SoulBeing September 2023 Newsletter

Most years of my life have seen September represent a return to routine, a quickening from the slow pace of summer. But never has a September gone by so quickly as it has this year. In this spirit, I am going to keep this month’s newsletter brief and to the point.

We are wrapping up Suicide Prevention Month, but mental health is a 365/24/7 work in progress for most of us. I lost a dear friend to suicide just a month ago, and the pieces left behind from that loss will take years and decades for his family and friends to put back together.

I have a simple call-to-action this month that I would like us all to consider: how can each of us prioritize community in a way that improves the mental health of those around us (and in turn, our own)?

Can you send one extra text message today to a friend you haven’t heard from in awhile, and just ask them how they’re doing? 

Could you drop by a neighbor’s house (maybe someone who lives alone) with a bouquet of end-of-the-season wildflowers from your yard?

Would you consider using social media to reconnect with an old acquaintance, or even just send a nice message to that guy who overshares and seems to be having a hard time?

How about holding the door for that stranger behind you at the market, complimenting her shoes, or just offering a kind smile?

Let’s keep finding opportunities for simple acts to take care of each other in small ways that can make a big difference.

Wishing you well,

Colleen