Kacey Ruegsegger Johnson's Blog

“I got you”

Suicide Prevention Month

We all fall sometimes. For many reasons, or sometimes for no understood reason at all. I lived a season like this. It snuck upon me suddenly when I lost two friends to suicide one month apart; my life was spiraling out of control. I had no clue what was happening, or what I was doing in the midst of it all. But, I was never alone. Loving people tirelessly worked to stay attentive and pull me out of that pit…even when it was really hard on them.

Be available. Be aware. Be engaged enough to know when someone is hurting. Be willing to listen without fixing. Be gentle. Be kind. Be understanding. Be longwithstanding. Just BE with those who need to not be, or feel, alone.

“I got you” is a phrase I have heard my daughter say. It can be about anything…not giving away our tiny secrets, not wanting to be embarrassed in a situation, having a rough mom day, helping with a chore…whatever. I know that when she says, “I got you” to me or a friend of hers…she is saying “I see you”, “I’m with you”, “I’m for you”, “I can help you”.

For anyone hurting right now…”I got you”. This season is not your forever.

#suicideawarenessmonth #suicideprevention #igotyou #bethere #holdeachotherup #beafriend #betterdaysahead

You. Can. Sit. Here.

The last four words ever spoken to the boy who was killed in the Columbine library seconds before the gun was turned on me.

These words were nearly the last four words I would ever speak. I didn’t know what I was doing; just trying to be nice, I guess.

We should use these four words more often. I didn’t notice anything about this boy when I spoke to him…his religion, political preferences, grades, hobbies, family; only that he seemed to need a place to land in the room that day. I don’t share this with any idea that I did something grand. It was very unlike me to speak up at all. I’m glad I did.

23 years later, I’m thankful for the opportunity to give him kindness before hatred stole his life.

Can you give these words to someone you wouldn’t normally notice today? I like to believe you will both be blessed by the offering…whether the person accepts the seat or not…a seed of kindness will have been planted, and you never know if those could be the only kind words entering that person’s ears that day.

Please share to help start a trend of kindness

What if?

We are capable of so much more than we think possible.

The number one reason we ‘can’t’ do some of the things we want to do is because we are so afraid of failing that we refuse to TRY.

So, it is more of a WON’T than a CAN’T.

This idea goes right in hand with the saying ‘never say never’.

In working with teenagers recently, I have found that many are so afraid of failing. But, I’m looking at them, thinking to myself, “The only failure is not trying; deciding you can’t before you make an attempt.” When we stop expecting perfection is when we can give ourselves the freedom to step into situations that make us uncomfortable.

We limit our own potential, and our experiences of life, when we refuse to: try new things, talk to new people, learn a new skill, take up a new sport, push beyond what someone else told us we could/could not do, accept a new job, make a new friend, etc.

The only thing holding you back is you! Step out today #onpurpose #likeyoumeanit Try something new. Talk to someone new. Start small and build on tiny successes.

#onlyfailureisnottrying #tryagain #neversaynever #yesyoucan #whynot #goforit #bebrave #becourageous #believeinyourself

‘Tis the season of joy, yet some of us are struggling with terribly difficult circumstances that threaten to leave us doubtful anything can turn out well. We question the statement people kindly offer, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Some are lost in despair, fear, doubt, sadness, frustration and loneliness when well-intentioned people try to encourage…

I suppose I didn’t realize the title of my book, Over My Shoulder, would continue to hold so many new meanings. The view behind me is ever-changing. I have been warned by fellow moms about this new view, but I am struggling to see it clearly as I experience unexpected emotions, and know I have no choice but to accept…

I never wanted to need to meet these doctors. But, their investments in my life story have helped to build trusting relationships that prove I’m not just another broken body to fix. Their collaboration and dedication to whole-person-care are evidence of their desires for success to go beyond what appears to be fixed on an x-ray. Their dreams are bigger…

I sometimes feel dizzy, spinning around, filling buckets every moment of every day. Going into week eight of staying home because of this pandemic, refilling feels more exhausting. But, as I sit here on the sofa, awaiting our four little humans to wake for the day, I remind myself, “There is no work I could be doing that is more…

As a four-year-old in preschool, our third daughter, Bentley, already believed she could “pass” over the parts of life she hoped to avoid. One day, the PE teacher led the students outside to play soccer when he noticed Bentley sitting against the wall of the school, contentedly watching. He approached her and said, “Bentley, it is time for soccer.” She…

White is one of my favorite colors. I find it funny that I can love white so much, yet not have a fondness for snow. Blizzards were not unusual during my thirty-five years of living in Colorado. Now, living in North Carolina, a blizzard is very unlikely, which is part of why we moved here! A person might as well…

Bentley was in preschool, as a four-year-old, when the PE teacher led her class out to the turf to play soccer. As the kids took the field, the teacher noticed Bentley sitting against the wall of the school, contently watching. He walked to her and said, “Bentley, it is time for soccer.” Her reply…”Oh, no thank you.” (I still laugh…

“Quit complaining!” I am curious to know how many times I’ve said those words throughout my eleven years of parenting. Or, how many times my parents said the same words to me. I believe that as adults, we might say children complain the most, and that the things we complain about are so real and difficult they are valid enough…