Looking Back and Looking Forward

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It’s been six months since we lost Gordon.

It feels like forever and also yesterday.

I could sit here and say we’re doing fine, but I would be lying to you. And in the spirit of honoring Gordon, what we’re not going to do is lie.

The truth is the last six months have been excruciating and unbearable. We have collectively cried enough to solve a drought, probably. We’ve had restless nights and days filled with brain fog and exhaustion. Colors have lost their brilliance, food doesn’t taste the way it did before, and everything feels duller.

We’ve filled ourselves with various distractions—the lacrosse season, school, work, hobbies, and the like. We’re taking care of our own mental health as much as we can through therapy, medication, and being there for each other. Every day is different and brings its own challenges. What they say about “riding the waves” is accurate, and oftentimes those waves hit you square in the face when you least expect them. Early on someone told me that our grief doesn’t get smaller, but rather we begin to grow around it.

If you know the Corsetti family, you know that sitting still isn’t our strong suit. Even Gordon, ever the stoic, always had something in the works. As consistent doers, it’s been a challenge to sit in our grief because grief isn’t a thing you can fix—you have to experience it. The only way out is through.

As I was writing this, I was thinking about all the things we have accomplished despite our grief, and I think he would be proud of us.

  • Created the Gordon Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation and raised more than $75,000 for mental health awareness and suicide prevention

  • Awarded our first annual scholarship from GCMAF to a student at Elite Lineman Training School, where Gordon learned to become a lineman

  • Hosted the Gordon Corsetti Memorial Game at Fellowship Christian on March 11

  • Spoke at the 8th Annual Summit Counseling Gala to share Gordon’s story and helped raise more than $800,000 for mental health services

  • Honored Gordon at the 2023 Pace Alumni Game

  • Attended the Georgia Lacrosse Officials Association (GLOA) banquet to present the Gordon Corsetti Memorial Award, an annual award given to the most improved official

  • A bunch of other things I’m probably forgetting about (see: brain fog)

  • Survived

So while we may not be moving at the typical Corsetti pace, we’re doing what we can to honor Gordon and continue his legacy.

As a foundation, our mission is to create a space of hope, filled with resources, information, tools, and more for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We’re committed to Gordon’s vision of sharing different methods of thinking to help those with and without mental illness live more fulfilling lives.

That said, we will begin transitioning Mental Agility into the Gordon Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation, so you may notice some changes on the site. All of Gordon’s writing, videos, and resources will remain intact.

Here are a few things that will be coming soon:

  • A refreshed logo for the foundation

  • Donation portal

  • Apparel and other merchandise

  • Resources and guest posts from mental health experts

  • Fundraising events

  • And more

We are so grateful and lucky to have an incredible support system—through family, friends, various communities that Gordon was a part of, and even total strangers. We’re still struggling because that’s just how grief works, but we know we will grow around it eventually.

Thank you for taking care of us, and remember to take care of your crew.

To donate click here.