Rise Up and Find Your Rhythm
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s also International Drum Month. It’s also the month I rose up.
All three are connected for me and here’s why. At a local Out of the Darkness suicide awareness event and walk-a-thon, a woman whom I’ve known for years from the local networking community approached my vendor table.
Many of the walkers were given necklaces of different colors to represent who they lost to suicide: Friend, sibling, parent, child, etc. I didn’t have a necklace, which prompted this woman to ask: “Who did you lose?”
I replied: “Me. I almost lost me.”
She had no idea. She probably just thought I was just there to share about my business and possibly drum with people (I did offer to drum with whoever was grieving or hurting.). You see I hid it – really well.
She also didn’t know that I was one of the speakers that day. I shared a few tips in my talk that I share often. These three questions can help save a life:
- How are you really doing? Most will say fine but their eyes say they’re not.
- What do you think you need? Many kids are stunned and say that no one has ever asked them that. And
- How can I help?
Often, they just want someone to listen.
They want to feel seen, valued, and heard. And, of course, whacking on a drum is a great release! I’ve even drummed with families and used the drums to help them bond and communicate.
As you may know, drumming and Divine Intervention helped me heal and it became my mission to help others. It’s also important to note that there is a high incidence of depression among gifted, talented, and creative individuals.* I’ve worked with hundreds of them over the years, so I know this all too well.
So, please check in with people. It’s okay to ask how they’re doing. The person who’s struggling is often the person you least expect. I never thought it would happen to me. Until it did.
If you’re struggling, know that asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. Reach out to a counselor, pastor, a trusted friend or relative, or call the suicide hotline (988).
I made the decision to fight. I rose up. And you can, too. It’s been 10 years and I’m still here. And I’m still rockin’! Here’s a video to help you “beat” the blues: https://youtu.be/F1lMH-iYnfQ
Keep the faith, my friends. And don’t give up! There is always hope. Always.
If you need more info or encouragement, I’d be happy to chat! Click here to schedule your free call!
(*There is little empirical evidence on the exact percentage of those within the gifted, talented, and creative community who have experienced depression. However, it’s this author’s experience and opinion that the numbers are much higher than previously thought, mainly because of the huge numbers of kids and adults who have never been identified as gifted and also because many have not sought help.)
Dori Staehle lives in the Raleigh, NC area and is a certified drum therapist, inspirational speaker, author, and owner of Next Stage Drumming. In her former life, Dori was an educational consultant and advocate for highly gifted, talented, and creative kids and also a mentor and booking agent for over 900 local young bands and solo artists. Dori helps individuals and organizations find their rhythm, rise up, and move forward – FAST!
