EVEN NOW Event Recording

9/15 Update: The event has now passed but a recording is available. 

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9/12 Update: My dear friend Levi The Poet has been added as a special guest. He will be sharing some poems before I speak, probably another poem after, and sticking around for Q&A as well. 

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Life is worth living even now.

September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention Week in the United States. Join me Thursday, September 14 at 8pm eastern, for a speaking event open to anyone and everyone. It’s happening online. The production won’t be fancy—I’ll be sitting at my desk sharing some thoughts on mental health, suicide prevention, and life in general. The talk will be a chance to communicate some fresh ideas from recent days, while also reflecting on what I’ve learned going all the way back to the start of TWLOHA.

The title EVEN NOW comes from a recent perspective shift based on where I’m at in my life. After years of encouraging people to stay for the surprises, while I definitely still support the idea of staying alive to fall in love or raise a child or see another dream come true, I want to emphasize that life is worth living even when our dreams feel out of reach. In the midst of grief, in the midst of disappointment, in a season of uncertainty. Even if my dreams never come true, even as life looks different than I imagined, I want to keep showing up. 

Connection plays a big part in what I just said. I’ve become a huge fan of it over the last year, mostly because of the small-group conversations I’ve been leading. Those gatherings have given me a front-row seat for so many beautiful moments where vulnerability is met with kindness and compassion. I’ve come to believe that connection is worth staying alive for. When facing painful circumstances or an impossible situation, connection can serve as a lifeline. This doesn’t mean our circumstances change right away. Perhaps instead connection means that we are not alone in our circumstances. We’re seen and heard, known and loved. 

I’m excited to explore the idea that life is worth living, even now. 

You: What exactly is this event? Is it a small-group conversation? Do I have to say anything?

Me: This event is not a small-group conversation. You don’t have to say a word. This one will look more like a traditional speaking event, except we will all be online and I’ll be sitting at my desk. After saying hello and welcoming everyone, I’ll speak for 45-50 minutes. There will be time for Q&A after that, meaning I’ll stick around to answer questions. After a lot of years of doing these types of events, I can tell you that Q&A is often the highlight. 

You mentioned “online.” What will the format / platform be?

Zoom. That’s what I’ve used for small-group conversations, and while this will be a bit different, I like Zoom because I’m comfortable using it. I’ve also been a guest speaker for a bunch of virtual events that happened via Zoom. 

Do I need to buy a ticket in order to attend?

Yes. 

Why?

Because this is my job. Gracie’s treats cost money. That said, my hope is that pricing the event at $15 makes it affordable for most folks. If you want to watch it with a friend or even a bunch of friends, I would love that. 

When is it again?

Thursday, September 14. We’ll start at 8pm ET. 

Will there be a recording?

Yes. We will make it available the next day (Friday, September 15) and you will be able to watch until Friday, September 22.

What if I can’t make it and want a refund?

Sales are final. No refunds. The good news is that even if you can’t be there when it happens, you will be able to watch the recording. 

Any merch?

Yes! There’s a shirt.