Ready or not, here it is: a new year. This time of year it’s everywhere:New year, new you. It’s time for a fresh start! Out with the old, in with the new. On paper it sounds like a great idea. In reality, how do you let go of the grief, the love, the reminders, that you’re missing special people in your life? Your brain tells you one thing and your heart says something completely different. Humans are remarkable creatures. We…
Continue ReadingDear Brian Dagle Foundation Friend, I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. We are pleased to share with you that the Brian Dagle Foundation is now in its 10th Year! When our family started the Brian Dagle Foundation ten years ago, we honestly had no idea what we were doing or if it would last. In 2014, we were still deeply grieving and trying our best to navigate life without Brian. We weren’t even sure how…
Continue ReadingAn important part of grief is learning to cherish; how do you love and honor someone who has died and all your memories with them as you heal from their loss? What smells, foods, objects, and places remind you of your loved one? How can you incorporate those things into your daily life? Consider sharing a photo or other cherished item with someone. Grief rituals are also a helpful way to do this. Here are a few ideas: Honoring Rituals:…
Continue ReadingIn 2011, my life as a mom of three boys, with very different personalities and who were transitioning into young men, was far from perfect. But one thing was sure: they all knew how much they were loved by their parents, their large extended family, and so many friends. I think this was especially true for Brian, the youngest of the three. His charismatic personality, sparkling blues eyes and sensitive soul melted many hearts. Brian lost his life to suicide…
Continue ReadingLife often feels out of control, but when we experience loss, any illusion of control we once had disappears. It’s a common response to grab a tighter hold on any and every thing you could possibly control so that there aren’t any more surprises. If anything else goes wrong, we are certain we won’t survive. But this attempt at total control often makes healing impossible – when we hold tightly onto everything that might change or might go wrong, we also hold…
Continue ReadingDear Friends, Family, and Supporters of the Brian Dagle Foundation, I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. We are excited to share with you that we are in our tenth year of the foundation and dedicated more than ever in our mission: anchored in hope and empowered to support the healing of grieving adults as well as community education on mental health and suicide awareness. Each day we share Brian’s love and light in everything we…
Continue ReadingIn September, we acknowledge the role that hope plays in grief and life as we recognize Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Hope is what keeps us going and reminds us there is good to come even if we can’t see or feel it now. But feeling hopeless (without hope) is a very real experience and it can often feel like there’s no choice but to harm yourself. That is why we do what we do: to remind everyone that there…
Continue ReadingFor 10 years, I’ve been writing, advocating, teaching, and speaking about National Suicide Prevention Month. Along with thousands of other advocates throughout the country, we work overtime each September to ensure that our voices are heard. This year, it saddens me beyond words to share that, in Connecticut, we’ve seen a rise in suicide deaths of our young people. Suicide is complex. We know that there is no one reason that causes someone to end their life, but, it’s a…
Continue ReadingAn intense part of life after loss comes after the shock starts to wear off when you’re filled with questions. What’s next? How did this happen? Who am I without them? What do I do now? A few thoughts to help you stay curious about the journey ahead: It’s an unsettling feeling to have more questions than answers, but asking the questions and choosing to be curious are two vital steps in the healing process. We’ve compiled some of our…
Continue ReadingThe past few months I’ve been reflecting on the unwanted path I found myself on all those years ago. I recently attended the AFSP Long Term Survivor Summit as both a presenter and attendee. I was tasked with presenting a workshop on how I navigate the road as survivor to suicide loss and how I was able to start the Brian Dagle Foundation. There are so many take-aways from my time there I’d like to share a few highlights. First,…
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