But He Seemed So Happy
He was getting better.
He seemed at peace.
We had so much to look forward to.
He went out and got a hair cut.
It happens when we least expect it. When a friend or family member takes their own life, we play the last minutes, hours, and days over and over in our mind. What did they say? Maybe it was an accident. Could I have stopped it?
Today, our friend Kate stopped by to talk about the day her fiance' Andre' Bush took his own life. Andre' was a light! He was a bright talent, and a beautiful soul, but mental illness robbed him - and us - of all that should have been to come.
If you are struggling, please call 988 from ANY smart phone, or call 800-442-HOPE (4673) from any phone in the U.S.
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Falls-Fast-Understanding-Suicide/dp/0375701478
The Art of Repair
As the world slowly opens up, we appreciate the places in which we feel safe. Although a lot of relationships broke during the pandemic, many people found new and deeper connections. Today we celebrate those connections and the healing they bring.
Everyone is talking about the “new normal”. Have you found yours? We’re definitely still trying to navigate through the murky waters of post-pandemic reintroduction to community and life.
The heart and body wants to heal. Liz and Debi are open to finding that healing in some non-traditional places like bar planks, stalled cars, torn shirts, and small towns. Today we celebrate the wisdom and healing that comes when we open our hearts and minds.
The Brave Little Toaster
www.dancingwithskeletons.net
Depression and Hope
In this episode we briefly discuss suicide. If you're not comfortable with that topic, please feel free to skip this episode.
Childhood trauma can affect who we are and how we react to the challenges of life. There is no shame in getting the help we need.
We want you to know there is always the light of hope. If you find yourself struggling and thinking of suicide, please reach out to someone you can trust or the suicide hotline at 800-273-8255.
https://www.dancingwithskeletons.net
https://debiruud.com
Dancing With Thoughts and Prayers
What is prayer?
The dictionary defines prayer as “A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship”.
When someone cries out for prayer on social media, we promise “thoughts and prayers”, but what does that really mean? I’m guessing it means different things to different people. For us, prayer means we throw positive energy out into the Universe. God knows what we need and He wants to reveal the answers to us. For us, prayer is the act of connecting to God, the Divine, one another, and the Universe and we need connections more now than ever.
Dancing With Skeletons is sponsored by Fresno Music Academy and Arts. They offer voice and instrument lessons in person or online.
Seeing Glimmers of Hope
The Broadway show Come From Away is the little-known story of the passengers on 38 planes that we diverted on 9/11 to Gander, Newfoundland when the American airspace was suddenly closed after the tragic events of that day. Suddenly nearly 7,000 people from all over the world landed in the small town—nearly doubling its size—and they needed food, showers, beds, and (most importantly) phones. They were stranded in a strange place with people who didn’t speak their language but who spared nothing to give the “come from aways” a safe place for a few days.
As we talked about the show and the way people cared for one another following the attacks on America, I couldn’t help but get very weepy. 2020 was full of anger and division, but we are capable of so much more! We are hopeful that goodness and kindness lies ahead.
True Friendship, part 2; Dancing With Hope
What happens when a diagnosis of illness changes the trajectory of a family? This is the story of a good marriage made better and relationships made stronger even in the face of disappointment, sadness, discouragement, and a devastating cancer journey.