I cried on the way home after hosting the BRIDGE Notes pop-up at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Throughout the morning, I watched people stop by to write handwritten notes for strangers and take a note written by someone else. There was so much love being poured into their messages. People took their time thinking about what someone else might need to hear, offering words of encouragement, reminders of hope, and simple expressions of care.
Seeing how much people genuinely want to give love to others brought me so much joy.
At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how many people are carrying battles we don’t see. People who may not know where to turn, may not realize what resources are available to them, or may have a hard time believing that someone would care if they knew what they were going through.
It’s something I think about often through my work with BRIDGE; we can underestimate how much our presence, our words, and our willingness to show up can mean to another person.
We truly don’t always need the perfect words or some grand gesture. Sometimes, a small reminder that someone cares is more than enough.
One interaction from that day has really stayed with me. A girl read the note she’d received from a stranger and said:
“So this stranger cares.”
So keep showing up. Keep checking in. Keep telling people you care. You never know when your words might reach someone at exactly the right time.
And if you need the reminder yourself: You matter. People care about you. You deserve to feel seen, supported, and loved.
A huge thank-you to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for creating space for this event and for the important work they do.
Highlight video available on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
