1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the Professional Homegirl Podcast. Before 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: we begin today's episode, we want to remind you that 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: the views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: of the host and guests and are intended for educational 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: and entertaining purposes. In this safe space, no question is 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: off limits because you never know how someone's storyline can 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: be your lifeline. The Professional Homegirl Podcast is here to 8 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: celebrate the diverse voices, stories and experiences of women of color, 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: providing a platform for authentic and empowering conversations. There will 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: be some key king, some tears, but most importantly, a 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: reminder that tough times don't last, but professional homegirls do 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: enjoy the show. 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: Hey, professional Homegirls, Isha Girl, Ebina here and I hope 14 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: all is cute. Now we are back with one of 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: my all time favorite episodes from twenty twenty one. This 16 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: free Maaster episode holds a very special place in my 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: heart as my guest shares her story of losing her 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 2: father to suicide. Now, this episode is more than a story, 19 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: It's a journey through brief love and healing. What I 20 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: love most about this conversation is my guest doesn't shy 21 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: away from the hard truths, and she's showing how suicide 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 2: not only affects the individual, but ripples through the lives 23 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: of everyone who loves them. It's a conversation about pain 24 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: but also finding the strength in the darkest of times. 25 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 2: So if you ever experienced laws, I want to understand 26 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 2: the power of compassion and connection. This episode is definitely 27 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: for you. So grab some tissues and get ready. Because 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: my father took his own life. Stars. Now, So to 29 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 2: my guests, how are you doing? How are you feeling? 30 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 3: Hi, I'm doing good. Of Anna, I'm feeling good. I'm 31 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 3: excited to talk about this. I don't really talk about 32 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 3: my dad very much, so I'm actually excited to share 33 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: some things about him. 34 00:01:58,760 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: Nice. 35 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: Nice, we get to tell your story. Did you know 36 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: what suicide was before it affected your family? 37 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: Yes, I knew what it was. 38 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: What were your thoughts on it before? 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 3: I just always had in my mind what someone that 40 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 3: you know, committed suicide looked like, because in high school, 41 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: they would always play the videos of like the very 42 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 3: you know teen like the teenagers that didn't have a 43 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 3: lot of friends and they were bullied in school. They 44 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 3: kind of painted this picture of suicide being kind of 45 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 3: like a teenage, and honestly, I'm mostly kind of like 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 3: a white teenage issue. So yes, I was aware what 47 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 3: suicide was, but I was not aware of how much 48 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 3: it impacted so many other communities and different generations and 49 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 3: all of that. So that's a fact. Yeah, what are. 50 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: Your thoughts on it now since it hits close to home. 51 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: My thoughts on it now is just it makes sense 52 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 3: why it's you know, why it affects our community, black 53 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 3: community so much, because mental health is just not it's 54 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 3: a very stigmatized thing across many different races, but especially 55 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 3: amongst people of color and especially amongst black communities. So 56 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 3: now when I think of it, I'm I'm glad that 57 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 3: the conversation is now starting to happen and it's okay 58 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 3: to not be okay, and it's okay to voice that 59 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 3: you're not okay. So what I think about suicide now, 60 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 3: it's like, at first, I was a bit of ashamed 61 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 3: when you know, when it happened and my dad took 62 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: his life, I was ashamed, you know, I was just 63 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: like wow that, you know, I always had in my 64 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: mind that suicide was you know, like a young teenage problem, 65 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: and here's my dad almost fifty and he took his 66 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 3: own life. So I had to break down that, you know, 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 3: idea that suicide is embarrassing, you know, because it's not 68 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 3: mental health is something that I think many of us 69 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 3: struggle with. So now at you know, my age, my 70 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 3: l I look at suicide as a thing that is 71 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 3: that could affect everyone you know, and if it's not 72 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 3: immediately affecting you, it's someone that you know, or it's 73 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 3: someone that you work with that they know. So yeah, 74 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 3: it's it's uh, that's how I see it now. 75 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: You made a good point because I feel like when 76 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: I was growing up, I didn't hear a lot of 77 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: conversations on how to deal with suicide thoughts or just 78 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: suicide overall. So do you think this topic, well you 79 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 2: just answered you did to the topic is still taboo, 80 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 2: But how do you think we can have more conversations 81 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: about it? 82 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 3: I mean, what you're doing right now is one of them. 83 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 3: Right talking about it on a podcast. Podcast is so 84 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: big now, so you know, speaking on podcast. Social media 85 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 3: is massive, and you know that was one of the 86 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 3: things where it kind of allowed me to open up, 87 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 3: was going through the hashtags and reading other people's stories 88 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: and YouTube is another great one. You can actually watch 89 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 3: someone see their raw emotions, which is where you reached 90 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: out to me. You know, you saw my video, so 91 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 3: you know things like that, and then you know even 92 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 3: different things were in your city aside from social media. 93 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 3: In your city, there are a lot of chapters, Like 94 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 3: in DC where I live, we have chapters which actually, 95 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,119 Speaker 3: next week I believe, no, it's on an October. I'm sorry, 96 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,119 Speaker 3: they're doing a suicide walk or a suicide prevention walk. Sorry, 97 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 3: And next week they're doing a picnic, a suicide prevention picnic. 98 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: So you should also just google in your city, in 99 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 3: your state, what are some other things or activities that 100 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 3: are surrounding suicide, in the prevention of it and honestly 101 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 3: just the education of it. 102 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: Right. And I know in your video you mentioned that 103 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 2: you treat people differently now because of your father's passing. 104 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: Mm hmm. 105 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 3: I would have to rewatch that video. I try not 106 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 3: to revisit that video because I've seen it a couple 107 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 3: of times and it does get me a bit emotional. 108 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 3: I would say, when I think I've come back around 109 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 3: to get more of my pre dad's death personality, I'm 110 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 3: not fully back to the same, but yeah, I'll kind 111 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 3: of say. At first, I was, you know, very open, 112 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: just friendly. You know, I had no problems, no worries. 113 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: I was with my mom, my dad, and my older brother, 114 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 3: so I was well taken care of as a kid. 115 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 3: Then my dad passed away and it was almost I 116 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: did a complete one eighty where I became very shut down. 117 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 3: And this was even within my family, you know, my 118 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 3: mom and my brother that were still there. I didn't 119 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 3: really speak much. I would go into my room and 120 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 3: just do my own thing and try to work through 121 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 3: my problems. So then when I went to school and 122 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 3: interacted with people, was almost like I didn't know how 123 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 3: I was. I would say I was kind of I 124 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 3: wouldn say kind of. Let's I was mean in the 125 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: sense of I didn't know how to handle my emotions 126 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 3: and also still be a good person. 127 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: I mean, you were so young. Yeah, later, but you 128 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: were a kid, right. 129 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 3: I was in high school. I was a freshman, so yeah, 130 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 3: I was. I was a child. I was a baby, 131 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 3: you know, and I'm dealing with depression, I'm dealing with anxiety, 132 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: I'm dealing with all these emotions that I've never had 133 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 3: to deal with. And then I'm also dealing with feeling 134 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 3: like my friends that were there before my dad died 135 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 3: weren't really there after he died, and so there was 136 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 3: also a feeling of anger and resentment towards them for 137 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: kind of abandoning me. So I did have a shift 138 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: in my perception of friendship as well, you know, because 139 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 3: at first, you have this idea when you're young, like, oh, 140 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 3: we're going to be BFFs for life and literally. 141 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: Getting out as soon as you grow up. 142 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 3: What happened, right that is when your life is like, 143 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 3: oh wait, no, there's really no you know, like this 144 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 3: is just something you're saying, but when you're going through 145 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 3: something for real and you're like, I thought you were 146 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 3: going to be there, And so yeah, I shut down 147 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 3: with them because I saw early that hey, this this 148 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: friendship thing is kind of it's not what I envisioned 149 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: friendship was. You know, I kind of had a real 150 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 3: look into finding good friends and you know, friends that 151 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 3: are going to be there to thicken thin but you know, 152 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 3: right and be president Eben. But you know, as I'm 153 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: you know, older, now I realized they were also fourteen 154 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 3: and fifteen they didn't know how to So yeah, yeah, 155 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 3: that was my fourteen year old mind being like, why 156 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 3: are you not here? Right? But my now, you know, 157 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: late twenties, mine is like, yeah, they also had no 158 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 3: idea how to handle someone dealing with what I was 159 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 3: going through. So I've moved past that anger, and that's 160 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 3: why I think I've come back around to my you know, 161 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,559 Speaker 3: first personality or like my natural self, my natural soul 162 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 3: connection of being you know, open and friendly and honest. 163 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: Hey, you and your dad we're pretty close. Well I'm 164 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: pretty sure your family was tight knit. 165 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 3: Yes, very very close. 166 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: So how long has it been since he passed away? 167 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 3: Spend quite some time. He passed away in two thousand 168 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: and five, so this November he passed away November twentieth, 169 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: so that would be what's seventeen mm, sixteen years? Yeah, 170 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: sixteen years. Yeah, it'll be sixteen years this year. So 171 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 3: it's been quite a while. And my friend had mentioned 172 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 3: this my last what is it two birthdays? She was like, 173 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 3: isn't it crazy that you know this birthday is that 174 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 3: you've now have been alive longer than you've known your dad. 175 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 3: And I was just like, why would you why would 176 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 3: you say that? But I mean she also lost her dad, 177 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: so we have that Soule connection. It's a crazy story, 178 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 3: but we don't need to get into that. But anyways, 179 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 3: we both mourned our dad's death at the same time. 180 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 2: So like, let she say that. 181 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 3: I was like, yeah, thank you, right, but yeah, it's 182 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 3: something you don't really think about. But when she said 183 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 3: I was just like, wow, No, you're right. He's he 184 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 3: passed away right before my fourteenth birthday. I'm now at 185 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 3: twenty six. Yeah, se, you're right, twenty How how was 186 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 3: he He was forty nine? 187 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 2: Wow, So looking back, did you notice, honest that something 188 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 2: was wrong? 189 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 3: Oh? Of course my dad suffered from depression for years, 190 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 3: even before I was born. My dad suffered from depression, 191 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 3: and then he had gotten better. Right, So when I 192 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 3: was younger, we were fine as long as you know, 193 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 3: for for what I remember clearly I'm a child, but 194 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 3: my dad was working full time. My mom wasn't working, 195 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: so you know, financially stable. Then my dad got sick. 196 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 3: He had he had clinical depression, so it was you know, 197 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 3: and imbalance in his brain. It ran and the it 198 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 3: runs in the family, so he wasn't able to work. 199 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: He stopped working for years, and so my mom had 200 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 3: to now work hubs and my dad was home for 201 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: majority of the days. So the last few years of 202 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: my dad's life, I saw him just withdraw himself completely, 203 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 3: Like he would stay in the room for the entire day, 204 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 3: and you know, I would come home from school and 205 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 3: he would be in the room. I would like, go 206 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 3: play outside, come in, and he'd be in the room. 207 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 3: So I was I saw it, you know, like I 208 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 3: saw how much the like how much the depression had 209 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 3: gotten a hold on him towards the end of his 210 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 3: you know, time on this earth. 211 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. And do you know if he ever tried to 212 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: commit suicide before? 213 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 3: Yes, he did. I found that out after he passed away. Actually, 214 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 3: I think I had a conversation. I think it was 215 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 3: with my mom, and it wasn't something that I knew prior, 216 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 3: and I think she just waited until she felt like 217 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 3: I was mature enough to hear. But yes, it happened 218 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 3: before I was born. I don't know if it happened again. 219 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 3: It may have happened twice. I know for certain of one. 220 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 3: And he had tried committed committing suicide before, but it 221 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 3: wasn't his time to go. God said it wasn't his 222 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 3: time because as he was trying you know, in the act, 223 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 3: he was in a car and it just so happened 224 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 3: two officers saw the car, pulled him out, took him 225 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 3: to the hospital, and he was saved. And the crazy 226 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 3: think about the area that he parked in was an 227 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: extremely secluded area and so the fact that you know, 228 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: they were just two off duty officers that were just 229 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 3: kind of driving around and was able to see this 230 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: one car and got him out in time. So yeah, 231 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 3: that time wasn't his time to go. 232 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 2: But you know, I have a question for you, because 233 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: I feel that when people talk about suicide, you don't 234 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 2: look at it from that aspect of like, you know, 235 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 2: a person need an assistance with things or they're just 236 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: really going through it, because sometimes life is just that 237 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: fucking hard. Yeah, So what are your thoughts when people 238 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: say that when people take their lives the way that 239 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: they're selfish or they're not considerate, Like, how do you 240 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 2: feel about that? 241 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 3: I understand because I felt that way at certain points 242 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,719 Speaker 3: throughout my grieving process, and I'm still going through the 243 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 3: grieving process, right because you never fully I think you 244 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 3: were good, yeah, right, And so I understand at you know, 245 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 3: at first, I was angry at my dad for that reason, 246 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: like why why did you make this decision? You know, 247 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 3: like you had a choice, right, suicide is a choice. 248 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: But then you know, now that I'm older and I 249 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 3: understand mental health, and I understand the imbalance in your brain, 250 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 3: I understand, you know, and also just kind of going 251 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 3: through my own journey with my own mental health and 252 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 3: my own you know, struggles I go through, I can 253 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 3: understand how someone can get to that point, right, yeah, right, exactly. 254 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 3: So I just try to give people as much understanding. 255 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 3: I mean, this is not a thing to say, like, oh, yeah, 256 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 3: suicide's answer, because it's still never the answer, right, But 257 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 3: I've learned to give my dad grace and understand that many, 258 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 3: I would say probably even ninety nine point nine percent 259 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 3: of the people that commit suicide, that's not the decision 260 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: that they would have liked if they were in the 261 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 3: right state of mind, you know, Like for the fact 262 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,199 Speaker 3: that someone took their own life, something really internally must 263 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 3: have been going wrong, and if you know, they were 264 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 3: there properly, that wouldn't have been the decision that they 265 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 3: would have made. So I mean, I don't really try 266 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 3: to think about it as much anymore, you know, And 267 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 3: it is what it is at this point. I mean, 268 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 3: I can understand why people take it as selfish because 269 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 3: you do leave behind a bunch of people that miss you. 270 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 3: You leave. Now everyone's morning. You know, now everyone has 271 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 3: to go to your funeral and know that this could 272 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 3: have been avoided. So I get it. But right, you know, 273 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 3: life is tough. 274 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: Now leading up to the days of his past and 275 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 2: looking back, because I'm pretty sure as a kid it's 276 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: some things you just wasn't aware of. So looking back 277 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: at their younger Steff, because you see that something was 278 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 2: going to happen, or like, did you see a shift 279 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 2: of him even worse than the state that he was in? 280 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 3: Uh? Yeah, actually, and it wasn't. I wouldn't even say 281 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 3: it was the like the week's leading up. It was 282 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 3: maybe a couple months before. It was a few months before. 283 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 3: And this is something that I've also I've learned now 284 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 3: is that when someone that's depressed, you should be really 285 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 3: worried when they start being better, like when they start 286 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: maybe going back to work or working out, Right, that's 287 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: a time, yeah, it's that's a time when you should 288 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 3: really make sure that they're okay because they're at this 289 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 3: level like okay, I feel good, and if something goes wrong, 290 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 3: that could be getting you know, like that could be 291 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 3: the snap, that could be the up. Nope, I've tried. 292 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: It's done right, because when they're kind of like at 293 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 3: that low thing, they're kind of just like cruising, you know, 294 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 3: you know, kind of just at a lull. But then 295 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 3: if they go off that high and something happens, you 296 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 3: could take them right back down to an even lower place. 297 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 3: So my dad was, like I said, wasn't working for 298 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 3: a few years, and then he started feeling better, right, 299 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 3: I got a job like a switch. Yeah, it was 300 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: kind of like he just started feeling better. He started 301 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 3: like going for walks again at the park, and then 302 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 3: he started he got a job again, and you know, 303 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 3: it was like, oh, yes, my dad's feeling better. Right. 304 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 3: But then one day and he worked at at the time, 305 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 3: he worked at a hotel, I want to say, it 306 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 3: was like Westgate or something, and they had my mom 307 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 3: and my dad shared a car, and so he got 308 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 3: off late that night. It was like nighttime. So my 309 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 3: mom and I went to go get pick up my 310 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 3: dad and we were waiting in the parking lot and 311 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 3: we're calling him. We're calling him. He's not answering, and 312 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 3: I immediately start crying in the car. I felt I 313 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: was like, oh my dad died, you know, like and 314 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 3: that's not even a normal emotion to feel as a 315 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 3: thirteen year old, like, Oh, your dad's not answering. He's 316 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 3: probably busy at work, you know, Like, why would you 317 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 3: immediately think your dad died. There has been no sign. 318 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: I felt it. And this was months before. This was 319 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 3: like I want to say, at least three months prior 320 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 3: to him actually, you know, committing suicide. And I remember 321 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 3: Mom's okay, he's probably just I was, and I felt 322 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 3: I was like something, it's wrong, you know, and I 323 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 3: just started crying. And we ended up driving back home, 324 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 3: and then eventually he called us back, maybe like any 325 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 3: minutes later. It's like, oh, you know, I was downstairs. 326 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, you know, I didn't I didn't realize it 327 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 3: was late. I was doing something. I forgot what he said. 328 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 3: So we drove back, picked him up, and when he 329 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 3: came out to greet me and my mom, I remember 330 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 3: opening the door and I just hugged him. I was like, Dad, 331 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 3: is thought you were dead? And I like I And 332 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 3: it's so crazy to think that I felt that you know, 333 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 3: like I could feel that that something. I don't know 334 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 3: if I knew something was gonna happen, but I don't 335 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 3: know how to explain it. 336 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 2: But no, no, no, nothing, because I had that same 337 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 2: feeling when my grandmother passed away. Yeah, and I didn't 338 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: know what it was, but my body was in so 339 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: much pain. And I when you get a chance, I'm 340 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: gonna send you a link to this episode I did 341 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 2: with just what my psychic and she speaks more about 342 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 2: experience those type of feelings when somebody is transitioning. It's 343 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 2: the craziest thing. I know exactly what you like, I 344 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: thought that I was about to like pass out because. 345 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 3: I never felt pain like this before. 346 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: I couldn't even walk. 347 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 3: But you you you said your aunt, your grandma, sorry, 348 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 3: my grandmother. She literally passed away that same day. I 349 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 3: was feeling that, Wow, did you get to call her? 350 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 3: Did you know who it was like for? Or like 351 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 3: you just felt pain and you didn't know you couldn't 352 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 3: explain it? 353 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 2: Well, make a long story short. I had a dream 354 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 2: that a woman passed away and I automatically knew that 355 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 2: was my grandmother, but I just didn't know when because 356 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 2: the dream was like when I was sleeping late at night. 357 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 2: So one day I was at work. It was a 358 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 2: beautiful day, having funky key on my coworker, and when 359 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: I tell you, my body got so stiff, like I 360 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 2: could not move, and I thought, I didn't know what 361 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: I was thinking, like I just thought the worst, but 362 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 2: I didn't know it was her. And then I asked 363 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 2: my boss time I go home because I really wasn't 364 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 2: feeling good, like I couldn't even turn my neck. And 365 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 2: as soon as I got home, that's when I got 366 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 2: the news that she passed away. So I told my 367 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: Psycha about it on the interview on her and she 368 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 2: speaks more about how your body can feel a connected 369 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 2: soul of spirit when transition. 370 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,199 Speaker 3: That means you, guys, were very close. You and your 371 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 3: grandma must have been very close. The fact that you 372 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 3: could feel that, that's such a strong feeling that your 373 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 3: soul are. Yeah, and I feel like people, I mean, 374 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 3: you mentioned your psychics, so I'm assuming that you're somewhat 375 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 3: connected here, okay, And I feel people that are extremely 376 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 3: spiritual because I'm I am Christian, but I think I've 377 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 3: most kind of been focusing on the spiritual aspect more 378 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 3: so I think people like us that are, you know, 379 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 3: aware of how we're all connected and how we can 380 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 3: literally talk to our ancestors. I don't know if this 381 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 3: is what you believe. I'm just mentioning what I know. Yeah, yeah, 382 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 3: part of the journey man, part of the journey. They've 383 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 3: been finding that out. So because I think people like 384 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 3: us that are so aware and knowledgeable of our spiritual connection, 385 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 3: that's probably why it affects us more than maybe some 386 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 3: other people that don't tune into that part of their being. 387 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 3: M Yeah. 388 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 2: So when you so, when you saw him, you tell 389 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 2: him that all you thought he passed away when he say. 390 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 3: He said no, and then he just kept apologizing that 391 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 3: he was downstairs working and he didn't realize it was late, 392 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 3: and he just apologized that he scared me and he 393 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 3: just the whole time I was just crying and he 394 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 3: just hugged me, and it just kept, you know, reiterating 395 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 3: that you know, he's sorry and it was just work. 396 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 3: But no, yeah, it just didn't. It didn't feel like 397 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 3: just work, you know it right, Something was like, no, 398 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 3: why are you not coming out? And you were coming 399 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 3: you know, So, how did. 400 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 2: You find out on the day when he passed away. 401 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 3: Okay, so the day he passed away, it was kind 402 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 3: of just a big blur. So Thanksgiving, my birthday, and 403 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 3: my cousin's birthday all fall in within two weeks, two 404 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 3: and a half weeks of each other. And that was 405 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 3: also in the time that my dad passed. So I 406 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 3: was at my cousin's house for her celebrating her birthday, 407 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 3: and my mom and my brother came to pick me 408 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 3: up that Sunday. So as soon as they opened the 409 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 3: door or I could tell there was something wrong, and 410 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 3: I was just like, okay, where's Daddy're like, why are 411 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 3: you two here? And then my mom was like, okay, 412 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 3: you know I didn't come home. And that went again 413 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 3: back to immediately tearing up, and I went into my 414 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 3: grandma's bathroom and I sat on the toilet and I 415 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 3: cried and I said He's I felt it. I was 416 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 3: like he's this is it. This is like I remember 417 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 3: telling myself. I was like, oh no, he's gone. And 418 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,239 Speaker 3: we left. We drove around places that we know that 419 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 3: he likes to, you know, go, which is like the parks, 420 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 3: the library. We're walking around and we ended up trying 421 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 3: to find him for maybe about an hour and a 422 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 3: half and then we just like, Okay, let's go home. 423 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 3: Let's see if we can, you know, let's kind of 424 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 3: reassess and figure out what's the next step. So we're 425 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 3: driving on the way home. We passed one of our 426 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 3: local gas stations and we see our car in the 427 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 3: parking lot. So we get out and we walked to 428 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 3: the car, and I remember the walk up to the 429 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 3: car was just like I could feel something in my 430 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 3: stomach because I was just like, I'm going to my 431 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 3: dad's dead body in this car, right. And we go 432 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 3: to the car. We open the car, No, no one's 433 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 3: in there. We go to the trunk, and again there's 434 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 3: a pit in my stommy because I'm like, I'm going 435 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 3: to open the trunk and see my dad and then 436 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 3: open the trunk and there's nothing there, thank God. So 437 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 3: we walk in. 438 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 2: My mom, you are paying you're painting this picture because 439 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 2: I'm seeing the two Yeah it wasn't a kid like, 440 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: oh my god, but go ahead, sorry to put you 441 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 2: on no. 442 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 3: No, no, please, this great conversation. So my brother and 443 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 3: I stand back and my mom goes into the gas 444 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 3: station to speak to the person describing him he's five 445 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 3: ten you know, pale skin, curly hair, glasses. You know, 446 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 3: have you seen him? The guy says, no, you know, 447 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 3: I've been here all night. No one has come into 448 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 3: here that fits that description. So my brother and I 449 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: there's this wooded area in the back of the gas station, 450 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 3: just a bunch of wood, bunch of trees. We start 451 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 3: walking and we're like calling his name, David, David, Daddy. 452 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 3: We're calling his name for maybe about three minutes, and 453 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 3: we're walking to the tree tree, you know, like the 454 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 3: wooded area because at first we're kind of like where 455 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,959 Speaker 3: the road is or we're starting to gear off towards 456 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 3: where all the trees so we can go inside to 457 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 3: find to go look for him. So as we're walking 458 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 3: in to start looking for him again, a random cop 459 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 3: and again I'm telling you, these are wooded areas. Like 460 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 3: it's in the back of a place called the Ready 461 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 3: in Orlando. No one goes back here. And this random 462 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 3: cop pulls up. He's like, oh, what's going on, and 463 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,679 Speaker 3: you know, we tell him, we explain the situation, and 464 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 3: we're like, we're looking for my dad. He didn't come home. 465 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 3: That's his car. So he's like, you guys need to 466 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 3: stop looking don't don't go anymore. Don't go into that 467 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 3: wooded area. I'll call the cop I'll call the helicopters, 468 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 3: we'll call the dogs. We'll find him. So he tells 469 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 3: us to sit down now, Ebana, I don't know how 470 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 3: many how much time from the time we sat to 471 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 3: the time they found him passed, but it could be 472 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 3: anywhere from three minutes to thirty five. I really don't know. 473 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 3: But eventually they find him. They call my mom over, 474 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 3: and so my brother and I remain seated. My mom 475 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 3: goes over. She speaks to him, and I could just 476 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 3: see her and she just rests her head, like her 477 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 3: head just drops, and then she turns it around. And 478 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 3: then I'm, like I mentioned, I had already known before 479 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 3: we even left looking for him, but you know, you 480 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 3: always leave that little peak of hope. You know. She 481 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 3: looks at us and doesn't say anything, and then we 482 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 3: just she just starts crying, and then we start crying, 483 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 3: and then I pass out and then I wake up 484 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 3: and I'm in the back of an ambulance, and then 485 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 3: I remember getting my brother's car and driving home. 486 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: How do you do How did this affect your brother? 487 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 2: M especially? Yeah? 488 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 3: Ah, yeah, So I didn't even realize how much it 489 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 3: affected my brother, I would say, until relatively recent. Right, 490 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 3: he's older, so he's four years older than me. So 491 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 3: I was just about to be fourteen. So he had 492 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 3: just turned eighteen or no, did he Yes, he had 493 00:24:58,760 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 3: just turned eighteen. 494 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, at the college. 495 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, just went away to college. I mean he had 496 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 3: to become the man of the house at eighteen, and 497 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 3: he had to take on roles that he shouldn't have 498 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 3: had to take on, right, and then he kind of 499 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 3: had to become like a dad brother to me. You know, 500 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 3: he went from just being my older brother to now 501 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 3: taking me to practice and helping me with math and 502 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 3: guiding me and you know, being what my dad should 503 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 3: have been during my you know, high school years. So 504 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 3: he has always been extremely responsible even before this everything happened. 505 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 3: But it was like he aged from eighteen to forty 506 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 3: in twenty four hours. 507 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 2: Not only do y'all talk about things now like yeah. 508 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 3: And I see how it affects I don't. I Mean, 509 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,400 Speaker 3: he goes through therapy, so I'm sure he's worked through 510 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 3: a lot of his you know, feelings and things like that. 511 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 3: But I think now when I look at it, I 512 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 3: just I feel sadness because at one time it was 513 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 3: just like all you can think of is my feelings. 514 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 3: I lost my dad. I'm feeling this way. I'm his 515 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 3: little girl, I'm the baby. And I wasn't really thinking 516 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 3: about my mom and my brother and what they were 517 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,959 Speaker 3: also going through at the time. And then I'm thinking, now, 518 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 3: you know, my brother losing his dad, where my dad 519 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 3: was my brother like my brother's superhero, you know, right, 520 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 3: and to no longer have his dad in his life 521 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 3: and to you know how important black fathers are to sons, 522 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 3: and you know, fathers are important to sons period, but 523 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 3: just you understand the need for boys and sons lives. 524 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 3: So yeah, it was really tough on him. But what 525 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 3: about no, no, no finish Now. 526 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 2: That thought about your mom because I can just only 527 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 2: imagine it now she has to hold the family together. 528 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,919 Speaker 2: But she's also born in the loss of her husband. 529 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: M h. 530 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 3: She had to just go to work, you know, she 531 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 3: had to, she could didn't at the time I think 532 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 3: to fully mourn my dad because it was like, Okay, 533 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 3: but Bill's got to be paid. I still have to work, 534 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 3: you know, I still I still have to keep a 535 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 3: roof over their heads. You know, so there was no 536 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 3: real morning I'll be honest. You know, within our family, 537 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 3: at least, there was no morning together because my mom 538 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: was working two jobs right am to PM. I would 539 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 3: rarely see her. My brother was still in college, so 540 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 3: he was kind of gone, you know, all the time, 541 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 3: and then here's me still in school. So we weren't 542 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 3: really around each other a lot during that process, and 543 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 3: so there was a there was a break in our 544 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 3: healing together. 545 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 2: So yeah, so do your mom talk about it now 546 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 2: now that she's a little bit older. And I do 547 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 2: think she ever got a chance to like just sit 548 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 2: down and just breathe. 549 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 3: Good question. I think maybe now would be her time, 550 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 3: because she's in her sixties, her early sixties, I think 551 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 3: this would be her maybe breathe moment. But I don't 552 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 3: think she's ever had that full kind of just break. 553 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 3: It's just been breaths. It hasn't been lengths of time 554 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 3: that you would need to get over something like that. 555 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 3: But you know, I'm hoping in the next few years 556 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,199 Speaker 3: when she retires, she can finally get that break, you know. 557 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 3: I mean, I wish it would have happened much earlier 558 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 3: than this, but you know, I'm hoping you know, within 559 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 3: the next few years, she'll get what she needs to 560 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 3: kind of really mourn it. 561 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 2: And what about the what about the rest of the family. 562 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: Do you think that your immediate family did the best 563 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: they could with helping your family recover from his suicide 564 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 2: or was it just y'all? 565 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 3: I would say my aunt, my aunt helped, But I mean, 566 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 3: I don't know what what should be done. I don't 567 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 3: like to think of like they could have done more, 568 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 3: you know, like I think everybody did what they could 569 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 3: with the situation. I would have liked to probably get 570 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 3: some more help from some family members, you know, being 571 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 3: that I was literally a child, and I yeah, and 572 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 3: I was home alone all the time, and you know, 573 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 3: so I wish I would have maybe had some more 574 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 3: more help. But I also don't think about that, like I, 575 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 3: you know, I mentioned it. Everyone just played their role 576 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 3: that they could and did their best, and I can 577 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 3: just say thank you for what you to do when 578 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 3: you could. 579 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 2: And what about your grandparents? 580 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 3: Were they around my grandparents? So, my grandpa had passed away, 581 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 3: which is my dad's dad. My paternal grandfather passed away 582 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 3: before my dad, and then my grandmother passed away relatively 583 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 3: recent two years ago. She lived in Fort Lauderdale, so 584 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 3: we didn't really see her very often, and we weren't 585 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 3: very close. My dad's mom and I weren't extremely close, 586 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 3: and maybe that was part of distance, but also just 587 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 3: culturally we're Jamaican, so I don't I don't know, like 588 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 3: you know, I'm not sure. Yeah, yeah, oh wow. So again, 589 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 3: my grandma's generation doesn't talk about death, you know, it's 590 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 3: kind of just like a you just deal with it 591 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 3: kind of thing. You don't like heal together. So I 592 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 3: think that was partly the reason. The other thing was, 593 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 3: you know, it was her only son, so I don't 594 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 3: know if she ever fully recovered. No, I know she 595 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 3: didn't ever fully cover. And I know that she probably 596 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 3: just didn't know how to talk with about that situation. 597 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 3: With me and with my brother and then my grandma, 598 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 3: my mom's mom, my maternal mother, my maternal grandmother, she 599 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 3: and I were much closer, and you know, we would 600 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 3: talk about it sometimes, you know, but it wouldn't be 601 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 3: it wouldn't be like in depth conversations. But that's also 602 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 3: because of me. I didn't really want to have it. 603 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 3: I wasn't ready. I didn't know what to say that 604 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 3: I would just end up crying or shutting off or 605 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 3: doing both. So yeah, we and then my grandfather on 606 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 3: my mom's side I've never met, so yeah, there wasn't 607 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 3: really much unfortunately with my two grandmas much healing with 608 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 3: that either. 609 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 2: So if you do have kids, or if you decide 610 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 2: to have kids, how do you plan to talk to 611 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 2: your kids about suicide? Like, what do you think is 612 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 2: a because you experience it as a young girl, what 613 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 2: do you think is an appropriate age to start having 614 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 2: these conversations with children? 615 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 3: Good question. I haven't even decided if I want to 616 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 3: have kids yet, and part of that is because of 617 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 3: the trauma that I went through, and and that's something 618 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 3: that I'm working with through my therapists. 619 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 2: Now. 620 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 3: I go to therapy once a week on Zoom. She's great, 621 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 3: And that's something that we talk about because I don't 622 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 3: know if I want to have kids. And your question, 623 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 3: what age when that child is ready? Because each kid 624 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 3: is different, right, Like my brother could have been taught 625 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 3: My brother could have learned about suicide, probably much younger 626 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 3: than I would have learned about suicide. So I would 627 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 3: say it depends on that child's ability to handle something 628 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 3: like that. I don't like to put an age on 629 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 3: something that's so serious, right, So yeah, and I'm with 630 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 3: the kids. I mean, it's something that I'm working through, 631 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 3: like I mentioned with you know, going through therapy because 632 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 3: I don't want to not have kids out of fear 633 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 3: of my trauma. You know, Like I think a big 634 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 3: part of me not wanting kids because like, I never 635 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 3: want my child to go through what I went through. 636 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 3: What I went through was shramatic. I never want that 637 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 3: up yeah, emotionally like like oh, I can't even imagine, 638 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 3: Like it's so sad. 639 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, so many different aspects. 640 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, right, Look my damn ye. I wish 641 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 3: I would have been able to be a normal thirteen 642 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 3: year old, but you know that wasn't in my plan. 643 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 3: And you know, so yeah, I would be open with them. 644 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 3: I just completely lost my train, my training. You mentioned something, 645 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 3: Oh the kids. Sorry, okay, Yeah, I don't know if 646 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 3: I want to have kids, and I'm still deciding if 647 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 3: it's something that I really don't want, you know, because 648 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 3: some women just don't want to half kids, Like hey, 649 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 3: that's right, right, And I support women controlling their bodies 650 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 3: and doing what they want with their bodies, but I 651 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 3: also want to make sure. Do I not want kids 652 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 3: because I'm afraid that I will something traumatic would happen 653 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 3: to them, or like something will happen to them and 654 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 3: then I have to relive another trauma of losing a kid, 655 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 3: or you know, like God forbids something, you know, like 656 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 3: I just don't want another being to come into this 657 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 3: world and have to go through a traumatic experience. Right, 658 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 3: So I'm still deciding which of those two are the 659 00:33:55,800 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 3: the one that is, you know, weighing heavily on that decision. 660 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 2: Right, did your dad pass and teach you anything? Come 661 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 2: pass in a way? 662 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 3: Passing? Did my dad's passing teach me anything? Yeah, it 663 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 3: taught me that I have to be happy in my life. 664 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 3: I know depression is not a choice, especially clinical depression, 665 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 3: and which is why I know I suffer some from 666 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 3: some from mild depression. And I also suffer from anxiety. 667 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 3: And it's something that I haven't been diagnosed with depression, 668 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 3: but I have been diagnosed with anxiety. But I know 669 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 3: that I go through bouts of extreme sadness and I 670 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 3: know it runs in my family, but I do need 671 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 3: to be diagnosed to actually say that. So I do 672 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:44,360 Speaker 3: suffer from anxiety and watching my dad kind of just 673 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 3: become a shell of himself for the last, you know, 674 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,239 Speaker 3: a couple of few years of his life. I just 675 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 3: don't want to do things that make me unhappy, you know. 676 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 3: I want to live on this earth as freely and 677 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 3: as happily as I can, and to nourish my body 678 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 3: with all the things that make my soul smile, because 679 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 3: it can be very easy to slip into that state 680 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 3: of like sorrow and sadness and you know, all those things. 681 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 3: And because I don't think I'm clinical depressed, I don't know. 682 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 3: I know, I just go through kind of what's the 683 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 3: other other one, seasonal depression or you know, like situational right, 684 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 3: which is very common. But I know part of the 685 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,960 Speaker 3: reason that I go through those is when I'm in 686 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 3: situations where I'm suffering in high stress levels or I'm 687 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 3: doing something that I don't want like to do where 688 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 3: I'm just like or like going to a nine to 689 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 3: five that I despise. It puts me into a state 690 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 3: of like complete sadness. So I know when I get 691 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 3: to these places where I feel just like there's just 692 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 3: I'm doing like the regular I'm waking up and just 693 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 3: kind of going day by day and not living. It's 694 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 3: something that I have to change. So after my dad, 695 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:57,759 Speaker 3: you know, took his life, I just realized I want 696 00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 3: to live my life happy. I want to do things 697 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 3: that make me happy, and you know, I try to 698 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 3: do my best to be a good person. Because even 699 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 3: though my dad, you know, was sad, and my dad 700 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 3: was depressed and you know, he kind of withdrew himself, 701 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:13,160 Speaker 3: my dad was such a good person. You know. Anytime 702 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 3: any of his friends or any of my family members 703 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 3: would speak about him, they always said, how David was, 704 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 3: you know, all for his family and friends. He did 705 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:21,959 Speaker 3: anything that he could, you know, like give the shirt 706 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,359 Speaker 3: off his back if he could, right. And so that's 707 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 3: also something he taught me, like be a good person, 708 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,919 Speaker 3: don't be a shitty person, right, love people around you 709 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:34,879 Speaker 3: for as much as you can give. And yeah, that's 710 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:36,920 Speaker 3: one of the many things I would say his passing 711 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 3: taught me. 712 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 2: So when did you forgive your father? If you have, 713 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:43,960 Speaker 2: and if you did, what did that forgiveness? 714 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:48,439 Speaker 3: Look like, I don't know exactly when I forgive him. 715 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 3: And I also a get I think I be honest, 716 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,839 Speaker 3: I think I go through phases. I don't think I'm 717 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 3: like angry at him anymore. I'm not like, why did 718 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 3: you leave us? But I just go through points of 719 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 3: Like today, I actually was looking because I have to 720 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 3: get a new license soon because I'm no longer living 721 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 3: in Florida, and you know, in order to get a 722 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 3: new license, you have to get you know, like your 723 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 3: birth certificate all that stuff. And so I saw my 724 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 3: birth certificate and I saw my dad's name, and it 725 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 3: was just like, you know, and then I write, unto 726 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 3: the birth certificate, we're like old pictures of my dad 727 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 3: and I when I was younger. And so I was 728 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 3: just like, man, I'm not angry. I'm just sad, you know. 729 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 3: And I'm sad that I wasn't able to, you know, 730 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 3: go through my life experiencing things with you and you know, 731 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 3: like go through certain places and think that you would 732 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 3: enjoy this and we would have loved to do this together, 733 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 3: you know. So I don't know what. I don't think 734 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 3: I've ever like, I don't think I can name. Okay, Yeah, 735 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:45,919 Speaker 3: this is when I stopped being angry because I think 736 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,960 Speaker 3: my anger just transformed into sadness. 737 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, What is an advice you would give to 738 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 2: our listeners who either recently or previously lost the parents 739 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 2: in suicide. 740 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:03,880 Speaker 3: My advice to you is one, I'm so tremendously sorry 741 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:08,959 Speaker 3: that you're going through this because I know it's and 742 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:12,719 Speaker 3: I know you are feeling a lot of feelings right now, 743 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:14,640 Speaker 3: or maybe you're feeling nothing because I went through that too. 744 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:19,759 Speaker 3: Feeling numbness is also a feeling. My advice to you 745 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:25,719 Speaker 3: would be one, seek therapy because it's something that I 746 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:30,000 Speaker 3: wish I would have done much sooner. Because even if 747 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:33,760 Speaker 3: you think avoiding the conversation will make it go away, 748 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 3: it doesn't. Because I feel because I took so long 749 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,240 Speaker 3: to seek therapy, I'm still kind of mourning his death 750 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 3: as if it happened maybe five years ago, because it 751 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:47,000 Speaker 3: took me so long to unpack my feelings. Right. So, 752 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,879 Speaker 3: if not therapy, I understand therapy may not be financially 753 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 3: accessible to you. Seek a friend, a trusting friend. Seek 754 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,720 Speaker 3: if you're in school, sometimes you know the counselor should 755 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 3: be free to students, or you know, if you're at 756 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,000 Speaker 3: a university, maybe they have a health care or something 757 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:08,360 Speaker 3: that they do for the university. Seek someone that you 758 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,839 Speaker 3: can talk to because you need to put what you're 759 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:13,839 Speaker 3: feeling out there to someone else that can help you 760 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:18,759 Speaker 3: interpret what this means and things like that. My next 761 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 3: advice would be too, like I mentioned, find things to 762 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 3: make you take care of yourself, self care, whatever it 763 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:31,680 Speaker 3: is that you enjoy, don't stop doing that. Now. Clearly 764 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:33,279 Speaker 3: you're going to go through a time of morning and 765 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:34,640 Speaker 3: you're not gonna want to get up and do the 766 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 3: things you want to do. Yes, you need to take 767 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:40,520 Speaker 3: that time for yourself, but eventually, at some point you 768 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:42,720 Speaker 3: need to get up and you have to force yourself, 769 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:47,759 Speaker 3: literally force yourself. When my dad died, my cousin like 770 00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 3: told me I need to go to her go with 771 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 3: her to this like it's called football training, and I 772 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:54,239 Speaker 3: was like I don't want to do it, and then 773 00:39:54,239 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 3: she's like, okay, well when are you ready? And then 774 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:57,480 Speaker 3: one day I was like, I'm going to just stay 775 00:39:57,480 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 3: at home and cry all day. So I forced myself 776 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:01,400 Speaker 3: to go to the training. And that was one of 777 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,040 Speaker 3: the best decsions ever made, because, like I mentioned, that 778 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:06,439 Speaker 3: was where I met my best friend who also had 779 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 3: just lost her dad that same year, same month. Everything 780 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:13,719 Speaker 3: was crazy. So you never know what stepping outside of 781 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:16,319 Speaker 3: your sadness sometimes will do for you and do for 782 00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 3: your healing, So force yourself to do certain things that 783 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:22,480 Speaker 3: you know may make you smile, even if it's just 784 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 3: walking outside and going to a coffee shop just to 785 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 3: get outside of the house. And then I would say 786 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 3: my next thing would be diary. Write down some of 787 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:34,640 Speaker 3: your feelings, write a letter, curse, listen to music, just 788 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,439 Speaker 3: kind of do things to kind of get your anger out, 789 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 3: and not just speaking to a therapist, but also writing 790 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:43,279 Speaker 3: it down because that writing also helps too. And if 791 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:46,960 Speaker 3: you are spiritual or if you believe in a higher being, 792 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 3: if you're whatever religion you believe in, pray and really 793 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:55,919 Speaker 3: hone in on that. Because you're going to what you're 794 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:58,360 Speaker 3: going through and the journey you're going to forever beyond, 795 00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:02,200 Speaker 3: you're gonna need something to take you through this, beside 796 00:41:02,239 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 3: yourself and besides other physical people. Without God, I would 797 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,719 Speaker 3: be honest, I don't know if I would have been 798 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:12,239 Speaker 3: able to get through my life the way I have, 799 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,120 Speaker 3: and not just even dealing with my dad, just get 800 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:14,799 Speaker 3: through life, right. 801 00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 802 00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:20,799 Speaker 3: Yeah, So it's like at times, I know, you got 803 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,799 Speaker 3: to call on somebody stronger and bigger than you. Gotta 804 00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 3: get down and even if you don't know what to say, 805 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:31,839 Speaker 3: just start talking and do that as frequently as you can, 806 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:36,920 Speaker 3: because eventually something will be talking back to you and 807 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:42,440 Speaker 3: it will be very clear and you'll know, maybe not 808 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 3: what to do, but the next step to take. So 809 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:47,760 Speaker 3: that would be my advice. 810 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:52,480 Speaker 2: And last on Ali, Yes, if there is one thing 811 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 2: that you would like to say to your father, what 812 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:54,640 Speaker 2: would it be. 813 00:41:56,680 --> 00:41:58,319 Speaker 3: I just talked to my dad the other day too, 814 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 3: so one thing I would want to say is, like 815 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:08,400 Speaker 3: I said, I'm not angry at you, daddy. I've moved 816 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 3: past my anger. I'm just really sad that you're not 817 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:14,320 Speaker 3: able to experience life with us. And I have another 818 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,280 Speaker 3: niece on the way right. My dad is a grandpa 819 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:22,399 Speaker 3: of two beautiful girls, Zora and soon to be Princess Nia, 820 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,160 Speaker 3: And I know you see them, but I really wish 821 00:42:26,239 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 3: that we could have all been able to experience their 822 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 3: beauty in person. And I am so glad that you 823 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 3: chose my mom as your wife and mother of your kids, 824 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 3: because in the midst of all of this craziness, you know, 825 00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 3: she was the foundation that held us together and that 826 00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:55,120 Speaker 3: kept us going even you know, after all, and you know, 827 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 3: waking up every morning every night going to work to 828 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:01,439 Speaker 3: make sure that we were provided for, and you would 829 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:06,640 Speaker 3: be so proud of your son. He is an amazing man, 830 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:09,480 Speaker 3: but you knew that already because even before he was eighteen, 831 00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:13,719 Speaker 3: he was acting like he was grown. And he's an 832 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:17,960 Speaker 3: amazing father, husband, and brother, son, all of the things 833 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:20,800 Speaker 3: that he was before. Like I think my dad knew 834 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 3: who he was. I think everyone knew how my brother was. 835 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:28,319 Speaker 3: But he's not a man. And I hope that you 836 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:30,839 Speaker 3: go and visit him sometimes soon in his dreams. And 837 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:35,840 Speaker 3: for me, I am happy that I got to experience 838 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,319 Speaker 3: my first thirteen almost fourteen years with you. I'm sad 839 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 3: it wasn't more, but some people get none, so I'm 840 00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:48,600 Speaker 3: blessed for that. And also, you know, I'm single. So 841 00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 3: if there's a man out there that I already vetted for, 842 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:54,200 Speaker 3: I need you to send him my way because I'm 843 00:43:54,239 --> 00:43:57,080 Speaker 3: not getting younger. I am getting better looking, but I'm 844 00:43:57,120 --> 00:43:58,160 Speaker 3: not getting younger. 845 00:43:58,360 --> 00:43:59,880 Speaker 2: So I'm a provider. 846 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:05,000 Speaker 3: I need you, Grandma, Grandpa, all of y'all to get 847 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:08,080 Speaker 3: together up there and figure out who this man's is, okay, 848 00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:12,359 Speaker 3: because these streets are not for me, okay, And yeah, 849 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:15,960 Speaker 3: and that's it. I love you, and one day we'll 850 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:17,760 Speaker 3: meet again. In our spiritual form. 851 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,000 Speaker 2: Oh Chow, you almost got me about to say your name, 852 00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:22,480 Speaker 2: about to crying. 853 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:24,480 Speaker 3: Oh that was so beautiful. 854 00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:27,560 Speaker 2: Man. I really do appreciate you coming on the show 855 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:30,200 Speaker 2: and just sharing your story because I can only imagine 856 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:32,640 Speaker 2: how triggering it can be in traumatic if it is 857 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:34,879 Speaker 2: to really relive some. 858 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:35,440 Speaker 3: Of these things. 859 00:44:35,480 --> 00:44:36,759 Speaker 2: I really do appreciate it. 860 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:39,960 Speaker 3: No, and again, I thank you at the beginning, but 861 00:44:40,040 --> 00:44:42,360 Speaker 3: I want to sincerely thank you for reaching out to me. 862 00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:45,160 Speaker 3: This was therapeutic for me too. You know, I go 863 00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:47,600 Speaker 3: to therapy, but to talk to someone different and to 864 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:50,319 Speaker 3: just talk about my dad in this way and this 865 00:44:50,160 --> 00:44:53,640 Speaker 3: and this this platform, it's helpful. And I thank you 866 00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:58,040 Speaker 3: for the podcast. I wish nothing but success on it. 867 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:01,160 Speaker 3: I will definitely promote it because it's amazing. What you're 868 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:03,319 Speaker 3: doing is amazing. And thank you for being such a 869 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:07,120 Speaker 3: dope black woman and doing the damn thing and empowering 870 00:45:07,160 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 3: other black women younger and older to follow their dreams 871 00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:12,839 Speaker 3: and kill it. 872 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:16,600 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh Chow. I 873 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:19,480 Speaker 2: had sorry in my cycle, so I'm like really emotional. 874 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 3: In the next story. 875 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:24,520 Speaker 2: Oh my god, sorry listeners, but I'm just like. 876 00:45:26,840 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 3: It's a safe space. 877 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:32,920 Speaker 2: But no, I really do appreciate you to my listeners. 878 00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:36,680 Speaker 2: If you have any questions, comments, with concerns, please email 879 00:45:36,719 --> 00:45:38,640 Speaker 2: me at Hello at the PAH podcast dot com and 880 00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:40,759 Speaker 2: I would definitely send them over to our guests and 881 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:42,480 Speaker 2: if you want to respond if she has time, that 882 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:45,600 Speaker 2: is on her. But as always, thank you so much 883 00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:57,320 Speaker 2: and until next time everyone Later bye. The Professional Homegirl 884 00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:00,520 Speaker 2: Podcast is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. 885 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:04,560 Speaker 2: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, app 886 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:07,040 Speaker 2: a podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 887 00:46:07,120 --> 00:46:10,040 Speaker 2: Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show, and you 888 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:12,760 Speaker 2: can connect with me on social media at the PHG 889 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:13,480 Speaker 2: podcast