National Programs During the Pandemic

CONNECTIONS:
One of the most common problems of the two-year pandemic has been isolation. Out of fear, people have become shut-ins with minimal human contact. Based on a program invented for mother and fathers on Mothers & Fathers Days, I adapted for Connections.

Step-by-Step:

1. Make a list out of your past of people you have not spoken to in many years. (5,10,30, etc.)
2. Find a phone number from records and/or family.
3. Once a week, call and share lives, stories, and people in common.
4. Make it a point to be consistent with day and time on a weekly basis.
5. People will feel cared about and less detached.
6. Axiom: We don’t want to know what you know until we know that you care.

BEING OTHER-CENTERED:
After many years of being in the shadows, mental health has truly risen in consciousness as a viable disease. So much has been on the diagnostic emphasis but attitude is an important piece. It is not singular but part of a larger whole. When people are other-centered, it helps the person feel more positive, more productive and more valued. This can support a person in their desire to work for solutions for navigating a healthier state of mind.

This should never be considered a cure but a step in the right direction. By helping others, you are helping yourself.

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Letters To Jimmy now on Audible

Jim is interviewed about his book “Letters to Jimmy” which is now on Audible. Jim receives and answers hundreds of telephone calls and letters each year from teenagers, all telling him how he touched their lives. This book highlights a selection of those letters.

Watch the interview on YouTube

“Letters To Jimmy” audio book on Amazon Audible

Celebrating 80 years

As I approach my 80th birthday, I reflect on so many mistakes from my early years and so much that I learned in my later years.  I want to share lessons learned so that many people who I deeply care about can learn.  It is my way of saying thank you for all your love.

The Five Candles of Hope
The five candles of hope are a culmination of my life journey and work. I wish to leave an ongoing legacy that makes a positive impact on generations of individuals. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

1st Candle of Hope
Being Kind vs. Being Right

2nd Candle of Hope
Intimacy vs Loneliness

3rd Candle of Hope
Power vs Prestige

4th Candle of Hope
Life Has No Guarantees

5th Candle of Hope
Finding Magic in the Moment

To view the entire video, click here: The 5 Candles of Hope

Now it’s your turn to pass on a candle of hope to others!

Peer-to-Peer

The most effective presenters for young people are their peers. Some of my topics are alcoholism, drug abuse, bullying, gangs, teen pregnancy, drop-out issues, school violence and low self-esteem.

Hearing peers tell their stories brings home a more positive effect because the young people can identify with them. I have used peers in schools and trained some of them to become keynote presenters. I just ask the presenters to tell their personal stories. Because they are compelling, young people realize that it could really happen to them. The myth of “It’s never going to happen to me” is dispelled in these presentations.

Support and Love for Jimmy’s Kids

My name is Ross Meskin, I am on the advisory board for Jimmy’s Kids. Jim Tuman and I have had many discussions about Jimmy’s Kids thru the years, and especially recently, regarding the silica dust issue that destroyed over 6,000 pounds ($30,000) of toys and gifts destined for under-served children in Detroit. Many people would have thrown in the towel, resigned that Jimmy’s Kids would not be able to pass out holiday cheer in 2019. But Jim is just not built that way, and I love him for that.

I have trouble putting into words how much Jimmy’s Kids means to my family and the Detroit Community at large. My family has been volunteering with Jimmy’s Kids for the past 5 years. Passing out presents on Christmas morning has become our most treasured holiday tradition. My favorite part of this wonderful event is the moment we pull up to the church parking lot early Christmas morning to see a HUGE mob of people from every walk of life, every ethnic group, religious group, rich, poor, black, white all crowded into a church parking lot in the middle of downtown Detroit on a cold wet morning, for no other reason than to hand out a bag of gifts to total strangers. This scene always warms my soul.

It reminds me that there are so many good people in our community with love in their hearts. Every one of those people could be sleeping in on their holiday, or spending time opening presents, warm in their homes. Instead they make a choice to get up early and brave the cold and the snow to make Christmas morning special for children they have never met. This wonderful outpouring of kindness is in such contrast to the negativity we see daily in the media, the bullying on social media, and the divisiveness in our nation’s political, religious and social issues.

I love that my children see this every year and participate happily in this fantastic holiday tradition. I have no doubt that I am a better father and business man because of my participation in Jimmy’s Kids. I am comforted when my kids tell me that their favorite part of Christmas is our mornings spent with Jimmy’s Kids. Their participation ensures they will be more caring, empathetic citizens. Imagine what our world would be like, if every community had leaders like Jim, followed by crowds of people clamoring to help others on cold winter mornings. I am so proud of the work that Jimmy’s Kids does on Christmas morning, but I am even more proud of the effect it has on the other 364 days of the year. When I heard that Jimmy’s Kids needed our help, I was eager to lend a hand and hope others do the same.

I can’t wait for Christmas morning!

Happy Holidays,
Ross Meskin

Click here to donate now: http://jimmyskids.com

World Leaders Letter

I wrote a letter to world leaders to address the universal issue of teen suicide. I am very moved at the great response I have received from this letter. Please read and let me know what you think.

From:  Jim Tuman

Re:  The welfare of children and a solution to their problems.

My name is Jim Tuman.  I have spoken to more than two million children worldwide.  I am not a politician, or a business.  I am just a highly concerned individual who has seen pain in children, and children in pain are hard to teach.  I would like an opportunity to share my working solutions via Skype, phone or email.

Millions of children will consider suicide as a way out of their problems.  Statistics keep climbing at an escalating rate.

This is not a problem limited to children in the United States. Every country in the world is experiencing more and more serious problems of self-worth among their young adults; problems that reflect in drugs, alcohol, suicide, crime and violence.  Our children do not want to be part of our world.

Whatever you do as a leader of your country can be negated by the next generation if these children are not taught to believe enough in themselves to keep their countries alive and productive.  The only solution to this escalating problem is the education of our children within their schools to deal with their feelings, share their concerns, value themselves and get help for their problems.  (Please refer to “Circle of Influence” on my website jimtuman.com)

During this school year I will speak to school children in the United States, teaching them to recognize their value so they can lead productive adult lives.  In the course of my talks, students stand and speak of their pain and problems.  They also learn to express their positive feelings about themselves.  Out of the revealing of their true feelings, incredibly shocking statistics have shown up.  There are times when as many as ¾ of the children admit to having considered suicide, alcohol and drugs as possible solutions to their feelings of loneliness and despair.  I am concerned and ready to commit my time and energy to turn these frightening statistics around.

I am willing to travel across the world or video conference for 30 minutes of your time to show you what you can do in your country so we can enter this year and beyond with healthy children inside and outside.  Please give me an opportunity.

I know that you personally know some child who is in desperate trouble.  You can turn away from this letter, and many have, but you cannot turn away from the problem.  We constantly see young people commit acts that seem impossible to comprehend.  This is my life’s work and I know that I can help you.  What would you do if this was your child?

Please let me know when I may speak with you, or someone in your administration.

Thank you for caring about your children.

Jim Tuman
jim@jimtuman.com

 

 

 

 

At Risk Kids – Haircuts for Hope Fundraiser

Come have a haircut and conversation with Miranda Sullivan, Robert Demster & Jim Tuman. We will be supporting at-risk kids of suicide, bulling and depression!

Jim Tuman will be there to answer all questions. Robert and Miranda will perform his song “Blue Skies Yellow Sun.”

Sunday, June 2, 2019
1:00-4:00pm
Chelians Salon
77 W Long Lake, Bloomfield Hills

Donations benefit the Jimmy’s Kids Foundation.

Contact: Joann McGlone, 248-755-1068

If I Knew

This is one of my favorite poems that I want to share with you.

If I knew it would be the last time I’d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly, and pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I’d give you a hug and a kiss, then call you back for more.

If I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted in praise, I’d video each action and word to play back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time I could spare an extra minute to stop and say “I love you,” instead of assuming you knew I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I’m sure you’ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight and we always get a second chance to make everything just right.

There will always be another day to say “I love you,” and certainly there’s another chance to say “anything I can do.”

But just in case I may be wrong and today is all I get, I’d like to say how much I love you and hope you won’t forget.

Tomorrow’s never promised to young and old alike, and today may be our final chance to hold our loved ones tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, let’s not regret today.

Do hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear. Say how much you love them and that you’ll always hold them dear.

Who will die next?

A 7 year old child has just taken his life. Why would someone so young do this? The reason is that he could not foresee any hope given the desperate situation he was in. This is not an isolated case. Millions of children consider suicide as a way of opting out of their problems. It is out of desperation that they want their pain to immediately go away. Two million children will attempt to take their lives this year, one million will succeed. This number is steadily climbing. If you have children, one of them could be your child.

As a Global Youth Speaker and children’s advocate, I am very concerned. It is my mission to create actionable solutions to decrease this startling number. I am focusing my work to “Save Lives and Curb Teen Suicide.”

I have spoken with over two million children worldwide and personally see the pain that they suffer from. During the course of my school discussions each year, students openly stand and speak of their anguish and problems. It is only out of desperation that they turn directly to drugs. alcohol, suicide, crime, and violence as a way out. Were you aware that ¾ of the children admit to considering suicide? To counteract their hopelessness, I provide a safe forum where they can openly express and discuss their deepest and most troubling issues. My goal is to encourage them to envision hope, teach them to love themselves for who they are and reinforce that someone genuinely cares about them. Please reference my life changing work on my YouTube Channel or visit it my website at jimtuman.com.

If not resolved, a future generation in turmoil will directly result in a negative fiscal and economic impact. We must not turn away from the problem. We continually see young people commit senseless acts to the point that we are becoming desensitized to the fact that it is a young person taking their life. Suicide has a ripple effect that not only impacts persons with direct relationships to the victims, but also individuals outside of their social circle. In most cases, unforgettable regret is the harsh reality that remains with the survivors.

My impactful solutions and programs over the last 20 years have provided successful outcomes for more than one million children. Please contact me if I can be of service to you or your organization: jim@jimtuman.com

Thank you for caring about the future of our children.

Jim Tuman

Save Lives – Curb Teen Suicide

Jimmy’s Kids, a charity started in 1988 that serves 25,000 indigent kids by national youth speaker, Jim Tuman, is expanding its mission.

Teen suicide, teen violence and bullying are at an epidemic crisis
resulting in tens of thousands of lost lives of children.

Several of Jim’s programs dealing with these topics; Voice of Reason, Circle of Influence and goal programs already have a great track record of 15+ years of success in schools. His new endeavors, such as the national movie “A Girl Like Her” in which he had a role and a PBS documentary on Jim Tuman’s work and his fight for solutions, provide great insight and call to action to alleviate these problems.

The goal of $15,000 is to expand these programs to encompass 100 schools. Many programs will be initiated and led by the outstanding high school sophomores who have attended HOBY Leadership Conferences (Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership).

Because of the day-to-day crisis of these issues, we are looking for immediate donations to hit the ground running in the 2016-17 school year.

We are excited about the challenge and desperately need your help.

Please help and donate today!