We've got some exciting news here at Ears Wide Open? that we hope to be sharing with you tomorrow concerning our first big interview. Be sure to check back so you can be among the first to read and pass it along!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Questions and Answers
Happy Easter! Here's to new life and new beginnings!
We've got some exciting news here at Ears Wide Open? that we hope to be sharing with you tomorrow concerning our first big interview. Be sure to check back so you can be among the first to read and pass it along!
We've got some exciting news here at Ears Wide Open? that we hope to be sharing with you tomorrow concerning our first big interview. Be sure to check back so you can be among the first to read and pass it along!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Check It Out
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline posted Ears Wide Open? on Facebook and Twitter this afternoon. It's helping people, and that's the goal.
If you would, click on the link and scroll down to find our video. Then "like" the link on the NSPL page. The Lifeline is gauging the number of shares and likes to determine placement for their website. Thanks, and send all your good thoughts to the people who are calling for help this evening.
https://www.facebook.com/800273TALK?ref=ts&fref=ts
If you would, click on the link and scroll down to find our video. Then "like" the link on the NSPL page. The Lifeline is gauging the number of shares and likes to determine placement for their website. Thanks, and send all your good thoughts to the people who are calling for help this evening.
https://www.facebook.com/800273TALK?ref=ts&fref=ts
Monday, March 25, 2013
Tomorrow Noonish
Remember our goal for this project? To raise awareness of depression and to offer hope to so many who feel there is no way out of the darkness that surrounds them. To
help people who are hurting, people who know someone who is hurting,
people who have hurt in the past, people who need help and healing and
hope.
Tomorrow around noonish, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is scheduled to post Ears Wide Open? on their Facebook page and Twitter. Based on the response it receives via the social media outlets, it will be considered for placement on their website as well. Our hope is that people who need to hear the message in our video will click on the link and watch. Because those are the people we made the video for ... the ones who need it most.
We'll have some other announcements soon about upcoming interviews and other groups that will be sharing Ears Wide Open? on their sites. You can help by "Liking" both the video and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's page tomorrow, and retweeting their post on Twitter.
A special thanks to the Lifeline for their tireless efforts to help save lives. You guys and gals rock!
Tomorrow around noonish, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is scheduled to post Ears Wide Open? on their Facebook page and Twitter. Based on the response it receives via the social media outlets, it will be considered for placement on their website as well. Our hope is that people who need to hear the message in our video will click on the link and watch. Because those are the people we made the video for ... the ones who need it most.
We'll have some other announcements soon about upcoming interviews and other groups that will be sharing Ears Wide Open? on their sites. You can help by "Liking" both the video and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's page tomorrow, and retweeting their post on Twitter.
A special thanks to the Lifeline for their tireless efforts to help save lives. You guys and gals rock!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Too Good
We shared this photo last night, but it's simply too good not to share again. And if you happened not to read last night's post, you should. You really should.
Have a fantastic Monday, and just be you. Awesome you!
Have a fantastic Monday, and just be you. Awesome you!
B U
When we saw this photo, it reminded us of the note card format we used in our video Ears Wide Open? And then that made us think that we'd like to ask you to help us get the word out about Ears Wide Open? to as many people as we can. Send the link to your grandma, to your gardener, to people in the media, to websites, to bloggers, to your hairdresser, to your favorite newscaster, to your best friend, to your worst friend, to Ellen (especially to Ellen!) ... heck, just send it to everyone you know. Why? Because we are getting a ton of messages from people who are being helped by Ears Wide Open? That's why. Because the more people who see the video, the more chance we'll save a life or two. We. You. Us. We. Together. And that's pretty wonderful.
You may not know that Terrie from Ears Wide Open? has a thing for Converse tennis shoes. She does. A big thing. She's got them in several colors. She says her next color is probably going to be royal blue or green or maybe yellow. And we think she should write on her Chucks what's in the photo. Maybe we all should. Or write what's in the photo on our hearts. Definitely we all should.
Don't give up. Ever. B U. Because you are awesome just the way you are.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Would You Wear This?
We've received a lot of emails and messages since the launch of Ears Wide Open?, and we'd like to thank those of you who've written and shared your stories with us. We are both humbled and honored that so many of you have taken the time to tell us about your own journeys. Some of your stories have made us laugh, while others have reduced us to tears. Tonight, with the permission of the person who wrote to us, we'd like to share one of those special stories with you.
"My name is Joe, and I am 57 years old. I live in a mid-size town in rural Texas, and I am gay. I am blessed to have been with my partner John for 32 years after meeting him when we were in grad school. We are both professionals, and we have good jobs. John lives in a town about 35 miles from the town I live in, and for the last 20 years we have had to meet in a different town to spend time together. Our families are conservative Christians and my father was a minister until he retired. No one in our families know that we are gay. None of our friends know that we are gay. We have lived our lives in the closet because of two reasons: fear of condemnation and judgment from our churches; and not wanting to disgrace our families. I am writing to thank you for having the courage to post your video and to tell you that I, too, wanted to die, and so did John. I have a theory that many gay people in our generation have contemplated suicide at one time or another in their lives, if not actually made an attempt. The message in your video is one that needs to be heard and is one that hopefully will save lives. The cards at the beginning of your story that talk about spending your life trying to please everyone and believing that you shouldn't be who you are resonated with John and me. Those who believe that being gay is as much of a choice as what shirt a person chooses to wear each day, I would ask this question: would you wear this? Thank you again for posting your video. Joe"
"My name is Joe, and I am 57 years old. I live in a mid-size town in rural Texas, and I am gay. I am blessed to have been with my partner John for 32 years after meeting him when we were in grad school. We are both professionals, and we have good jobs. John lives in a town about 35 miles from the town I live in, and for the last 20 years we have had to meet in a different town to spend time together. Our families are conservative Christians and my father was a minister until he retired. No one in our families know that we are gay. None of our friends know that we are gay. We have lived our lives in the closet because of two reasons: fear of condemnation and judgment from our churches; and not wanting to disgrace our families. I am writing to thank you for having the courage to post your video and to tell you that I, too, wanted to die, and so did John. I have a theory that many gay people in our generation have contemplated suicide at one time or another in their lives, if not actually made an attempt. The message in your video is one that needs to be heard and is one that hopefully will save lives. The cards at the beginning of your story that talk about spending your life trying to please everyone and believing that you shouldn't be who you are resonated with John and me. Those who believe that being gay is as much of a choice as what shirt a person chooses to wear each day, I would ask this question: would you wear this? Thank you again for posting your video. Joe"
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Looking for Love
Do you ever wonder what the world would be like without milk? Or broccoli? Or syrup? Or Diet Dr. Pepper? Or salt water taffy? Or puppies? Or Christmas trees? Or clouds? Or fish? Or dandelions? Or horses? Or water?
There are countless people around you who are hurting, who are lonely, who are literally at the end of their rope and ready to give up. Countless people who are looking for someone to love them and tell them they care. Countless people who need a helping hand or a listening ear. Countless people who have lost all interest in any of the wonderful things listed above. Countless people who are ready to die.
Help is a phone call away:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
There are countless people around you who are hurting, who are lonely, who are literally at the end of their rope and ready to give up. Countless people who are looking for someone to love them and tell them they care. Countless people who need a helping hand or a listening ear. Countless people who have lost all interest in any of the wonderful things listed above. Countless people who are ready to die.
Help is a phone call away:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
ELLEN!!!
So here's the deal, guys and gals ... we want to get Ears Wide Open? to Ellen. Yes, that Ellen. The Ellen with the television show. The Ellen who does so much good for so many people. That Ellen.
Ears Wide Open? is already touching lives and helping people, and that's our mission ... to help people who need help, people who feel they have no hope. And we think getting Ellen to watch Ears Wide Open? will cause her to want to talk about the video on her show. And just think of all the people who could be helped then? Wow. Wow. And wow.
Now here's where you can help. We've been told by someone with an inside connection that the best way to catch Ellen's attention is by tweeting her ... a lot. So we'd like to ask you to tweet her (@TheEllenShow) ... a lot. And we'd like to ask you to attach a link to Ears Wide Open? when you do (you'll find the links for YouTube and Vimeo at the end of this post). It won't take much time because you can't say much on a tweet. But it could make a big difference in someone's life who needs to see and hear the message of Ears Wide Open?
Come on friends ... tweet like birds, and help us get Ears Wide Open? to Ellen. Yes, that Ellen. The Ellen who can help us help others. Tweet, tweet, tweet! And thank you!!
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user16802566/videos
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BjpS2YdR0s
And follow us on Twitter: @EarsWideOpenTDJ
Ears Wide Open? is already touching lives and helping people, and that's our mission ... to help people who need help, people who feel they have no hope. And we think getting Ellen to watch Ears Wide Open? will cause her to want to talk about the video on her show. And just think of all the people who could be helped then? Wow. Wow. And wow.
Now here's where you can help. We've been told by someone with an inside connection that the best way to catch Ellen's attention is by tweeting her ... a lot. So we'd like to ask you to tweet her (@TheEllenShow) ... a lot. And we'd like to ask you to attach a link to Ears Wide Open? when you do (you'll find the links for YouTube and Vimeo at the end of this post). It won't take much time because you can't say much on a tweet. But it could make a big difference in someone's life who needs to see and hear the message of Ears Wide Open?
Come on friends ... tweet like birds, and help us get Ears Wide Open? to Ellen. Yes, that Ellen. The Ellen who can help us help others. Tweet, tweet, tweet! And thank you!!
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user16802566/videos
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BjpS2YdR0s
And follow us on Twitter: @EarsWideOpenTDJ
Monday, March 11, 2013
Make it Clear
"Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them." --- Philippians 4:5
Sunday, March 10, 2013
FFQs (Famous Friendship Quotes)
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." --- Mother Teresa
"Too late we learn, a man must hold his friend
Unjudged, accepted, trusted to the end." --- John Boyle O'Reilly
"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know." --- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"... no man is useless
while he has a friend." --- Robert Louis Stevenson
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." --- Martin Luther King Jr.
"Too late we learn, a man must hold his friend
Unjudged, accepted, trusted to the end." --- John Boyle O'Reilly
"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know." --- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"... no man is useless
while he has a friend." --- Robert Louis Stevenson
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." --- Martin Luther King Jr.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Out There?
What a week it's been! The message of Ears Wide Open? is definitely getting out there, and we want to thank each of you for the part you're playing in helping us to spread the word. Every time you share the video with someone, you may be helping to save a life.
Remember our goal for this project? To raise awareness of depression and to offer hope to so many who feel there is no way out of the darkness that surrounds them. To help people who are hurting, people who know someone who is hurting, people who have hurt in the past, people who need help and healing and hope.
And now, we'd like to ask you to help us a little more. If there are organizations you know of or you are affiliated with that you think may benefit from the message of Ears Wide Open?, please share the video with them. Or let us know, and we'll share it with them. Ask them to "Like" our page on Facebook, or to follow us on Twitter (@EarsWideOpenTDJ). Together, we can be a light in the darkness. Together, we can bring about change. Together, we can accomplish our mission.
The message of Ears Wide Open? is powerful. People are watching. People are listening. People are asking for help. Jump on board with us, and let's do some good in the world. Help us get the message out there to the people who need it most.
YouTube (standard computers)
Vimeo (mobile devices/standard computers)
Remember our goal for this project? To raise awareness of depression and to offer hope to so many who feel there is no way out of the darkness that surrounds them. To help people who are hurting, people who know someone who is hurting, people who have hurt in the past, people who need help and healing and hope.
And now, we'd like to ask you to help us a little more. If there are organizations you know of or you are affiliated with that you think may benefit from the message of Ears Wide Open?, please share the video with them. Or let us know, and we'll share it with them. Ask them to "Like" our page on Facebook, or to follow us on Twitter (@EarsWideOpenTDJ). Together, we can be a light in the darkness. Together, we can bring about change. Together, we can accomplish our mission.
The message of Ears Wide Open? is powerful. People are watching. People are listening. People are asking for help. Jump on board with us, and let's do some good in the world. Help us get the message out there to the people who need it most.
YouTube (standard computers)
Vimeo (mobile devices/standard computers)
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Secret Regrets
There are folks out there who are doing some great work to help bring about change in our world, one heart at a time. We shared one of those with you last night, Denise, who pens the blog Universal Grit. (If you haven't checked out her beautiful words yet, you can find them here.)
And tonight, we'd like to introduce you to another amazing person ... Kevin. He's the guy leading the charge to change lives on Secret Regrets. It's an awesome site that gives people the opportunity to write in and anonymously share their biggest regrets in life. And what is even more awesome is that readers can comment and offer help to those who post their regrets.
People helping people ... that's what Ears Wide Open? is all about. Keep up the good work, Denise and Kevin. Keep on inspiring all of us to change, to believe, to help one another.
And tonight, we'd like to introduce you to another amazing person ... Kevin. He's the guy leading the charge to change lives on Secret Regrets. It's an awesome site that gives people the opportunity to write in and anonymously share their biggest regrets in life. And what is even more awesome is that readers can comment and offer help to those who post their regrets.
People helping people ... that's what Ears Wide Open? is all about. Keep up the good work, Denise and Kevin. Keep on inspiring all of us to change, to believe, to help one another.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Now Featuring ...
One of the most talented bloggers ever featured Ears Wide Open? in her post today. Check it out here.
Way, way, way cool. Thanks, Denise!
http://universalgrit.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/a-friend-with-a-powerful-message/
Way, way, way cool. Thanks, Denise!
http://universalgrit.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/a-friend-with-a-powerful-message/
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Your Story ...
Something awesome is happening with the Ears Wide Open? video. Well, several things actually, but tonight we'd like to tell you about one in particular. People are messaging and emailing to tell us of the impact the video is having, and in doing so, many are sharing their own stories with us. Since those messages are sent to us privately, we won't share them here on the blog or on the Ears Wide Open? Facebook page. But all the stories we're reading from viewers like you gave us an idea. And we think it's a good one. An idea that will work with the Ears Wide Open? video to help people. And remember, that's the goal and the purpose of Ears Wide Open? ... to help people who are hurting, people who know someone who is hurting, people who have hurt in the past, people who need help and healing and hope.
Here's our idea (did we mention we think it's a good one?). We'd like to invite you to comment on the blog with your own story. Or send us a message on the Ears Wide Open? Facebook page. Or do both if you'd like. We know so many of you have a story, and not only would we like to hear them, we've got a strong feeling that other people would, too. We also know that your stories will help other people. And remember, that's the goal and purpose of Ears Wide Open? ... to help people who need help and healing and hope.
So come on, help us help others and spread the message that life is worth living. We've told you ours, now it's your turn. Tell us your story.
Oh, and don't forget to just be you. Awesome you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BjpS2YdR0s
https://vimeo.com/user16802566/videos
Here's our idea (did we mention we think it's a good one?). We'd like to invite you to comment on the blog with your own story. Or send us a message on the Ears Wide Open? Facebook page. Or do both if you'd like. We know so many of you have a story, and not only would we like to hear them, we've got a strong feeling that other people would, too. We also know that your stories will help other people. And remember, that's the goal and purpose of Ears Wide Open? ... to help people who need help and healing and hope.
So come on, help us help others and spread the message that life is worth living. We've told you ours, now it's your turn. Tell us your story.
Oh, and don't forget to just be you. Awesome you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BjpS2YdR0s
https://vimeo.com/user16802566/videos
Got Fluff?
“If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be
listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of
fluff in his ear.” --- Winnie the Pooh
Monday, March 4, 2013
Oh, Pooh
"The things that make me different are the things that make me." --- Winnie the Pooh
Yep, we're digging the Pooh Bear this week in a totally big way.
Yep, we're digging the Pooh Bear this week in a totally big way.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Love Me Some Pooh Bear
“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” --- Winnie the Pooh
I Am Who I Am
"Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.'" --- Genesis 21:6
I like the way old Sarah thought. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
I like the way old Sarah thought. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Oops!
It's been brought to our attention that Ears Wide Open? is not available for viewing on mobile devices through YouTube. We are sorry for this inconvenience and will be posting a link to the video on Vimeo within the next 24 hours that will enable you to access Ears Wide Open? via all mobile phone and tablet platforms.
We are overwhelmed by the initial response the video is receiving and want to thank those of you who have written to share the impact Ears Wide Open? is having. Our goal from the inception of the idea for the project has been to raise awareness of depression and to offer hope to so many who feel there is no way out of the darkness that surrounds them.
Keep sharing and forwarding ... you are making a difference in someone's life!
We are overwhelmed by the initial response the video is receiving and want to thank those of you who have written to share the impact Ears Wide Open? is having. Our goal from the inception of the idea for the project has been to raise awareness of depression and to offer hope to so many who feel there is no way out of the darkness that surrounds them.
Keep sharing and forwarding ... you are making a difference in someone's life!
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