My dear and departed Brian Allen was my first experience with suicide that I recall. I loved Brian. He was an inspiration to so many and was a beautiful person, inside and out. But he had demons. Demons he tried with all his might to slay...but they slayed him instead. In 2002, just before I move to Florida, Brian laid himself on the train track along Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, KY, as a train was coming. A tragic ending to a beautiful life. He taught me so many things and some of them are contained in this letter he gave out to people with his annual Christmas card the year before he died.
Brian Allen, circa 2001
Living a full life means making a specific commitment to practice and working to develop specific personal qualities: be a good communicator of vision; Be honest and trustworthy; Be flexible to change; Be creative; Be gracious and respect all persons; Value the power of acceptance; Be calm during crises; Promote and foster a team effort; Be deeply committed to the concept that unified efforts far outweigh all individual endeavors combined; Be respectful of others and yourself by following through on your words and commitments.
Be sure to let those closest to you know their importance in your journey before it's too late; Know when to say thank you and give others thanks openly. Listen and listen and listen. Be compassionate; Know that there are times to be strong and times to be vulnerable. Accept the duty to serve the community and take a stand on those issues that are closest to your heart. Promote and value diversity. Take responsibility for your own actions and don't blame the past, knowing change begins with yourself. Know the importance of failure, embrace it and learn from it. Be persistent, especially when pursuing dreams that give your life hope and meaning. Face challenges with courage, guts and determination. Trust others as you implement your vision.
Know the expense of getting stuck when all seems to go wrong. Move ahead with faith that the solution may be near and unexpected. Have a constant thirst for knowledge and a daily commitment towards personal development. Make a big deal about people's names. Be involved in helping others realize their own personal goals. Realize only through giving to yourself generously can you give to others unconditionally. Recognize the unselfishness of having Life Enhancers as a central part of each day. Laugh, enjoy and believe; our purpose on Earth is to help one another.
Brian Allen
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