I’m checking in on you and me. There's a lot going on in the world right now, and I am still reeling from the news that Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss died from suicide.
If you had to ask me to list the 5 most positive people on the planet, The Rock would be #1, and tWitch would be #2.
Having lost too many friends and people I love to mental health challenges like depression, addiction, trauma, and hopelessness – all of who died from suicide – I’m just so heavy with emotion.
tWitch was beloved by millions for being Ellen DeGeneres’ executive producer, dance partner, and DJ on her talk show. He was a part of people’s lives 5 days a week, for years. He competed on So You Think You Can Dance and he had one of those million-dollar smiles that just lit up every room he walked into. He is followed by millions of people online who love the adorable dances that he, his wife Allison, and his 3 kids do.
Seeing such a bright light like tWitch go out so suddenly at the age of 40, with 3 beautiful kids, a huge life, and adoring fans around the world…
It just stirred up so much sadness inside of me, and this may be stirring up a lot inside of you.
You don’t have to know tWitch personally (I didn’t – I am just a fan) to be profoundly impacted by the news of his death.
This may be bringing up experiences of loss from your own life. It may also be reminding you of moments when you were really struggling, which is another reason why I felt the urgency to talk to you today.
And I thought, maybe you’re sad too.
Or having a hard time processing how someone who seemed to “have it all” and “so much talent” could come to a point where this could happen.
Or maybe you are going through a tough time yourself.
Or maybe you just need a friend to tell you it’s going to be okay and give you a boost.
So I wanted to connect.
I decided to roll out of bed, get right on the mic, and share what I'm feeling and how I'm thinking about tWitch's death so we can process this together.
Please take 14 minutes to listen to this powerful message.
I share my thoughts about how to process news like this and I also emphasize something tWitch always said:
Be kind.
Today, be kind.
You never know what another person is going through, so be kind.
And always, be kind to yourself.
One thing you can do today is reach out to people you love. You never know what it’s going to mean to someone. If you don’t know what to say, you can share this episode.
And, if you are in pain right now. PLEASE. There’s a difference between wanting to end the pain you feel, and wanting to end your life.
You can end the pain with support and by taking small steps forward every single day.
It can and it will get better.
Please, if you need help, pick up the phone. You deserve support.
Trained volunteers are standing by to help you. Call the National Suicide Hotline, which is 988 in the US. Different languages are available – click here.
Or, text HOME to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line.
Thanks for reading this and listening to this episode. And I just wanted to end by saying, I love you and it means more than you know that you are here.