Erik

I wanted to let you know that my experience at the BE weekend has had a profound affect on me.  I know it’s just the first of many steps I will take in order to accept what happened but I am determined to be true to myself and God and put my energies toward completing the journey He has placed before me. 

I’m started to attend the SOLOS group sessions next Thursday and my son is going to start group sessions through the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas next week.  They have group counseling just for teens who have lost a loved one to suicide and I know that he will benefit by being able to talk with people in his peer group who have similar experiences.

As for the BE weekend evaluation, let me start off by say yes, I would recommend the BE weekend to others.  In fact, I’ve already recommended it to two other people and I hope they make the decision to participate. 

Meeting others who share the pain and experiences was the most meaningful part of the weekend.  People who have never lost a loved one just don’t know what to do or what to say and being in a situation where everyone had a common bond of loss was an eye opener.  I suppose it’s common for people to isolate themselves and try to place the past on the back burner and hope the hurt and pain goes away but we both know that is only an avoidance technique.  To steal from Charles Dickens, it was the best of times and the worst of times and I’d do it all over again.

There wasn’t a least meaningful part of the weekend except that it went by too quickly.  Driving away from the Retreat Center was difficult.  While I was anxious to get back to my son, I felt like I was leaving a cocoon of safety and venturing back into the hurtful world.  I hope that makes sense.

All in all I felt the weekend was well organized.  You and the rest of the facilitators did a great job keeping us all on track.  While it was exhausting mentally, emotionally and spiritually, it was the perfect dose of medicine for my troubled soul.  Please pass on my sincere appreciation to the rest of the staff.  They made the experience all that it was!  Thanks again!

God Bless