When Someone You Love Becomes Someone Else’s Why

I woke up to a message this morning. One that brought tears to my eyes.

Not because it was sad.

But because it was beautiful.

I’ve often said this: when you’ve lost a child, hearing their name spoken out loud is like catching a breath of air you didn’t know you needed.

This morning, I got to breathe deeply.

Ten times over.

I was on Instagram last night and saw that one of Maddie’s friends had graduated with a Master’s in Psychology. I smiled. Left a quick message “Congratulations 💜”. The 💜 is what I associate with Maddie.

She was one of Maddie’s friends. Someone who knew her, laughed with her, and they swam together. Someone who misses her.

She wrote me to say that Maddie had inspired her journey.

She wanted to understand what happened.

She wanted to help others.

She wanted to make sure fewer parents and kids go through what we did.

She’s now doing suicide prevention research.

She’s working with schools.

She’s building emotional literacy programs for youth.

She’s walking the walk.

And she told me:

“I think about Maddie every day, but especially during big life moments like this one.

She has been such a constant source of motivation and purpose for me.”

That’s mentorship.

That’s legacy.

That’s impact.

Even if Maddie isn’t here to see it, she’s still guiding people.

And that’s exactly why we built The MentorWell.

Because sometimes kids don’t need a therapist. Or a lecture. Or a textbook solution.

They need someone who shows up.

Someone who listens without fixing.

Someone who says, “You matter, and I see you.”

That’s what Maddie did.

That’s what her friend is doing.

That’s what we invite others to do now, with intention.

If you’ve ever wished someone had shown up for you when you were younger, maybe now’s your chance to be that person for someone else.

👉 Would you like to be a mentor to someone? Would you like to make a difference in some young person’s life? You don’t need a Master’s in Psychology degree. You need a willingness to listen and share your journey. That’s mentorship

Because one life can change another.

Thank you, MM, for making my morning. And reminding me that Maddie still matters. She’s still making a difference.

I’m proud of the direction you’ve chosen, and the role Maddie played in helping you make that decision.

Maddie would be proud, too. 💜

If you’d like to make a difference in a young person’s life, sign up and see if you’d be a great mentor. Click here.

If you think your teen or young adult can benefit from having a mentor. Click HERE.