WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 22

June 2, 2024

SOMEONE ELSE’S WAGON

When I embarked on Winston Weekly at the end of 2023, my mission was to bring a bit of positivity to the start of each week and to dive slightly deeper into a topic, event, or purpose. Today, I can only accomplish a piece of my mission.

I used to think that watching a small white ball travel in the air or skip across a green or into a bunker was not worth my time. But a few years ago, I began watching golf in earnest. Perhaps that is partly why the passing of Grayson Murray on May 25, 2024 profoundly impacted my week. He was 30 years old.

Eric and Terry Murray, Grayson’s parents, released a statement the day after his passing, stating in part: “We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes.” For many struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, society’s expectations, or something else, love isn’t enough. But it helps. As does kindness.

We never know what is in someone else’s wagon on any given day. What burdens do they carry as they try to hit a ball, care for a parent or child, or undertake countless other tasks? According to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people died by suicide last year. That translates to more than 1,900 people a day, or one death every 40 seconds. In the United States alone, more than 48,000 people died by suicide last year, including more than 6,000 veterans. The reasons are as complicated as they are common, with severe depression topping the list. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities can be at risk for suicide.”

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Consider watching a bit of golf. You never know what you might learn from the people behind those little white balls. And remember to pause and think before you post, comment, or judge. You never know what is in someone else’s wagon.

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[1] Copyright June 2, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday newsletter by Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own.