On my mind...

I'm back from the walk, tired but feeling pretty good. I got to see the family of one of the people I walked for and, though they had never met me before, I could see that it meant something to them for me to approach them just to say, "I knew your son/brother/husband." I'll post pictures when I get them from one of the folks with whom I walked. For A and C, you are missed. For J, no matter how dark the days may seem, you will always be loved. I wanted to post this message from the opening ceremonies back in 2002. It was meaningful for me then, and maybe moreso now.

I am alive.

I may have lost my brother, my sister, my parent, my child, my friend, but I am alive.
I am a survivor of the long dark night, of unspeakable loss, of unbearable pain, of my own darkness …… and I am alive.
I am unwilling to stand idly and allow shame to defeat love or silence to defeat action.
I stand for the enlightenment of a society that would hide from suicide, that would avoid,
that would pretend....
and I am alive.
I am unwilling for the passing of my friend to be in shame.
I loved them more then I loved myself and their life will have meaning in my action.
I am resolved…..
and I am alive.
In a world blinded by the pursuit of pleasure, I am here to say that people are in pain.
In a world rushing to get ahead, I am here to say that people are being left behind.
In a world obsessed with the value of the market, I am here to speak for the value of life…..
and I am alive.
This will be no quite fight…..
for I am the voice of audacity in the face of apathy.
I am the spirit of bravery in a world of caution.
I am a commitment to action in the face of neutrality.
I am out of the darkness, I am into the light.....and I.....
I am alive.

Given by Dan Pallotta, Pallotta Team Works