RIP Gwen Huneck and all those for whom the joy is gone

[catherine]

Last Monday I received my Dog Mountain e-newsletter, and it read "Dog Mountain has suffered a great loss."

Dog Mountain is the site of the famed Vermont Dog Chapel and home of the Hunecks--artist Stephen and Gwen, his wife.

Stephen committed suicide three years ago when despondent over having to lay off employees--his art business was a casualty of the recession apparently.

His wife Gwen has been trying valiantly to carry on his work and mission. But she was found dead of self-inflicted carbon monoxide poisoning in her home on Monday. They were both 61 at the time of their deaths. I feel so very, very sad about this.

The irony is, Stephen Huneck's art is all about love and joy and whimsy, which makes this tragedy all the more poignant.

I just saw a CNN headline about a husband/wife pair--life coaches who hosted a radio show called The Pursuit of Happiness. They were found dead of an apparent joint suicide.

I feel so very sad for these people who I guess make it their life's work to spread this joy around perhaps in an effort to capture it themselves--and fail to do so.

As for the Hunecks, I have several of their works--I have my "No Dogmas Allowed" and "Dream without Limits" door mats; I have their "Life is a Ball" and "Love is Give and Take" and "Home Sweet Home" giclees. I'll try to carry their messages with me in my life, and think of them as I do.

May they all rest in peace.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4994790245467939&pid=15.1

[puglogic]

Catherine, this makes me very sad as well. Thanks for sharing it with us. It makes me wonder (gently) why someone who knew so much about seeking out and cultivating happiness would take their own life. Perhaps they could not see any possible way to return to joy? Or did not look hard enough or far enough to see their way out of a temporary depression? Many of us have suffered terrible pain and depression and doubt, but have not chosen that route...it makes me ponder what would have to happen in my own life to see the world so darkly. May their spirits fly free of pain and doubt.

[JaneV2.0]

The artwork is charming; I've seen it in passing, but didn't give it much thought.

There seems to be an uptick in suicides and murder/suicides lately, if I'm interpreting news stories correctly.

[puglogic]

There seems to be an uptick in suicides and murder/suicides lately, if I'm interpreting news stories correctly.

Or perhaps just being reported more often right now. Juicy stuff, murder/suicide.

Finding myself on Razz's lovely joy thread this morning, maybe as antidote: http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8329-Daily-conscious-acts-of-joy

[Lainey]

The artwork is charming; I've seen it in passing, but didn't give it much thought.

There seems to be an uptick in suicides and murder/suicides lately, if I'm interpreting news stories correctly.

Suicides are up, especially for people in their 50s. I think they are caught in the sad reality of being discriminated against in the job market and not seeing any way out especially since Soc. Security checks are years away. Also wonder if they do so to let the life insurance proceeds go to their family.

[JaneV2.0]

"Research on seasonal effects on suicide rates suggests that the prevalence of suicide is greatest during the late spring and early summer months, despite the common belief that suicide rates peak during the cold and dark months of the winter season." (Wikipedia)

It makes some sense--just as the holiday season can set some off, Spring, with its promise of rebirth may just be too painful for others.

[catherine]

Interesting, Jane and Lainey.

Suicide is sad for whatever reason, but when it's because of money, I just find it so, so sad. In the Huneck example, it was supposedly related to the downturn in their financial situation, at least in Stephen's case. And of course you always hear about people who lose their jobs and commit suicide because they perceive to not be able to take care of their family or themselves.

Money seems like such a worthless illusion to die for, and it reinforces for me the importance of working spiritually towards non-attachment. For example, so what if your McMansion is being foreclosed and you have to move to an apartment? You might be better off. As I've reported here, having my "dream house" taken away from me was the best thing that could have happened (of course I didn't know that then). But if you are THAT attached to the McMansion and all the ties to your identify and ego that come along with that, it makes it very hard to deal with that kind of change. And if you've been diagnosed with depression, it can make it unbearable.

I pray that people in these situations can see that the speed bumps of life are just that, and there is a road beyond.

[melanie]

Very sad.

I tend to agree with Jane and Lainey.

The art in the OP is adorable and very sweet.

[early morning]

I am sooo sad about this. We were lucky to be able to visit Dog Mountain once - sans our dogs - and it is a lovely place, all for canine enjoyment, and their humans of course. I loved the chapel, the artwork, the concept, the place and the people, and I believe the world is a little less bright now the Hunecks have left.