From Anguish to Activism: A Mother’s Journey to Get Your Wellness On

“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” Sonia Johnson

From Anguish to Activism: A Mother’s Journey to Get Your Wellness On

Andrew Williamson-Noble: The Samurai R.I.P…

Esmeralda Williamson-Noble: Ending the Stigma of Suicide through Love and Action…
Less than a year ago, on November 3, I was jolted out of a deep sleep by a disturbing phone call; it was a call from my friend and neighbor  Esmeralda, repeating words no parent ever wishes to hear – “My son is dead … Andrew, my son is dead.” I was in such a state of shock,  I bolted out of bed and ran across the hallway of my home; my mind was racing, imagining I was dreaming, even as I heard myself ask, again and again: “What happened? What happened?” Andrew died by suicide from a fall at NYU’s Bobst Library.

We were all devastated. You see, Andrew Edward Kirkley Williamson-Noble was a son to me; he was the son I never had, and I loved him… his gentle spirit, his wit, and his sense of humor. We shared many meals and moments of laughter, and when he followed his sister, Florentina, to NYU, I was confident he would shine. He was smart; a savvy businessman in training, a gifted fencer, and a talented baker. Andrew was a thoughtful son, brother, and friend to many who loved him, and an all-around humanitarian. He cared deeply about the underserved, and I had imagined great things for him.

I got dressed quickly and headed over to her home. We cried together, and the whole family was in shock. It was unexpected. When we collected ourselves,  we piled into two cars and drove to Manhattan to identify Andrew’s body. That sad and dreadful morning, I joined his Mom, Dad, siblings, and a few friends at the hospital to say our initial farewells. I watched Esmeralda, galvanized by this sad event, rally to make sense of it all and draw on her inner resources to ensure other young people find help in difficult times. More below!

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” Marian Wright Edelman

Esmeralda at AFSP Training: Advocacy for Suicide Prevention Meeting

Esmeralda Williamson-Noble: SIDS & Suicide Activist at work…

It seems like only yesterday, when today’s interviewee, my feisty friend with a gentle heart and great sense of humor, Esmeralda Williamson-Noble, lost her son. Esmeralda is a mother, writer, blogger, realtor, SIDS and Suicide activist, founder of both the Windflower Ball (SIDS) and Get Your Wellness On (Suicide) programs. After Andrew passed away, she decided to commit her life and resources to educate others about suicide prevention. She embarked on a mission to bring attention to the stigma around suicide, and to advocate more yoga and meditation for our children.

Esmeralda has worked tirelessly to continue the dialogue in both the media and through her dedicated blog – Forever Invictus. Her efforts have borne enormous fruit, and we will all benefit from a Get Your Wellness On suicide awareness/prevention and wellness fair this weekend. It is organized in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -AFSP and is scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2010, 1-5 p.m. at Washington Square Park, Alexander Holley Plaza in NYC. If you’re around that day,  do stop by.

On the subject of Suicide, we can help reduce the numbers by paying attention to a downward shift in behavior and self-isolation, among other signs. It is also  important to note that:
Every year in the United States, thirty-three thousand Americans die of suicide. Of those thirty-three thousand, eleven hundred are college-age students, making suicide the third leading cause of death among young adults 15-24. It is time to break the shroud of silence around suicide.
Please join us to:
Break the Silence, Let Suicide Out of the Closet
“Get Your Wellness On” First Annual Fair
Event Date: September 18, 2010, 1-5 p.m.
Washington Square Park, Alexander Holley Plaza, NYC
*If you, or someone you know, is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)* Get Help via NSPL

INTERVIEW WITH ESMERALDA
Recently, I invited Esmeralda to share some of her hectic life and wisdom with us. In addition to her many credentials above, Esmeralda is a member of the national advisory council of First Candle/SIDS Alliance and a student of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, fondly known as Amma – the hugging saint.

Esmeralda is truly an inspiration because she has taken an indescribably painful event and transformed it into a movement for change and good. Lives will be saved, and we can all add our voices and effort to the cause. She agreed to share some thoughts with us, and her responses are below. As with all my interviews, you can connect with Esmeralda through her social media sites: her blog, HuffPost page, Get Your Wellness On Facebook page, and Twitter handle. Your comments will also be appreciated. Thank you!

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

The Williamson-Noble Family: Andrew, Robert, Hugh, Esme, Florentina

Foundation Questions:
Tell us a bit about your background: Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I was born and grew up in Sicily, Italy. I lived in England for many years and worked in the hospitality industry, where I met and married my husband, Hugh. My four children (Florentina, Andrew, Robert & Alexander) were born in England, and we have lived in the New York area since 1994.

What are you currently doing for a life-path/living?
I am a SIDS & Suicide activist. I advocate Yoga and meditation. I see a day when Yoga and meditation will be a normal part of the school day, from preschool onward.

Tell us a bit more about what led you to this life path?
If I have to pinpoint events, of course, the deaths of two of my four children, Alexander to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Andrew to suicide, have led me to my life path.

Have you made any key changes to your personal goals?
Yes, I have. I am now concentrating my efforts in the area of suicide awareness & prevention within the overall context of Wellness. I see suicide as but one manifestation of dis-ease.

Share your Worldview: How do you live your life and view the world?
I live my life quietly. I write every day. I listen to my higher Self and take every opportunity there is to be of service in the areas mentioned above. I see the world as a beautiful creation/place where we have the opportunity to discover ourselves.

What would you like others to learn about the upcoming fair?
I want people to learn that suicide is far more widespread than we think. I would like them to learn facts rather than myths about suicide, such as the widespread belief that when someone is determined to die by suicide, they’ll find a way. Incorrect! I want people to remember that while there is life, there is hope. And I want to offer solidarity; I want people to know we are never truly alone, and that if we find the courage and strength to call out, help will come.

“People’s dreams are made out of what they do all day. The same way a dog that runs after rabbits will dream of rabbits. It’s what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.” Barbara Kingsolver

Andrew Williamson-Noble: As a child … aka Tigger

Reflective Questions:

What do you consider most important about yourself? Your journey?
Me. I am the most important person in my life and in my own journey.
My journey is mine; only parts of it can be shared.

What motivates you to get out of bed?
My family, my activism, and my love of writing.

What makes you happy/laugh?
The feeling of oneness with myself makes me happy. Sounds, smells, words, friends… And the weirdest things can make me laugh, such as being in the car with a certain friend of mine ( 🙂 me) who calls every other driver on the road “Papi, silly things like that can actually crack me up.

What makes you sad/mad?
Confusing death with the end of life makes me sad. And the same friend who makes me laugh can make me mad; also my mother and my husband… sometimes.

What would you do differently with your life if you had the power? With the world, if you had the chance?
I would marry a rich man … no, seriously. I wish I had learned sooner about the power of the Self, but here I am, at peace with what I am doing. I don’t know that I would change anything with the world. I mean I would love to see love for each other and for Mother Nature, and what I can do is work on loving myself, others and Mother Nature, in theory and in practice.

What guiding principle(s) make your life meaningful?
I don’t know… passion, enthusiasm, sharing, and I make every effort to make sure whatever I do comes from love and truth; whether I succeed is a different question, but I do try.

What word(s) of advice would you give to others today?
I don’t feel I am in a position to advise anybody, but what I am learning is to open my heart and love myself; I would offer the same to others.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a pain in the ass that shook things up … not entirely a pain.

Happiness is … ?
A very personal thing that changes as we do. For me right now, I think reaching people through the Fair would bring me a measure of happiness… in the sense that I would feel Andrew’s life and death are a beacon of light, love, and hope for others. Winning the lottery would bring a smile to my face, as would a book; a many-figure book deal. How about that?
Seriously, one thing that would make me happy right now is being able to communicate freely with Andrew and Alexander.

Again, you can connect with Esmeralda via her Forever Invictus blog, her HuffPost page, the Get Your Wellness On Facebook page, and her Twitter handle. Please join us on Saturday to honor and share aspects of Andrew’s life… as we collectively raise awareness of this critical subject. Your comments will also be appreciated.

What questions or comments do you have for Esmeralda? Are you an expert in a field that our readers can benefit from hearing about? Do you have a story to share? Please share your feedback with us. Thank You!

For More: Women’s Lives & Issues 

PHOTO CREDITS:
Photos of: Andrew, Esmeralda, and the Williamson-Noble family  courtesy of Hugh & Esmeralda Williamson-Noble

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

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