Hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday morning moments with John O'Leary.

I record these so you and I can begin our days and our weeks in awe and on fire with a burst of inspiration.

We frequently begin these conversations around here with a quote.

So let's do exactly that today.

Here we go.

This life, this night, your story, your hope, it matters.

All of it matters.

That's from Jamie Trogoski.

Jason McBride did not set out to become an example of hope.

Jason did not set out to become a voice for mental wellness in his school.

He did not long to be seen as an ally for those experiencing

personal challenges or wrestling with self-worth. But in quietly struggling with these realities

in his own life, he decided he wanted to be there for others who might be struggling in

their lives. Always hardworking, always active in school, always popular with others,

and always gifted in athletics. Jason was not someone most would consider at risk of doubting

the value of his life. But for the past couple years, this high school sophomore

quietly struggled with whispers of sadness, despair, and hopelessness.

Life can get hard for all of us, and as the challenge is mounted in his life,

as a grandparent passed away, as friends waned, and as his inner world began to crumble,

Jason wondered if continuing forward was even worth it.

Rather than keeping this struggle to himself, though, Jason wondered if continuing forward was even worth it. Rather than keeping the struggle to himself,

though, Jason wondered if others struggled with despair and questioned if they should keep going too.

...