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Writer's pictureBrandy Menefee

COPING / a mental health storytelling series

SCOTT'S STORY PT 6


man surfing

“When I came home after the first Gulf War, I did have suicidal thoughts.

 

A buddy of mine from high school called me and said, ‘I heard you're out. Come down to California. I've got this huge house my parents are selling. Just pick a room.’ And I thought, ‘Why not?’

 

He taught me how to surf. All I did for six months was surf, smoke weed, and watch ‘Star Trek: Next Generation’. And it saved my life.

 

It allowed me to find my own space. And then the Star Trek: Next Generation morality was, ‘Let's put our shields up, but hear what they have to say.’ Instead of ‘Let's shoot them in the face first, and THEN we'll hear what they have to say.’


Picard was always like, ‘Hey, let's talk to these people before we start fucking phasering things.’ And that really spoke to me.

 

Years later a peyote trip really helped set my shit straight. A buddy of mine runs a veteran ayahuasca experience program, and these guys are coming back 100%. A different frame of attitude. Now, it can be very traumatic for some. 2% of my ayahuasca experience was absolute hell. But 98% was amazing.

 

I had full on conversations with John F Kennedy. I had a long conversation with Jack Kerouac. I had conversations with the Iraqi soldiers that were fused to those trucks. They came to life, they spoke to me, they forgave me.

 

It was a very powerful experience. It helped tremendously.”


the cast of Star Trek Next Generation


COPING : A MENTAL HEALTH STORYTELLING SERIES

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