Suicide Prevention Tip

Last night, I was in the hot tub with a group of guys, talking about the Viking retreat we’re planning to offer. Eventually, the conversation shifted to a serious topic: friends who struggle with suicidal thoughts. I admitted that I still have no clear idea about the best way to help when my friends text me, telling me they’re hurting and don’t know if they can keep going.

One of the guys, who had been pretty quiet until then, spoke up. He said, “All you have to do is respond when they reach out.” He explained how, before his dad took his own life, he had texted him several times. But being caught up with work as a paralegal, he didn’t respond. The regret from that experience drove him to quit his job and become an entrepreneur, so he could have control over his time and always be available when someone needed him.

He told us his personal rule: always respond to a friend, no matter what time or situation. Beyond that, there’s not much more you can do. That simple advice, from someone who lived through it, became the most valuable thing I took away from our 50 hours together.

Thank you, Chase, for sharing that pro tip with us.

Scott X, happy 42😀

The photo below is from Hape’ ceremony that my new friend Zerin did for me in which I purged my lunch from the intensity thereof. It wasn’t the type of experience that I need to do again soon, but I’m glad I endured and learned of this ritual. Here is the very same blend I tried.

I sent this photo to AI without any explanation and it produces this:

Hape (or Rapé) is a type of sacred snuff used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon, particularly in shamanic rituals. It’s a finely powdered blend of medicinal herbs, typically blown into the nostrils through a pipe called a Tepi. The main ingredient is usually ground tobacco, and the practice is deeply spiritual, used for grounding, focus, and connecting with the earth.

Hape is often administered during healing ceremonies, meditation, or as part of an Ayahuasca journey. The experience can be intense, as it works to clear the mind, remove negative energies, and balance emotions. It’s considered a powerful medicine and is treated with respect, often paired with intention-setting or prayer.

The pipe in the image you shared resembles a Tepi, which would fit with the ritualistic use of Hape.