Kristin Light on LinkedIn: I've had a lot of conversations on this topic over the past day or so. My… (2024)

A wonderful role with an important organization! Sharing for my Canadian followers.

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My birthday is also the anniversary of a rather significant day in my recent history. **Trigger warning for mentions of SI.**I'd long planned to 'exit stage left' on my life once my 40th birthday rolled around. Luckily my plan was thwarted by a quick thinking doctor and my subsequent 8-week stay in a psychiatric hospital. And thus, my birthday now carried the weight of another anniversary; the day I'd planned to die. And while I'm eternally grateful that I didn't, and that I'm still here today, July is always an emotionally heavy month. While I appreciate the annual wishes of "Happy Birthday!"... the phrase is a mixed one for me. Because back on that day in 2017, as I lay on a stretcher in the emergency room watched over by my own personal security guard, my phone kept buzzing on the nurse's stand with message after message of the annual good wishes. The irony of that was not lost on me then, any more than it is now years later. I always cringe a bit at birthday wishes, yet am thankful for the positive intent behind the greeting. Truth is, I don't really celebrate my birthday anymore. I certainly acknowledge the day, usually introspectively as I head out for my traditional free Venti Caramel Frappa-non-dairy-thingy, but I haven't had a party or a cake or anything like that since. It's too loaded a day. The emotions are too raw. But this past Friday, as I wrestled with the usual annual rawness, someone I work with nailed it. They sent a greeting that acknowledged the day for all its significance without placating or glossing over the reality of the date. That text is shown in the image with this post. And it was perfect. "Happy Bonus Day!" works on so many levels for me, but primarily I love it because it keeps the focus on all the optimistic possibilities that may still lie ahead, rather than dwell on a past that I was so ready to leave permanently behind. At the end of my "Living Happily Ever Average" keynote speech, and during pretty much any talk on mental health or suicide prevention that I do, I mention that "every day is bonus time for me now" as I'd not intended to live past my 40th birthday. This coworker made note of that phrase, and subsequently created what I consider the greatest way to acknowledge a suicide survivor's anniversary without inadvertently dredging up past hurt. If the concept of Bonus Day resonates with you as well, feel free to claim it for yourself. Each year is an opportunity for us to build new memories, explore new adventures, and foster the new relationships that enrich our bonus half of life. So thank you Stephen for nailing it so beautifully. I'm forever grateful for this reimagining. #SuicideAwareness #SuicideSurvivor #MentalHealthAdvocate #HappyBonusDay #LivingInBonusTime #DepressionImage Description: Screenshot of an iPhone text conversation. Box one says "Happy bonus day!" and box two replies, "Huh, that might be my absolute new favourite way to acknowledge this day. Thank you!!"

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Looking forward to this one! Jason Reid and I are debuting our new presentation, "Invisible Differences - Navigating the Last Mile from Inclusion to Belonging" which draws on our collective experience as theatrical dorks to present fresh approaches to common workplace barriers. Expect fake mustaches and real solutions. 🤓 See you on Halloween, #CSAE!

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Such a great post for anyone worried that they may be unintentionally hurting someone by using an outdated, offensive term. Meryl does a great job of rounding up some of the biggies.At the end of the day though, it comes down to how each individual person chooses to identify, and how they choose to be addressed. When in doubt, ask. Or better yet... refer to us by our name. 🤗

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A great opportunity today to learn from some of the best minds in accessible communication!

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What the hate-filled critics seem to forget is that Kamala Harris is an elected official. Elected. Not handed jobs because of her intersectional identity. Not a "DEI hire" (c'mon, people). ELECTED. That means she earned her appointments, and if she is to be the next US President, it will also be by elected democratic process. Whether or not you agree with her politics, she has earned her right to be where she is in spite of all the extra barriers she has had to face as both a woman and a person of colour (and continues to battle, even today). This makes her a warrior in my eyes.The American people (of which I am not) will have the opportunity to vote come November. I, like many watching, hope that decisions will be made based on merit and proposed policies... not based on bigotry, sexism, or any other harmful stereotype. It's truly infuriating watching this all unfold... yet sadly, not at all surprising.For more, read Paul's brilliant post below.

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As I close in on yet another bonus-time birthday, Jeremy’s post is incredibly well-timed for me. 🥺

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I was terrified that no one would come. I’m terrified pretty much every time I present a breakout session, but I had nothing to worry about today! The delegates at the CSAE Trillium Summer Summit are a particularly dedicated bunch. My packed room of attendees were fully engaged as we worked through how to plan a neuro-inclusive event together. They had some great ideas that even I hadn’t considered! I absolutely loved learning from my audience and fellow #CSAESummerSummit attendees. That’s truly the best part of this experience. #Neuroinclusion #EventPlanning #ProfessionalSpeaker #AuDHDImage description: Kristin takes a smiling selfie in front of an empty conference room. She is blonde and wears a vintage-style fuscia dress. The room has windows overlooking a marina, and is filled with round skirted tables.

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