Help and spread hope

When I think of Samuel Parrish, his big, contagious smile instantly appears in my mind. Anyone that knew him can vouch that his smile could illuminate the darkest of any rooms. While Samuel was really nothing more than a mere acquaintance for years and for a brief period, my coworker, his recent suicide has shocked, saddened, and moved me to action.

It’s strange how “aware” I think I am about something…until it really hits home.

“But Samuel was normal. Normal people don’t commit suicide.”

But normal people do. 121 million people in the world are battling depression. Suicide rates have soared sixty percent in the past forty-five years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among men and women ages fifteen to forty-four. The third leading cause of death? The most frightening aspect of depression to me is the fact that you can’t be certain who is suffering from it. Sources tell me now that Samuel was depressed for months, something I never noticed once when working with him.

One thing is certain, however. I will do everything in my power to make sure suicide doesn’t hit this close to home again. One of my favorite quotes states: “In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.” Grieving death may be the most difficult experience in life, but it is the prime opportunity to make a change and bring hope to others in memory of lives lost.

There are several novel organizations dedicated to finding help for people suffering from depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) began as a movement to help a suicidal friend and via Myspace, quickly became a phenomenon that has since brought hope to over 80,000 people dealing with depression  in 40 different countries. The non-profit organization serves as a community to let young adults and teens know that they are not alone and directs them on where to find help. Events are held all over the country and my dear friend, Ben Skipworth, has been working hard to institute a chapter of TWLOHA at UNA. I’m positive he would be accepting of any help to raise awareness of the organization here in the Shoals. To learn more about TWLOHA, click here.The Healing Place is a local non-profit organization that provides grief support and counseling for those dealing with death and depression. The Healing Place offers its services free of charge. Volunteers are needed to assist with the children’s groups. Training is provided on site. To get involved, contact Amanda at 256-383-7133. For more information, click here.

Oddly enough, September 5th, the day Samuel passed away, marked the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week. While there is nothing anyone can do to bring Samuel back, it’s clear that there are several ways for us to share our strength, love, happiness, and hope to help save the lives of others. Love is the movement. What will you do to to be a part of the solution?

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman

the best way to start the day

First, prepare your carrots and apple…Throw ‘em in the juicer…Stir it all together…And viola! Carrot apple juice is the best way to start my day! Isn’t it pretty?

It doesn’t get much better than enjoying a glass of freshly pressed juice while admiring the emergence of Spring.

Not only is fresh juice beautiful and delicious, but it is so good for you! For those of you who don’t love vegetables, juicing provides a wonderful alternative. Juicing a mixture of fresh fruit and veggies disguises the vegetable taste, or at least makes it sweeter and easier to suck down!

Juicing has several health benefits, including:

• Better Absorption of Nutrients. Juicing allows your body to better absorb nutrients because it doesn’t lose any in the digestive process. Not only are you giving digestive organs a break, but you are giving your body the nutrition it needs to excel throughout the day.
• Detoxification. Juicing also replenishes your cells, therefore giving you more radiant skin and for many, more energy.
• Easier to Get Vegetable Servings. It’s recommended to eat 8 or 9 servings of veggies per day, which can be hard to do. Juicing allows you to incorporate a wider variety of vegetables into your diet and makes it easier to get all 9 servings each day.
• Enzymes. Raw foods contain enzymes that boost the immune system and protect you from illness. When fruits and vegetables are cooked, they lose most enzymes.

It’s important to consume your juice shortly after making or store it in an airtight container because it will oxidize if not stored properly. After 24 hours, the juice will lose nutritional value. I think it’s best to consume juice right away for optimum nutritional benefits.

For more information about juicing, check out Gillian McKeith’s page, here. She is a nutrition genius, and her book You Are What You Eat changed my life. Check it out!

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday! Enjoy this beautiful Spring day!

liveSTRONG…

Monday already? I don’t know about you, but my weekend was jam-packed and flew by.

Katie, Nate & I had a fun time running the Scenic City Charity 5k in Chattanooga Saturday, even though the temperature was below freezing!

Last week, I worked extremely hard on an internship application for the Lance Armstrong Foundation! Thursday night, after working until 11:00 PM, I stayed awake until 4:30 AM analyzing every word of each sentence I wrote. I woke up early Friday morning to pack for Chattanooga before class, and then had my application reviewed by my adviser and my aunt (the president of her non-profit). After a little tweaking, I decided that it sounded fantastic and was bold enough to set me apart from the hundreds of other applicants. I was proud of my application and submitted it that afternoon.  I would love to work for the LAF and be a part of the movement to improve the health of our nation.

As you probably know, I am passionate about advocating a healthy, active lifestyle in order to prevent disease. Life is valuable and so many people fall victim to life-threatening diseases. In some cases disease is unexpected and unexplained, in others it is totally preventable.

Cancer is different. There isn’t a fool-proof prevention method or a specific cause. However, there are steps that we can take to lower our risk of forming cancer:

• avoiding smoking and overexposure of sunlight
• eating a diet rich in whole-grains, fruits and veggies, and lean protein, and avoiding refined, chemically laden foods
• exercising and maintaining a healthy weight
• protecting yourself from STDs, such as HPV
• limiting alcohol consumption
• scheduling regular doctor visits and cancer screening

How does cancer form exactly? Our bodies contain tons of cells that multiply when the body needs them and die when it doesn’t. Cancer forms when the genetic makeup of a cell becomes damaged and abnormal cells then multiply uncontrollably and do not die. The extra cells invade other tissues and sometimes form tumors. Not all tumors are cancerous, and not all forms of cancer form tumors. For instance, Leukemia is a form of cancer found in blood marrow and blood that begins when blood cells reproduce uncontrollably. Currently, there is no cure for cancer; however, it can be treated. Researchers believe they are getting closer to a cure. With increased awareness and funds, they believe they will discover the cure within ten years!

The Lance Armstrong Foundation aims to empower people and unite the world in the fight against cancer. It is their mission to improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease and prove that there is life after cancer! The LAF promotes grassroots fundraising in order to increase awareness at a local level. Grassroots fundraising is a way to get as many people involved in the fight against cancer through community events. For more information about how to become involved in the fight against cancer with LAF,click here.

People have asked me what motivated me to become so involved in the fight against cancer. I have met some pretty inspiring survivors, and have also seen first hand the tragedy of death due to cancer. I have close friends who have lost parents and family members to the disease. As the number two killer of Americans each year, this disease deserves serious attention! I am inspired to use my knowledge, skills, and physical abilities in a way that will improve the lives of others, which is why I changed my major from Entertainment Publicity to Public Relations. If I work each day knowing that my efforts are making a difference in the lives of others, it makes every minute worthwhile.

I am well aware that internships with the LAF (located in Austin, Texas) are highly competitive, and am not putting all my eggs in one basket. I will also be applying for internships with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other non-profits. However, I am confident in my capabilities and know that whether or not I score an internship, I will continue to advocate and raise cancer awareness. It’s a cause worth generating a noise!