World Hopecast Interview Link

I had the awesome opportunity to be one of the guests on the World Hope Cast back in March. It was an amazing experience. They broke the world record for the longest continuous podcast. All the speakers were fabulous and brought hope into the world. He you would like to hear my interview, it is at the link below.

World Hopecast - Speaker Grace-Chumley

Please Stop Saying "Committed" Suicide by Kyle Freeman

This is something I had not really thought about. I like her thought process on this. It has a softer feel and not so harsh. I included her blog site and this entire post below. I will be walking in the 'SLC Out of the Darkness' walk on September 19. You can donate in Mike's memory at:

Donate in Memory of Michael Chumley

Kyle's Blog

Before my brother Jeff died by suicide, I never thought about the way I talked about suicide. Immediately following his death and for a long time after, I was so shocked that the terms used to describe how he died mattered little. But as time passes, and the shock subsides, I’ve discovered that I bristle each time I hear the expression “committed” suicide. Historically, in the United States and beyond, the act of suicide was deemed a crime. Until as recently as 1963, six states still considered attempted suicide a criminal act. This is so insanely absurd to me that I’m not going to expend any more energy on the history of the topic.

Thankfully laws have changed, but our language has not.   And the residue of shame associated with the committal of a genuine crime, remains attached to suicide.  My brother did NOT commit a crime. He resorted to suicide, which he perceived, in his unwell mind, to be the only possible solution to his tremendous suffering.  If I was telling you about a friend or loved one who actually did commit a crime, chances are that I’d feel at least a little embarrassment or shame on behalf of that person.  But I don’t feel even the tiniest bit of shame about how Jeff died.  Of course, I wish with every fiber of my being that we had been able to successfully help Jeff and that he was alive today.   But shame, nope, I don’t feel that about my brother.  I focus on how proud I am of who he was in his life – passionate, thoughtful beyond words, brilliant, determined, and braver than most people I know, for enduring his pain as long as he did. Yes, Jeff Freeman was a brave, brave man.   As is any person who grapples with deep emotional distress day after day, year after year.

So to say that someone “committed” suicide feels offensive to me and I’m not easily offended. The offense is in the inaccuracy. With that said, I don’t judge people for using this expression – until August 17, 2007, I did the same. But now I don’t. And I humbly ask that you consider the same.
When you have occasion to talk about suicide, please try to refer to someone dying by suicide. By shifting our language around suicide, we have the power to reduce some of the massive shame carried by survivors of suicide. If you feel scared or helpless about what to say to someone you know who’s lost someone to suicide, take comfort in knowing that, by changing your language about suicide, you’re offering a counter cultural act of kindness. It might seem small but the interpersonal and political impact is nothing but huge.

Come Check Out My New Blog "The Happiness Choice"

I need followers on my new site! If you followed me here, check out the new site and follow it. I try and get a few posts up a month on learning to make healthy, happy choices in eating, exercise, and life. I will be sharing some of the new recipes I am trying and other fun things. Check it out:

http://chosinghappiness.blogspot.com/  (and yes it say chosing not choosing because that was all I could get.)

Also check out and share my daughter's blog on her journey with infertility and now having twins!

http://littleivielane.blogspot.com/

Time To Move On From Mike's Dream To My Dreams

Mike was raised on a farm in the small town of Warden Washington. He loved the small town life. He always dreamed of moving the family out of the city and back to the country. When the opportunity came to move to Sequim Washington, he was excited. His dream was to build an auto shop on our property. "Mike's Right Auto Repair." He always believed in doing things the right way and the honest way. Honesty and integrity where very important to him.
He was never able to fill this dream and never made the move to Sequim with us. Rachel and I decided to stay in Sequim after his death. It was the best decision for Rachel and blessed her with so many opportunities and growth. After she left for college, it was a bit lonely here for me. I still had wonderful youth that would visit and join me for movie nights. In the summer, I would go to Utah to live near my married children then come back for the school year to substitute teach. I never really thought of leaving Sequim but was very lonely here.
This year when I returned home, I felt lost. It wasn't home anymore. I had no reason to be here. This was Mike's dream. What was mine? It didn't take me long to realize I needed to be near my children and grandchildren. This decision to move has been scary and filled with challenges. The market is bad and I will lose on the sale of my home from what I purchased it at. The economy is bad and moving may be crazy right now. I will have a mortgage on my new house until the one in Sequim sells and on a substitute salary, that is scary.  With all the doubts and fears, I know it is the right thing to do. I know the Lord is guiding me and leading the way. "Come what may, and love it," will continue to be my motto for life.
I will be leaving behind family and friends that have carried me though life over the last 5 years. It will be hard, but I know it is time to find my dream and live it and I know my dream will only be complete surrounded by my children and their families whom I truly love. So good-bye Sequim, good-bye Washington; it is time for me to find my dream and live it.

Life Can Truly Be Amazing

The last two days I had the great opportunity to substitute teach health at our local high school. It just so happened the teacher had a video to show the first day and a guest speaker the second day. The video was powerful. It is call "Surviving High School." It pertained to how we treat each other and the consequences of that treatment. The end of the video dealt with teen suicide.

The second day the guest speaker was sick so I actually had the opportunity to teach!!! So we talked about the video. We discussed eating disorders, depression, hazing people, and suicide. It was a little difficult, but I felt I could really have an impact on these kids if I said the right thing. I am please to say that all 4 classes went well. After getting through all the depressing stuff I talked to them about the difference one person can make. How much a simple smile or "hi" can mean to someone. I felt good about the classes and really hoped that some of kids would get something out of it. As they left the class I challenged them to smile and say hi to someone today that they don't normally talk to. You never know what positive difference you might make in some one's life.

You always wonder if anything you say makes a difference and we seldom find out if it really does. After school a student ran into me and said, "You should be a motivational speaker! You really made some of these kids stop and think." Another one said, "My friends said you are their hero."

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. I would love to be a motivational speaker! How do you get involved with that one? I hope I did make a difference in their lives. Every morning we get up and decide if we are going to have a good day or bad day, if we are going to be happy or sad. Smile and make the world around you a better place. Enjoy what you have and don't fall into the trap of "I will be happy when."

By the way, if anyone has any ideas on how I can become a motivational speaker....let me know.