September is National Suicide Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Awareness Month.  We want to take this time to recognize this month and to acknowledge the ongoing mental health crisis we are experiencing across the nation. This topic is near and dear to our hearts and so we want to briefly speak on it. Even after years of awareness, mental health stigma is still a reality.

Individuals are have trouble talking about their feelings of inadequacy, paranoia, and depression.  Even after all the social media and mass media public awareness, the issue remains.

Seize the Awkward is an example of one of those public service announcements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru8kDGPv2G0

This column can not begin to address how we are going to handle the crisis but we would like to bring awareness to the issue.

Take care of your friends.. If you see them struggling, don’t let it go,  ask the uncomfortable questions. This message can apply to tweens, teens, and adults.  If you believe a family member or friend struggling with mental illness, please call or text 988 to connect with help.

https://988lifeline.org/

There are several concerts, festivals, and walks across the country, helping bring awareness this month. Listed are a few for in the next fee weeks.

Annapolis Baygrass Musical Festival. This festival recognizes Suicide Prevention Month by highlighting the importance of music, community, and connection for mental wellness.

www.bluegrassfestival.com

Shout Out Loud Suicide Prevention Wellness Carnival. It's an all ages, community focused event that aims to normalize conversations about mental health and treach coping skills.

www.shoutoutloudmn.com

AFSP Out of the Darkness Walks. There are several opportunities yet this month and into next month to participate.

https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/OOTDWalks

Take care of your loved ones, be aware.

"Mama Duck" Returns (Spiritually) Home

We visited the Tall Ship Festival in Duluth, Minnesota yesterday. Watched the Worlds Largest Duck be inflated. This got us curious as to the history around this duck, affectionately called "Mama Duck." She spiritually is returning home as her creator, Craig Samborski is from Duluth. We say spiritually because she was actually created elsewhere.

Mama Duck being inflated

Craig Samborski was living in Duluth at the time of Mama's inception He was an event producer and wanted something big, eye catching and whimsical to bring attention to maritime events, more specifically Tall Ship Festivals.

“We needed something fun, photogenic, and absurd enough to make people stop, smile, and show up.” said Samborski.

One eye peeking out

While living in Duluth, Sambroski attended a Los Angeles Tall Ship planning meeting in 2014, when, over drinks, a colleague challenged him: “Go big or go home.” . Inspired by artist, Florentijn Hofman’s giant rubber ducks, Sambroski took the challenge and started the process to build the worlds largest inflatable duck. A mere short nine months later, Mama Duck made her debut in August of 2014 at the LA festival.

Over those months, her fabric shell was built in Cleveland, Ohio while her steel base was made in Irvine, California.

There comes the tail

 Mama Duck was transported to Los Angeles and including the inflatable shell, fan blowers, rigging equipment, and support gear, it fit into one truck. Mama is 61 feet tall and 15,000 pounds (inflated) and was designed to be portable. To this day, she is transferred basically the same way.

Fully (or almost) inflated

Back to today, we saw Mama duck inflated and as soon as she was, she was deflated. In the canal park area the winds picked up and Mama was whipping back and forth and before long spectators could see signs of deflation. Even though she is anchored to concrete blocks, if organizers didn't deflate her, there could have been serious issues. She was placed in a somewhat confined area so strong winds could pose a threat to people who were near by. Another issue - high winds can cause damage to Mama which would entail costly repairs.

The deflation process

Mama Duck was eventually inflated again and stands proudly at her temporary home in Canal Park for the next few days.

Courtesy of Visit Duluth

As Natasha Bedingfield sings: "The rest is still unwritten"

Natasha Bedingfiled

"I'm just beginning

The pen's in my hand

Ending unplanned"

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0a5hYnSI

We all are just beginning today. What happened yesterday is over. Put a pen in your hand and write your future from this day forward. You have encountered obstacles (we all have) now take that pen and write your story. The ending is not here yet.

Go ahead—fail boldly, lose gracefully, and start writing your next chapter with sophistication, your next story is just beginning.

"Open up a dirty window"

What does this mean to you as a Sophisticated Loser?

"Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you"

No one else, no one else"

You went through an obstacle or a setback. Now you can feel the rain.

To feel the rain on your skin is poetic, ironic, and emotionally layered. You may have lost at love, work, or school—but go through it with flair, wit, and a touch of defiance.

No one else carries your memories, heartbreaks, and victories.

Even when it rains on you, and all around you, how you feel it, what it reminds you of, what it awakens or breaks inside of you, is all you, no one else. As a Sophisticated Loser, that rain will awaken you and help you grow and overcome any obstacles you may be experiencing.

"Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken"

Spaak your own words. Do not let someone else put words into your mouth, it's your setback- it's your words.

Those words don't have to be spoken out loud. Assess your obstacle, let all of your feelings soak in first.

Maybe your obstacle is the loss of a partner through divorce. Your first instinct is to speak the words out loud on how you were wronged and the life you knew was taken away. At the immediate timeframe, "Drench yourself in words unspoken." Use the quiet of your thoughts to refrain your feelings and reflect on being civil and mindful of those around you whom your words may hurt or cause pain. Stand tall through the storm.

"Live your life with arms wide open

Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten"

Don't close people out. Friends and family right now are the step to your next move. Remember being a Sophisticated Loser means you overcome challenges in a positive way. People around you can help.

Don't let this obstacle define you. Today is where you begin.

Your story is still unwritten.

Song by Natasha Bedingfield: https://www.natashabedingfield.com

#natashabedingfield

#unwritten

#feeltherainonyourskin

#oversomingbostacles