Oh how good it was to get together as a group last night…..we did miss August.
We prayed and did quilts for
1357. Dennis S
1358.Diane, a friend of my daughter-in-law dealing with breast cancer
1359.the new twin babies, Bennett and
1360.Ruby,
1361.and for their mom, Amanda, who will be having surgery
1362.Michael Peters, who is being deployed
1363. Wren.
(If you get a chance read Wren’s article in the Tuesday Daily Leader, “The Day I Didn’t Die)….very good. Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. Last year 180 South Dakotans died by suicide.
Last week, I was gifted a beautiful quilt by a local group. This is the most meaningful gift I think I’ve ever received at this job.
It wasn’t just the quilt itself, which was beautifully made by the Choose Joy Prayer Quilt Group from West Center Baptist Church, it was the sentiment and love behind it.
Election season is stressful for almost everyone, and journalists are not alone in this. This year, however, our readers and community have brightened my spirits and energized me in a way no community has before. It’s not just the quilt – which I have put in my house in a place my cats cannot easily reach – it’s the conversations I’ve had with so many of you, whether it was about local elections, mental health or general community coverage.
For that, I am thankful to all of you.
On Sept. 10, also known as World Suicide Prevention Day, I released a column I had spent months writing, piece by piece. In it, I discussed my own mental health and suicide attempt. I wrote it in hopes of showing people who are struggling that they are not alone, and to shed some light on an issue that can be easy to shove under the bed and ignore. It was a stressful endeavor, especially since I was also working on election coverage. Between thinking about these subjects all day and staying up late to think about them some more, I was exhausted.
Since the release of that column, however, I’ve received so much support from the community. People have reached out by letter, email, social media and in person to discuss my column with me, oftentimes sharing their own or their family’s relationship with mental health and suicide. This led to many meaningful conversations.
Throughout the entire writing process, and especially around time of publication, I was wracked with nerves. I could not have imagined a more positive response. It was received very well and very kindly, and in addition to those fruitful conversations, I received the beautiful prayer quilt and had my column placed with a display at the Madison Public Library.
Even though I work in the newspaper business and have a much wider platform than most people, sometimes I feel a little lost. I ask myself if I’m doing something meaningful in the community. It’s not like I need constant validation, but I think everyone feels that way in their work. They want what they do to have meaning.
The column I wrote, no matter how hard it was to get it onto the page, had an impact on people that make me happy I am here and happy I am present.
It’s also made me more aware of how I want to do what I can in this community. I really love it here in Madison. I love it when people come in and ask me questions about what I wrote, even if their feedback isn’t all positive. I love it when people ask for help regarding articles that I published. I love it when people ask me about places to get election information, whether for themselves or other people. It gives me a sense of fulfillment, knowing that what I do can matter to people and that I can contribute to making Madison an amazing place to live.
Newspapers wouldn’t exist without our readers, our advertisers, our staff or our communities, and this past month, I’ve had so many reminders about why I love Madison and Lake County.
Once again, thank you.
Wren Murphy is a reporter for Madison Daily Leader.
I think we have a mission. We just need to look around and see someone we can encourage.
Karen and I prayed and tied a quilt and delivered it to Dennis S. (1357) while he was in the hospital.
Thank you Marian for the goodies.
We meet again on Sept. 24th.
Remember each day to CHOOSE JOY.
Love, Joyce
Be Still
And know that I am God.
