In 2014, about a year before my son Charles died by suicide, we were sitting on the deck outside of our home in Virginia. He had just posted a rap video online. He was so proud of it, and I think with the video, he was trying to send me a sideways message that I missed.
I feel alone and scared
I turn on the light
And nothing’s ever there.
This world is desolate and cold
Go to school, Charles.
Do what you’re told and
Hope that your cycle of reality never gets old
Cuz one day everything you know in love
Will collapse and fold.
(From “Hell on Earth” by Charles Aubrey Rogers)
I asked Charles, “Why are all your raps so depressing? Can’t you write something more lighthearted?”—as if I could wash away his darkness and push him into the light.
That question shamed him for his pain…… Continue reading this article about toxic positivity on SpeakingofSuicide.com
AnneMoss Rogers is a leading wellness and suicide education expert and one of the top mental health speakers and suicide prevention speakers. Known for her powerful, motivational keynotes, AnneMoss combines her personal story of loss with proven strategies to help organizations build a wellness culture that drives results and saves lives. She speaks at conferences, workplaces, K-12 schools, and universities, delivering impactful presentations that inspire change and promote mental health awareness.
AnneMoss does this work in memory of her son, Charles, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and died by suicide at age 20 in 2015.