(Friday Filosophy 8/04/23)
Happy Freakin’ Friday!
Greetings from Sacramento, where I’m conducting a leadership conference. You’ll be delighted to know that I wrote an amazing essay for you today: a deep dive into critical thinking and some of the possible dangers it can lead to – if you move from skeptical to cynical, and from cynical into the realm of conspiracy theories. You’ll have to wait until next week to read it, however.
Because a note arrived in my inbox that changes the plan…
It’s not the first note like this I’ve received and likely won’t be the last. It is from someone that reached out to me in a troubled time two years ago. I dropped everything to be there and listen. I did my best to listen, share some thoughts, and afterward I asked them to read an issue of this newsletter. This week they wrote back to share that, after the conversation and essay, they backed off on the suicide they were contemplating. They decided to give themselves some grace, rang up AA, and accept their abundance. They wrote now to thank me for being two years sober and on the pathway to their highest possible self.
This made me think that there might be a few more of you that could benefit from the essay or know someone else you feel moved to share it with. Back then, the newsletter wasn’t reposted on the blog, so I’ve copied it below.
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Peace,
– RG
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Reader interactions
5 Replies to “Give Yourself Some Grace”
I don’t mean to be flippant or insensitive Randy, but jeez 3 out 10 suicide?? You know a lot of super depressed people? Guess I’m lucky, never had friends or family take themselves out.. can understand why it’s so devastating for the survivors.. I love life too much, know the feeling of looking down towards the end though.. got a b-day next week.. hit 63, but I’m looking forward to goin to Seattle, eating some great seafood and see Rod Stewart in Vancouver. He’s 78 and still rockin.. love life and have some fun! cheers Napa David
In answer to your question, I’m in the LGBTQ community and unfortunately there are a lot of people with many mental health issues. Many have been told their whole life, even by family sometimes, that they don’t belong, are flawed, or don’t even deserve to live.
Gotcha, je compris.. a few years ago I said here how much I love Dan Savage’s Savage Love column on his common sense to sex advice and his wicked sense of humor, he once wrote, you couldn’t be more of a sucker if your head was wrapped in cellophane and you had a stick out your ass.. but one time a gay guy wrote in and asked, why are we gays so fucked up? And Dan wasn’t having any of it, wrote, this isn’t a birthday party where you got all your friends telling you how wonderful you are. it’s a rough and tumble world out there and while I’m not denying it’s a lot tougher to be gay in a hetero world, it’s still no excuse to say, oh I’m gay, that’s why I’m so fucked up.. cheers Napa David
What an incredible reminder Randy to celebrate and appreciate each other daily.
Thank you
Don’t let who you have been prevent you from who you can become…
This hit me hard. Thanks Man. Really appreciate knowing you