September's Hope
Leslie Weirich
Keynote Speaker | Author | Men's Mental Health | Military Suicide | Grieving With Hope SME
I used to hate the month of September. Well that's not exactly true. If I'm being completely honest, then I would say I dreaded the month of September until this year.
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day, but I just refer to as "Bottom Dropped Out Day." Because five years ago, on September 10th of 2016, the whole bottom dropped out of our world and it's never been the same.
This year marked the five year anniversary of the loss of our beautiful son Austin to suicide. The past five years have been hard. The past five years have been challenging and the past five years have taught me more about myself then I could ever imagine.
At the ripe old age of 62 years old, I thought I was pretty self aware. I knew who I was and I definitely knew who I wasn't. I even finally understood my Enneagram number, so how much more self aware can you be than that?
This year, I decided to take the month of September back! I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life dreading this month every year. On September 11th, 2021 we gathered up neighbors, friends and anyone who wanted to join us and hosted the Innaugural Austin Weirich Memorial 5K. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day and the whole community helped us celebrate our son's life as we raised over 11K for his scholarship fund.
Now I'm already planning our 5K for next year (although it will be pretty hard to top this year.) I get to choose how I spend that day every year and I don't mean to make it sound like this is so simple. Because that's not how grief works. It's definitely not linear or finite and that's what happened to me last Wednesday evening.
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So as hard as the month of September has been for the past five years....so are the holidays. I wrote a post last Wednesday evening, because I was dreading Thanksgiving just like I used to dread the month of September. I wrote a post that was raw. I wrote a post that was honest. I wrote a post that apparently struck a nerve with so many and five days later, I am still trying to process the fact that it went viral around the globe.
So here's what I know five days later. We are all connected around the world by our mental health. Anxiety and depression are universal. Pain and suffering are common denominators among the human race, but so is joy, love, compassion and empathy.
I am completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness, love and support from total strangers who have reached out from around the globe. With close to 5 million views and several hundred thousand comments and private messages, I don't even know where to begin.
All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart and as Austin's mom, I can tell you that I'll never give up. As long as I'm breathing, I will continue to educate teens and young adults on suicide prevention. Because Austin would want me to fight the good fight because his Chicago Bears need as many fans as possible to stay right here on this earth!
https://leslieshope.org/
The Natural Networker | Administrative Assistant | Customer Service | Sales | Volunteer | Coordinator
1 年Hugs to you!
Retired (Freelance)
2 年January 27, 2003 for my son Zach at 17. Time soothes but never heals.
Brand Therapist | Fractional CMO | Get The Flamingle 60 for marketing tips at CaptivaBranding.com
2 年I'm holding back the tears as I read this. I have 2 growing boys and couldn't imagine losing them so soon. From one mama to another, thanks for sharing your heart to raise awareness on suicide prevention. We're all connected by our pain and suffering. May you feel joy as you help so many others.
MRI Technologist with Bachelor degree in Allied Health Science
3 年I am sorry for your grief. This is my first year grieving and I understand it will never pass. Doing positive things helping others in anyway I can. Spending an xtra moment with my patients to listen to them means everything. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Investigator || Highly Experienced Security, Surveillance & Investigations Professional || Mental Health & Suicide Awareness Advocate #EndTheStigma
3 年Leslie, I am so happy to have met you the day this picture was taken! With it being 5 years since you lost your son and 10 since I lost my brother…having planned to run my first ever 5k in Chicago this same day, it was meant to be that I happened to see this one while I was in California and I instantly knew I was changing my plans for my first ever 5k and dedicating it to my brother. Little did I know that this was only the first annual! I’m sold! Regardless of where I am living or working in the country, you can count on me to be there for this race every year! I would love to be able help out in any way I can, even if you want another speaker from time to time from not only a sibling survivor but a survivor of my own demons! I love every thing you are doing and you guys have my full support! Whatever it takes to make an impact! I’m in!