Sometimes we all just need someone who can help out.
Today in 1926, the birthday of Don Ritchie, a man who helped hundreds of people in the most difficult moments of their lives, and helped them find a way to carry on.
As you can guess from an introduction like that, we’re going to be talking about some very heavy subjects today.
If that’s not comfortable for you, no worries, we’ll talk again tomorrow.
But Don Ritchie’s philosophy was that we have to have those hard discussions, even in the hardest moments.
The World War II veteran and longtime life insurance salesman lived by a place known as the Gap, off the eastern coast of Australia, near Sydney.
It’s a public recreation area, a very scenic one, but also one with a big dropoff, which makes it an unfortunately popular place for people looking to end their own lives.
In the days before places like this would put up fences and signs to encourage suicidal people to seek help, Ritchie decided HE would be the help.
And he described his approach to helping like this: “Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word.”
When he saw someone at The Gap looking distraught, or lingering a little too long, he would walk over and ask a simple question: “Is there something I could do to help you?”
Sometimes he’d follow that up with an invitation to come to his house for a cup of tea, or maybe a beer.
The idea was simple: if he could make a connection with the people he met, even very basic ones, he could coax them away from the cliff and away from that impulse to harm themselves.
Time and time again, it worked: one woman who came back to the house explained that she’d been struggling after starting a prescription for depression.
Moya Ritchie, Don’s wife, encouraged her to get a second opinion.
And that’s what she did: a few months later she dropped by the Ritchies’ house to thank them with a big bottle of good champagne.
Ritchie helped at least 180 people just like this; that’s the confirmed number, though the unofficial figure could be double that or more.
He talked about all of these individuals who he helped as well as the ones who sadly didn’t take him up on his offer.
Ritchie felt that people needed to know what was happening in places like The Gap, and to know that all of us can step up to keep each other safe.
In accepting something called the Australian Local Hero award, one of many he received for his efforts, Ritchie said, “never be afraid to speak to those who you feel are in need.”
And if you are in need, because of thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, there is help available.
Call or text the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline right now at 988.
If one of your favorite parts of this time of year is the scent of all the lilac bushes, then you may want to head to Michigan for the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival.
It’s a 10 day festival celebrating the long history of lilacs on the island, complete with garden tours, watercolor classes, and lots of lilac-flavored foods and drinks.
How about a lilac frosted donut washed down with a lilac latte?
An angel walking among us at The Gap (Sydney Morning Herald)
Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
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Photo by Ajayvius, via Wikicommons