Hey SLAYERS, September 5 – 11th is Suicide Prevention Week and I am always honored to work with Attitudes In Reverse® in spreading a message of good mental health and suicide prevention. I was recently asked while Zooming into an AIR event what I do to combat my fear. Please find my response below:
Good morning SLAYERS! How many tabs does your brain have open?
Good morning SLAYERS! You can’t control the wind but you can adjust your sails.
Good morning SLAYER! Grow through what you go through.
Good morning SLAYER! The story of your darkness may bring someone light.
It wasn’t a dramatic moment. There were no grand speeches or earth-shattering revelations. Just a quiet, honest story from someone who had been through it, too. A simple retelling of a journey—his lowest lows and the moment he decided to ask for help.
That story gave me the courage to reach out. It was the first spark of hope that told me maybe I didn’t have to stay where I was. Maybe change was possible. Maybe I could begin again.
That is the power of carrying a message of hope. And it’s why I do what I do now.
Hope doesn’t always come with fanfare. Often, it shows up in the form of a shared experience. In someone else’s voice. In a message that says, “You are not alone. I’ve been there, too.”
Especially in challenging times—when life feels uncertain or heavy—those stories matter more than ever. We may feel isolated, ashamed, or like our pain is too much of a burden to place on anyone else. But when someone dares to tell their truth, they give permission for others to speak theirs.
And sometimes, that’s all it takes to change a life.
We weren’t meant to do this alone. I know I couldn’t have walked this path without the people who were willing to share their light when mine had gone dim. Whether it was a friend, a professional, or someone who simply saw me and cared enough to reach out—each one helped carry me forward. Now I do the same.
We often think our story isn’t worth sharing. That it’s too messy, too painful, or not inspirational enough. But that’s not true.
Your story—exactly as it is—might be the one someone else needs to hear. It might be the bridge that helps them cross from fear to courage, from shame to honesty, from isolation to connection. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be real.
Kindness counts. Connection heals. And hope spreads when we pass it on.
During difficult seasons, I’ve learned to slow down, keep things simple, and focus on the people, practices, and projects that bring me joy. That is what fuels me.
Hope isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s a quiet hello. A knowing glance. A kind message. A reminder that someone cares.
Today, offer your story. Offer your presence. Offer your hope. You never know who needs it—including you.
SLAY on.
I’d love to hear from you.
Who carried a message of hope to you—and how are you carrying it forward?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.
And if you know someone who could use a little light, send this to them.
Sometimes, hope is hiding in someone else’s words.
There was a time when I would have called myself a dire warning—not just to others, but to myself. I was the cautionary tale. The one who looked fine on the outside but was falling apart inside. I lived in a cycle of self-sabotage, denial, and fear, making poor choices—or worse, making no choices at all—and then wondering why things didn’t change.
But here’s the truth: we all have a choice. At any moment, we can decide to be a shining example instead of a dire warning. And that choice? It changes everything.
When I was living in the dark, I didn’t believe I had options. I told myself I was strong, that I didn’t need help. But the truth was, I was drowning. I was clinging to patterns that were destroying me, too loyal to my own pain and too stubborn to let go. My relationships suffered, my joy faded, and my hope all but disappeared.
And still, I looked down on those I thought were weak—never realizing that true strength isn’t in pretending you’re fine. It’s in admitting you’re not.
It wasn’t until someone else showed me what it looked like to live differently—to step into the light—that I began to believe it was possible. They didn’t lecture me. They simply lived in a way that made me want what they had. They were a shining example, and I wanted to become one too.
The moment I chose change, a tiny flicker of light appeared. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. I picked up the phone. I asked for help. I started doing the work. And slowly—so slowly at first—that flicker began to grow.
I surrounded myself with people who inspired me. People who had walked through the darkness and come out shining. They didn’t have perfect lives, but they had something real—something I wanted. And being around their light helped me ignite my own.
The more I leaned into that light, the more I began to change. My relationships shifted. My inner dialogue softened. People who used to worry about me now cheered me on. And I began to realize that maybe, just maybe, I could be that beacon for someone else.
We get to decide who we want to be. Every day. With every choice. You don’t have to stay stuck. You’re not bound to your past. If you’ve been a dire warning, you can become a shining example. All it takes is a spark—a moment of hope, a tiny act of courage, a willingness to believe that you’re worthy of the light.
And when you do that, you don’t just transform your own life. You light the way for someone else.
So ask yourself: Which story are you telling with your life?
SLAY on.
SLAY OF THE DAY: Spark Your Truth
Do you feel like a shining example or a dire warning right now?
If you’re not where you want to be, what choice can you make today to move closer to the light?
Have you been both in your life? What shifted?
Who in your life is a shining example? What can you learn from them?
How can you be a spark for someone else?
You don’t need to be perfect to shine. You just need to be real—and ready.
Call to Action: Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you.
What’s one shift you can make today to step out of the shadows and into the light?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.
And if you know someone who’s stuck in their dark chapter, send this to them.
Sometimes, all we need is someone to show us the way.
Good morning SLAYER! Honest hearts produce honest actions.
New blog goes up Friday, until then… SLAY on!
Hey SLAYERS! I don’t usually record my blogs but this one seemed like it should be during these times.
I hope it gives you some hope, and some thought.
We’re all in this together.
SLAY on!
Good morning SLAYER! A single thread of hope is still a very powerful thing.
New blog goes up Friday, until then… SLAY on!
