Tuna & Minnow

We met this beautiful young woman and her family on the trail. We had a nice evening camping with them. Her story is familiar to many of us. We love that she is so open, honest and willing to share her story so others will be encouraged to get help.

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth In middle school, I opened up to my pastor that I struggled with depression. He said that su***de was the most selfish thing I could do & I would go to hell. He didn’t comfort me. He never asked if I needed help. And it was never spoken of again. (Disclaimer: these statements aren’t true, most Christians don’t act this way & he was wrong in his response) I finally had the courage to admit that I was hurting & was crushed. I promised myself I would never open up about it again. So for years, I suffered in silence. I was reckless. I wanted something bad to happen to me. I thought about ending my life a lot. I would drive around aimlessly at 2 AM thinking of how I could crash & make it look like an accident. My sister told me she was terrified when my mom called her that it would be to tell her I was no longer here. There’s more to my story. I was in a dark place. But you would’ve never known it because on the outside, I had a smile on my face. You have no idea what is going on beneath the surface. 1 in 5 people struggle with mental illness. These illnesses like depression & anxiety are a literal chemical imbalance in someone’s brain. It’s not chosen. They can’t just get over it. They can’t pray it will go away. Mental illness is NOT a faith problem. Or an attention problem. By the grace of God, I’m still here. But medication also saved me. & there’s nothing wrong with that. When I was at my lowest, it’s what my body needed. Don’t shame anyone for what they choose to do to heal. Shame breeds silence. And depression flourishes in silence. After what happened to me, I was so close to giving up. I was hanging on by a thread. If someone opens up to you, just know that it was the hardest thing they’ve ever done. If you belittle it, you’re digging them even deeper. Reach out. Love. Comfort. Help. Be there. Be patient. Be kind. Be their light. #EndTheStigma You are loved & your life is worth living. If you/someone you know is struggling, call the National su***de prevention lifeline 1-800-273-8255

During our hike over Unaka Mountain today, we found a beautiful section of trail. The forest changed from the familiar beech and dogwood trees and massive fields of ferns into a vibrant green painting of pines and moss. It was almost magical. Just off the trail, we came across an unusual site at 5100 feet above sea level in the forest. It was a decorated Christmas Tree! We discovered this Christmas Tree is a memorial for Max Norrell, a previous Appalachian Trail thru hiker. The tree was chosen in a spot that was his favorite on the Appalachian Trail. We read that he was affected by mental illness and died by su***de on 5/20/16. He was loved by neighbors, family and friends who erected the tree in his honor. We did not know Max Norrell, nor of his memorial, until we came upon it. To honor Max, we left a small token on the tree and said a prayer for his family. Seeing the tree reminded us why we challenge and push ourselves to complete this journey.
"When it is darkest, we can see the stars" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
National Su***de Prevention Lifeline -800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line - text 741741

Tuna & Minnow-Hike Out Su***de
As we hike, we have been thinking about and praying for those who have lost a loved one to su***de. Lately, there have been some difficult climbs that are very challenging. It’s hard not to think about giving up at times. During these rough moments, we lean on each other, our family and friends for support and encouragement. We wanted to share that. Our hope is that anyone struggling, or going through a difficult time, will reach out and ask for help too. We know that isn’t always easy but we know how much it helps.

A few days ago, we got to camp and met an awesome young couple that are also thru hiking. “K” shared that her brother died by su***de 3 years ago when he was 22 years old. We discussed the the impact losing him had on she and her family. “K” said she misses her brother desperately and thinks about him often. She had a particularly rough day, as it would have been his 25th birthday. That day, the climbs were very challenging and she said she powered through with memories of him helping her along. Finally, she shared, he was able to donate his heart, kidneys and liver and this helped she and her family heal knowing he saved the lives of others. “K” said a favorite quote for her is: “Living a limitless life means believing you, yourself, have the power to change any negative to a positive.”