I'm sure, like me, you've been called up for jury duty at some point in your life. Perhaps you've worked your way out of it somehow. Maybe you've got young kids, or you're a student, or you had some big trip coming up, or maybe you just tossed the summons into your fancy VIP filling cabinet- you know, the one that looks a lot like a trash can. But try as you like. At some point, your time will come. My number was called on Wednesday.

I made my way down to the courthouse on Wednesday morning. Paid $20 for parking. Stood around for 20-30 minutes. Had my name called. Got a badge and then sat in a hallway for two hours only to be sent out for a “long lunch” only to return at 1:00 PM to be dismissed entirely.

Some were annoyed, some angry, but in general, 72 strangers sat in a hallway, behaved themselves, and were polite and kind. Most of us kept to ourselves. Some played on their phones, some worked, a future surgeon studied, a law student observed, a businessman ran a meeting in the corner, a mechanic ordered parts for his shop, a British man was proud to finally “be an American” and we all, at some point, traded stores of life and past juries on which we served. Together, the 72 of us participated, served, and fulfilled our civic duty.

I sat amongst my peers in an overcrowded hallway, serving an overcrowded judicial system with many flaws and imperfect results. Yet, we all took time out of our lives to serve a process higher than ourselves. We did this without resistance, without protest, and without pay. But we all served…

800,000

As it turns out, the odds of serving on a jury are pretty good. On average, you’ll be called once every two to six years. When you are called you’ve got about a fifty-fifty chance of the case settling or getting dismissed. If you are part of the half that is lucky enough to get selected, you then have about an eight percent chance of making it through jury selection and being assigned to the jury. That works out to be about a 4% chance in all. So, this year, you have about a 4% chance of serving on a jury.

Odd, there is another number that works out to be about the same. 4% of adults in Texas are going through another struggle right now. 800,000 adults in the state of Texas (4% of our adult population) are currently having serious thoughts of suicide. Not depression, not fleeting thoughts of self-harm, no. Significant, serious thoughts of suicide today. So those 72 people at jury duty on Wednesday- about three of them were seriously considering ending their own lives that day.

To be clear, these are not people in the “loony bin” or in a shelter. These are not people in prisons or in poverty. Although they all struggle as well. These are people in the line at Starbucks, standing next to you in the produce aisle, or reading this blog post right now. These are the everyday people in your life, the ones you see and talk to every day, your neighbors, your friends, your family. They are just a few doors down - and for some, just in the next room.

Not Enough

There are not enough of us. Currently, there is only one counselor to every 848 adults in the State of Texas, according to a recent resolution signed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. There are many counties in Texas that have fewer than four counselors in them. Texas has the largest mental health workforce in the country, yet we continuously rank last in access to mental health care, according to Mental Health for America.

While there are more students in school today working to become counselors, the rate of growth will not close the gap for at least ten years. This means those 800,000 will find it harder and harder to find affordable mental health care when they need it most.

Like my 72 fellow jurors, we all have this one thing in common. We all struggle. At some point, your number will be called, and you may join the 4%. You might have to serve on a jury… or you might end up taking your own life. A sad thought, to be sure. The next time you get a jury summons or you hear a friend talk about how they are annoyed to have to waste a day at jury duty, be grateful you have that day to waste. Because some simply will not.

Counseling for the Future

My purpose in this life is to help others find their way. I do this by listening to and telling stories. Two years ago, a few friends and I got together and thought it would be a good idea to help pay for school for those who otherwise couldn’t afford it. We started Counseling for the Future Foundation (a 501c3) in 2022 to offer full (privately funded) scholarships to future counselors in hopes of helping them find their way into mental health. Today, we have raised well over $30,000 and have paid for three students to graduate debt-free, with a fourth well on her way.

Each of these amazing women would have had to drop out of school due to financial burdens. There will be hundreds of people who will find the affordable help they need in the years to come because of these astounding individuals. A few hundred down… only a few hundred thousand to go. Care to help?

That’s all I got this week, guys… It’s been a long seven days for me, and I wrote most of this at an airport bar around 9 PM, waiting on the redeye back to Dallas. We push ourselves to do good things… there is so much good worth doing and so many in need of help. But we cannot push ourselves past our own capacity for doing. And yet, for me… all I can think about are the 800,000 who will struggle tonight with a single question: Is my life worth living?

I hope you have enjoyed these thoughts for your self-examination. See you next week.

-CT

Unrelated Stuff and Things

Below you will find groups, projects, organizations, programs, and cabins I am passionate about and involved in. I hope it doesn’t come off as shameless self-promotion. All the same, they are important to me so I thought I would share. Feel free to skip them if you like.

Feeling Generous?

Counseling for the Future Foundation and Grant Halliburton Foundation are two amazing non-profits doing some great work in the field of Mental Health. You can help make a difference by giving your time, empathy, and financial support. Learn more by clicking the logos below.

A few things related to mental health:

Check out our latest mental health post on the TCG blog, and learn more about the Empifany app, the Titus Check-In System, and our newly developed Independently Strong course.

The Independently Strong course is designed specifically for spouses or partners who have experienced trauma or abuse within relationships with individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Covering topics such as trauma bonds, identifying characteristics of healthy relationships, understanding the impacts of unhealthy dynamics, boosting self-esteem to align decisions with personal values, establishing boundaries, engaging in self-awareness exercises, and delving into various other crucial aspects, this comprehensive program offers essential guidance and support for healing and empowerment. Learn more about the course here.

Need a Break?

We love going to Broken Bow. It has been a special place for me for a long time and it has been a dream to share this beautiful place with my kids. If you are interested in treating yourself to some relaxing away time up in the pines of Broken Bow feel free to book one of our cabins. There is no greater retreat than the woods.

Okay! That’s all I got. Feel free to send me an email. Anything I can do for you?