’t let it be your story. Seek help through your community, find a therapist that validates you, and turn your trauma into something positive for someone else to learn from your insight. And most of all, don’t give up! That is not an option because you are not alone on this journey called life ❤

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts or ideations, there is help. Text 988 or call the Suicide Crisis Hotline. For more information, visit their website:

988 Lifeline – If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.

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OUR TRAUMAS DON’T DEFINE US

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Our Traumas do not define us.

This week my therapist asked me an important question. “Who is your five-year old self and how can you be more like her?”

I often think about her and she makes me smile. I remember her as a spunky, sweet girl with golden-wheat hair that surrounded her angelic face with flaxen curls. She was so independent. I know this because my dad told me. I had a white dresser in my bedroom. He put my “everyday” clothes in the bottom two drawers. This allowed me the freedom to dress myself and go next door to my adopted grandparents’ house for breakfast ever day.

I absolutely love that statement he gave to me. I was independent and made my own choices. Granted, I was only five with limited control or accountability; however, I loved his tactic of conditioning me into someone I now respect.

Independence has always been important to me. Subsequently, with it came a cost. I would say that growing up, I was given too much freedom to be independent, especially after my parents’ divorce. It is not always a good thing because with my independence I isolated myself, which created me to get lost into my own distorted perspectives, which weren’t always good.

That five-year-old girl became insecure, developed a low self-esteem, and became too self-critical. I stopped believing in myself and looked to others for guidance, direction, and acceptance. I stopped believing in the things that I believed in. I pushed my own dreams aside to please others, especially my parents, partner, and my dad.

I have accomplished a lot in my life that I am proud of, and therefore, with my life experiences I have realized how important it is to believe in yourself, even when nobody else does. This is beneficial in many ways, but especially when it comes to gaining a healthier self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence.

My challenge for you is to reintroduce something back into your life that inspires you. For me, it was my writing. I always loved to write and read, dreaming of being a published author. But I didn’t have enough confidence in my talents, abilities, or myself to go after what I really wanted because I listened to people in my circle who told me that I wasn’t good enough. Perhaps I’m not, but I will never know unless I try.

That is why my wish for everyone is to give it a try by believing in yourself because if you don’t then nobody else will. As an adult I have been lucky and blessed with people in my life who do believe in me and somedays more than I do. They’ve helped me to regain my confidence and self-esteem, but only I have the power to do it. So, I did it. I published my first book and now when my therapist asks me what I liked about that five-year-old girl, I can tell her. I love her independence, courage and perseverance. She didn’t give up on herself, even when life made it so easy to do so. Instead, she persevered and made her life into what she had dreamt it to be.

HER SCARS is sold on Amazon as an e-book or paperback at the following link:

https://a.co/d/3U3IgAo

Feel free to visit my author page for more information about HER SCARS or to learn more about the novel at the following link:
Her Scars

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JEWELS’ ANGELS RANCH 2024 RECAP

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JEWELS’ ANGELS RANCH 2024 RECAP

Wow what a year! January 2024 started out with lots of expectations; subsequently, as with life we had both accomplishments and disappointments along our way.

We chose the small town of Anaconda, Montana for our Jewels’ Angels Ranch because we believe that this is the perfect community for us, our program, and the community. Imagine stepping into a postcard from the past. This small, quaint western town boasts a single main street lined with charming wooden storefronts and homes that were built back in the mining days, that have stood the test of time. All featuring the rustic charm of the Old West with creaking wooden floors, hitching posts, and weathered signs swinging in the gentle breeze. This town may be small, but it’s rich in character and history, offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life. It’s a place where time seems to slow down, and every corner has a story to tell. And this is why we chose this very special community to bring our emotional horse therapy ranch to live and grow.

We made several road trips this year from Washington to Montana checking on the progress of construction, meeting with contractors, and exploring. Jewels’ Angels Ranch neighbors so much more, including the quaint historical town of Anaconda, Georgetown Lake, Silver Lake, Deer Lodge Museum, Discovery Ski Resort, and historical Philipsburg (home of one of the largest sapphire mines in the United States).

We are excited to start our new journey making mental health our priority by providing emotional support through horse therapy to teens and young adults at our ranch. We are so excited to introduce our program to Montana. Horse therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy, can be a wonderful addition to any community. It leverages the intuitive nature of horses to help individuals with various emotional and mental health challenges.

Benefits of Horse Therapy

  • Emotional Well-being: Helps reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.
  • Physical Health: Improves balance, coordination, and muscle strength.
  • Social Skills: Enhances communication, trust, and empathy.
  • Cognitive Development: Boosts focus, problem-solving, and learning abilities.

Introducing horse therapy into a community can provide a unique and transformative experience for many individuals, fostering a sense of connection and healing through the bond between horses and humans.

As of today, we are currently in the progress of installing our barn roof, stained wooded siding, cupola, and windows and doors. We are super excited to show you the additional progress we have made. Stay tuned for upcoming updates at the end of January.

And a big thank you to all those who donated to Santa’s Angels. A representative from Wellspring Family Services reached out to us with a big thank you for our support. Thank you to those who donated this year to this very special cause.

To make a donation to our program at The Jewels’ Angels Foundation and to be a very special part of our community in changing lives for our youth of today and tomorrow. We can’t fight this fight without you. As a community we can put a stop to suicide!

DONATIONS – The Jewels’ Angels Foundation, Inc.

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The Santa’s Angels Promise

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THE SANTA’S ANGELS PROMISE

One of our main programs at The Jewels’ Angels Foundation is the Santa’s Angels Holiday Drive. This year we are supporting the Wellspring Services in Seattle, Washington. An organization with the desire to “end family homelessness for good”.

Impact – Wellspring

They do this by connecting families to housing resources by working with housing providers and property owners in our communities for people who have lost or at risk of losing the security of their housing situation. They help to prevent families from the devastations of homelessness before it can happen to them, by providing important resources.

This annihilating situation is important to us because we strive to make it a better tomorrow for all children, teens and their families. Without healthy well-adjusted homes, these children and teens are at risk of not having the potential to strive into their full potential. They are our future and without them in it, our progress is bleak.

Suicide and mental health issues that lead to suicide continue to have alarming statistics. It is important to start providing care before a problem arises. This is one of the reasons this program is so important to us – it nurtures prevention.

Through our program, Santa’s Angels, your donation will go towards this much needed organization to support these families. The Jewels’ Angels Foundation, with your donation, will purchase and drop of clothing and essential items to the Seattle location for children from the ages of 0-7 years of age on December 21st. All donations to our organization from December 1 – December 20th will go towards this program.

To show your support, CLICK the link below to donate – here you will see a Donate Button. We appreciate any donation you can give. We cannot fight this battle alone, but we can do it together, as a community.

DONATIONS:

SANTA’S ANGELS HOLIDAY DRIVE – The Jewels’ Angels Foundation, Inc.

As always – Thank you and Happy Holidays!

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AN EMPTY SEAT

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AN EMPTY SEAT

September is Suicide Awareness & Prevention month. What does this mean? It means that it is all up to us to be aware of those around us and assess their behaviors, words, and patterns. Be extra kind to all, especially those who are displaying low energy, depression, anxiety, agitation, or sudden changes in their normal behavior, character, and personality. It is up to us to provide an additional dose of awareness to prevent suicidal actions or attempts, preventing the feeling of being alone, isolated, and not heard.

An empty seat…what does it mean to you? Are you a teen struggling with life’s challenges or an adult struggling in the work force? Wherever you are, is there an empty seat? It’s not just an empty seat. It is where your best friend sits, your co-worker, your boss, your teacher, your student, it can be anyone.

You have noticed subtle changes in their behavior or actions. The seat used to be filled with their presence, but you’ve noticed more and more their absence. The last time you saw them, they snapped at you, which is unlike them. This is not their normal characteristic. They’ve been struggling to keep up with their assignments when they are normally the one who helps you, but when you offer to help them, they graciously decline with the statement, “that’s okay, it doesn’t matter anyway.” Somehow, that statement makes your stomach drop, but you don’t know why.

You have noticed a change in their appearance and hygiene. You’ve noticed drastic weight gain or weight loss and differences in their eating habits. You’ve commented on their clothing choices of wearing long sleeve sweatshirts and jeans in the hotter months; however, their comments stated that they are cold or raise their shoulders that it isn’t a big deal. You notice the subtle ways they cover themselves up when looked at too intently, shifting their gaze.

You can’t help but noticing them withdrawing from normal activities they used to enjoy, making excuses when asked to hang out, and complaining more about physical ailments, such as stomach aches, headaches, or just too tired. You have noticed that they say all too much, that they are just tired.

The empty seat has now grown to be the empty seat in the car, the empty seat at the dinner table, the empty seat at the park, an empty seat in their bedroom, an empty seat in your life.

You wish you had noticed the warning signs to suicide when it had been just an empty seat. You wished you asked, “I have noticed you haven’t seemed yourself lately. I’ve missed hanging out with you. I have noticed you’ve been absent and withdrawing (or whatever the circumstance) from activities. Sometimes when people experience things like that, they might be thinking of suicide. Are you thinking of suicide?”

By knowing the warning signs to suicide, suicide awareness can help to prevent suicide, filling that empty seat with their existence, instead of a memory of who they were, but with who they are and will be.

If you or someone you know is showing signs of suicide, having thoughts or ideations, there are resources to help:

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

www.sprc.org

Take Action for Mental Health

www.takeaction4mh.com

Make the Connection – Support for Veterans

www.maketheconnection.net

The Trevor Project – Support for LGBTQ youth

www.trevorproject.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK, or text 988

Resources for those who have lost someone to suicide:

Survivors After Suicide Program

www.didihirsch.org

Friends for Survival

www.friendsforsurvival.org

American Association of Suicidology

American Association of Suicidology – Together, We Will Make An Impact!

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BUILDING A BARN – PART 1

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PEERING THROUGH THE WINDOW OF TOMORROW – BUILDING A BARN PART 1

When we started this process for advocating the production of building an emotional support horse therapy ranch back in the year 2019, we had no idea how we were going to make this goal come true.

At first, we looked for a property in Temecula, California. We found a lovely parcel of land with the hopes of building our horse ranch there. Due to life’s mysteries, we were pulled out of California and into Missoula, Montana. Once in Montana, we registered The Jewels’ Angels Foundation as a foreign non-profit organization, allowing us to provide our serves in three states, California, Montana, and Washington, while our headquarters remain in California.

As time would tell, our foundation was presented with an amazing opportunity to start our building in the small, quaint town of Anaconda, Montana, about ninety miles from Missoula, strengthening our business model. We are proud to be calling Anaconda our new location for our beautiful program, Jewels’ Angels Ranch.

Our emotional support horse therapy program will be servicing Western Montana, within the communities of Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Butte, Missoula, Helena, and Phillipsburg, to name a few. However, it doesn’t matter how far away you are because all are welcome.

We are so excited to have started building our horse barn. We are still on course for our grand opening in the summer of 2025.

Horse therapy offers a number of benefits, both physical and emotional, fostering a non-verbal communication between a horse and a teen by strengthening the emotional bond, allowing them to communicate without words. Our program will include the following:

Physical benefits

  • Balance
  • Muscle building
  • Strength
  • Relaxation

   Emotional benefits

  • Building self-esteem
  • Empowerment
  • Patience
  • Regaining trust
  • Feeling acceptance
  • Improved concentration
  • Self-respect
  • Confidence

Continue to follow us on our journey establishing a safe place for teens and young adults to learn more about themselves, their strengths, and their ability to overcoming challenges and struggles that young people face daily. Every young person will learn more about horses, caring for them, and loving them. They will also learn about themselves, improve their self-esteem, confidence, self-empowerment, and self-love. As individuals and as a community, our program will be effective because you matter, and we do not experience this journey alone. And always remember, you are not alone.

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Never Stop Believing in your Dreams

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NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOUR DREAMS

When I think about the good-old west, Montana comes to mind. It is a place where horses run free, blue topped mountain tops with cascades of white drifting down into pastures of green, gentle rivers flowing effortlessly down stream while casual floaters carelessly drift past, under the summer sun, and where a handshake still means something. This is what I think of when I think about what Montana is and what it means to me. A perfect place to build a ranch.

The Jewels’ Angles Foundation, Inc.’s – Jewels’ Angels Ranch. I thought it would be fun to share our building journey with you. The grand opening of the Jewels’ Angels’ Emotional Support Horse Therapy Ranch has moved to June 2025. We have broken ground in Anaconda, Montana. We will continue to update you on our progress, and we hope you will follow us through this process, on this exciting expedition.

Our program is set up to target teens between the ages of ten and eighteen years of age, who would benefit from working side by side with a rescue horse and team mentor. We will be teaching our clients about developing stronger self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-empowerment skills, while learning the benefits of quality time, exploring nature, on a horse ranch, surrounded by love, kindness and the gentleness of a soft, wet nose sniffing your hand – a time for self-reflection. You do not need to be struggling with suicidal ideations or thoughts to be a part of our program; however, we will be strongly focusing on this area.

Horse therapy offers many benefits, both physical and emotional, offering a non-verbal communication between a horse and a teen by strengthening the emotional bond, allowing them to communicate without words:

Physical benefits

  • Balance
  • Muscle building
  • Strength
  • Relaxation

   Emotional benefits

  • Building self-esteem
  • Empowerment
  • Patience
  • Regaining trust
  • Feeling acceptance
  • Improved concentration
  • Self-respect
  • Confidence

Horse therapy allows individuals to learn to live in the present by spending time outdoors and with nature, bringing comfort back into their lives and broadening their senses.

Studies show that interacting with a horse is to deal with their mood swings, attitudes, and unique personalities, making their temperament like that of a teenager during their adolescent years.

Our program provides a healthy and healing atmosphere for the teen and young adult, allowing them to bond and connect with a horse trained for emotional healing, with an emphasis on educating about the importance of establishing a healthy, mental well-being, as an alternative to making poor choices; by providing them with a sense of belonging and self-love.

We offer supportive, boys, girls, and co-ed groups, led by dynamic, responsible, and well-trained leaders, including our horses, teaching teens the ability to learn about themselves individually through acceptance and personal growth.

Please continue to follow us on our journey as we maintain our exploration into the exciting world of building a ranch in Montana.

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SUICIDE – THE DIAGNOSIS

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SUICIDE – THE DIAGNOSIS

Suicide is an action taken by an individual who is struggling with a major mental health issue and experiencing symptoms of worthlessness and low mood, to name a few. Depression and/or anxiety are some mental health struggles that people who commit suicide have. You will not find suicide as its own distinctive mental disorder in the DSM-5 manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or will you.

According to the DSM-5 manual, a new finding has been introduced, called SBD for Suicide Behavioral Disorder. SBD is defined as: the individual has made a suicide attempt within the past two years, the criterion for non-suicidal self-injurious behavior is not met during the attempts, the diagnosis is not applied to preparation for a suicide attempt, or suicidal ideation, the act was not attempted during an altered mental state, and the act was not ideologically motivated, according to the website -Theravive. (Suicidal Behavior Disorder DSM-5 – Therapedia (theravive.com))

I am pleased we are taking this additional step towards a better understanding of what suicide means because I was lost and confused after losing my teenage daughter to suicide in 2016. I understood she struggled with depression and anxiety, but to what extent, was beyond my recollection. Perhaps it is because a lot of individuals battle with depression and anxiety, but not all will die by suicide. So where is the correlation and disconnect between those who will die by suicide and those who will live with the detrimental effects of depression and anxiety.

In the past, suicide was thought of as a “symptom” or “an action”, stemming from an individual with a diagnosis of either major depressive disorder or borderline personality disorder. I had always thought that suicide should have its own diagnosis, rather than an occurrence.

It may be helpful, not only for the patient, but the clinician treating the patient because certain precautions can be quickly addressed.

This new diagnosis has the potential to have a huge impact on addressing the true symptoms and dangers associated with suicide and not only depression – ranging from mild to major. Perhaps this is one piece to better understanding suicide, is by addressing the actual disease, called suicide.

I continue to believe that by having this diagnosis it has the potential to bring some relief to the individuals struggling with SBD. Being misdiagnosed is frustrating, making a person feel even more alone and isolated, subsequently one of the warning signs to suicidal ideations.

Furthermore, having a diagnosis that targets the intended problem, helps those individuals say, “You get it, I feel less misunderstood, thank you.” Depression, by itself, is scary enough, but when you are diagnosed with mild depression but feel like your world is falling apart, it can create a panic within you that shouts out “I can’t do this anymore!”

I feel comforted in knowing that the field of psychology is making moves in a positive direction, looking for answers to our suicide statistics and why they are increasing instead of decreasing. We seem to be taking the correct steps to minimize the effects of suicide; however, the statistical numbers are not reflected in this effort. We live in a world where we are communicating more, speaking out about suicide and mental health, yet we are still losing innocent people to this disease called suicide. We are missing something, but what is the common link? However, I am hopeful, as a society and individually, that we are making a positive impact. If we all fight this battle together, as a community, I have faith that we will find a cure for this horrific disease, called suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideations, it is NOT too late. Visit the NAMI website (National Hotline for Mental Health Crises and Suicide Prevention | NAMI) or text 988. As always, remember to be kind to those whom you encounter during the day. You never know what they may be going through. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Please keep Grayson Murray’s family, friends, and community in our hearts, we lost him to suicide this past May 25, 2024!