La vie en slow

We are a compassionate collective focused on reducing the silence & stigma around suicide & mental health through storytelling & slow living.

La Vie En Slow is a bilingual slow living journal in tribute to our dear friend, who struggled with depression & anxiety before taking his own life. Mental health disorders are the number one cause of disability worldwide, surpassing all other illnesses. In our ever-increasing high speed world, slowing down the pace of life is crucial for mental balance. Our goal is to make slow living synonymous with mental wellness. Mental health is health!

The Power of Shared Stories

More than 50,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2023. That’s one death every eleven minutes! Males represent 80% of this number. On Halloween of that year, our friend, Antoine, was counted among them. Like many who take their own lives, Antoine did not want to die. He just wanted the pain to end. In that ending a crippling grief descended on us. We are bereaved by his suicide and painfully realize that the stigma around mental illness prevented us from speaking openly with Antoine about his struggles, further silencing the problem. By sharing our story and our learning, we hope to normalize conversations about mental health, reduce the silence and the stigma, and prevent more deaths by suicide. 

Hi, I'm Thuy

I’m smiling in this photo but my heart is broken. My dearest friend, Antoine, has taken his life. In the early days, getting out of bed was all I could manage. I paused from work, sought help from grief counselors and bereavement groups, from wine and from weed, simultaneously numbing myself and searching for answers. Today, almost two years later, I’ve accepted grief as part of my life, but why’s still haunt me. Grief’s unpredictability has become familiar; no matter how or when it shows up, I make room for it. I know that to heal I must let myself feel, even as I’m seized by a deeper sorrow. The second year of mourning comes with the painful realization that no further memories will be made. So, we pour our love for him into this project. La Vie En Slow began as a collaboration with Antoine. I hope our story will encourage you to prioritize your mental wellness and of those you love. If you’re facing mental health challenges please reach out for help, and help us break the stigma

Salut, je suis William

Il y a un avant, celui sur les photos qui immortalisent les moments passés avec toi, les sourires, l’insouciance, l’éternité. Et puis il y a l’après, après ce jour de Novembre qui marque un tournant dans notre vie. Nous ne sommes pas préparé à faire face au deuil et encore moins au suicide, nous apprenons à vivre avec. Un nouveau chemin se présente alors à nous jalonné de peine et de douleur. Mon cher ami Antoine s’est suicidé et depuis ce jour, je fais face à ma propre tristesse et à celle de ma femme Thuy, qui à elle perdu comme une partie d’elle même. Vivre avec ce chagrin qui va et vient sans prévenir est très compliqué. Comment continuer à apprécier la vie en ton absence? Comment continuer à apprécier le vide que tu nous a laissé? Ces questions tournent en boucle dans nos têtes. Peut être en continuant ce projet initié ensemble, lors de nos échanges et nos voyages. Cette vie en slow qui prône le ralentissement, la contemplation, le contentement prend tout son sens avec ce deuil qui nous encourage à trouver la force et le courage d’avancer sans toi. A prendre le temps de vivre mais aussi celui de guérir de cette disparition soudaine et brutale avec amour et gratitude. Le deuil prend du temps, il faut le bercer, en faire un allié, un ami car il nous accompagne désormais dans notre quotidien. Nous remercions ce temps précieux que nous pouvons nous octroyer pour honorer ta mémoire et partager avec ceux qui comme nous traversent ou seront amenés à traverser ce chemin. Mais aussi à parler du suicide et de santé mentale qui sont encore des sujets tabou dans nos sociétés et qui empêchent la guérison des endeuillés.  

antoine BLONDIN-tessier

BRINGER OF LIGHT

AUG. 7, 1973 – OCT. 31, 2023

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

In his own words, Antoine wanted to be an angel of strength, a bringer of light to all he loved. How fitting, because as an electrician, he literally brought light into our lives – dimmers and all! Proper lighting is essential, he would contend. Our master electrician was also a rock we could lean on, one who shows up and comes through – with home cooking or loads of junk food – whatever the situation requires, giving true meaning to friendship. Being of service to others was his love language. Making us laugh, too! Antoine was infamous for his corny jokes, though the punchline was often lost in translation (being French speaking and all). His best joke was that I lacked the sophistication to grasp his high level humor!

I miss his generous heart, his youthful spirit, his joie de vivre. Ironically, one so full of life can also be full of darkness. Antoine struggled with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideations. On the night of October 31, 2023, having recently celebrated his 50th birthday with us, Antoine extinguished his earthly flame. He is survived by his father, his brother, and all he touched with his shining light. He is forever my angel of strength, my bringer of light, my soul’s companion. 

 ~Thuy

La vie en slow

lavieenslow@gmail.com