Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Thanks For Listening

Good morning Chicago Blackhawks fans! Normally I use this space to talk about what’s new in Blackhawks land, throw in some links to start your morning.  Today I just want to say thanks! 

I just wanted to say thank you for being part of my therapy for the past 365 days, because this past year has been one hard year to go through.

On this day one year ago, my life completely changed when I found my 15-year-old son who had committed suicide. It’s something no parent should ever have to go through (losing and having to bury a child).  Everyone handles grief differently, but the grief is always there, and one thing my friends and bosses begged me to do in the days after is get into therapy.

So, yes, even though I was in a fog, I did something I never intended to ever do which is step into a therapist’s office and talk about my feelings and sorrow.

One thing the therapist thought was a great thing for me to do was continue writing, which I had done anyway without her prompting.   I’ve been writing for Blackhawk Up for six years now, which is kind of crazy since it was just supposed to be a fun hobby. But now I’m close to 3,900 posts in six years.

The thing is, I wrote more this past year then I ever had done in the previous years. Sure there is the morning links every day and TV listings on game day.  I also did the Greatest 100 Chicago Blackhawks of All Time countdown during the summer. Even if it isn’t hard hitting material, I kept on writing.

All of this helped me be distracted from what my mind always wanted to wander back to on a daily basis, which is why would my son take his own life at the age of 15?  My 18-year-old son wrote a poem a year ago tonight, The Night I Saw My Dad Cry For The First Time.  I never remember crying at all until a year ago today, but now I’ve gone from Mr. Tough Guy from Chicago who never cries to someone that tears up all the time.

I’ve said all of this to say that I’m so very thankful that you take the time to read our Blackhawks blog on a daily basis, and that I had somewhere to go this year when my heart was broken.  You’ll never know what it means to have an outlet to go to when you are down and want to stop dwelling on terrible memories.

I’ve tried my best to get the word out here on the website, on Twitter and locally about suicide.  I was able, through going to the press, to help get everyone in the local school to go through a mental health class, and after this year every incoming freshman class will be required to go through this curriculum.

I’ve posted on Twitter the 1-800-273-Talk and Text 741741 numbers as well.  I’ve been on a local radio show to talk about the topic.  I do it all because if just one person can seek help instead of taking their own life, it will be worth it.

Today marks one year since my son left us.  It will be a lifetime struggle to get past the grief, but having Blackhawk Up and having readers like you made it possible to slowly heal.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Keith Schultz

Regular Links will be back tomorrow!