I received a text today from someone whose life was saved through the Jae Foundation. He’s now starting a mission of his own and asked me a question that hit deep:

“It’s only been 24 hours since I launched  the mission and I already have a naysayer. How do you handle the naysayers when they talk down on the mission and vision?”

Whether you’re a teacher, business owner, coach, nonprofit leader, fire chief, politician — or simply a dad or mom — I think it’s a question worth answering.

Rather than just share my thoughts with him, I wanted to share with all of you how I answered it — as someone who’s been walking this road with the Jae Foundation since day one.

When we first started, we built the Jae Foundation with intention. The only way to truly understand it was to take an hour out of your day and come learn about it. I never wanted it explained over a phone call, email, or text. At its simplest and purest form, it’s about slowing down and checking in on people. A simple Boot-Check.

The mission is beautiful. And it’s working. But it’s also very hard.

I’ve heard it all:

• “Your mission isn’t clinical enough.”
• “Suicide is the most cowardly act — why would you invest money in it?”
• “Do you really think giving high schoolers a pair of boots will change or save their life?”

We aren’t super clinical — and that’s by design. Because of my loss, and the stories of so many others, I don’t believe suicide is cowardly. And yes, I do believe those boots save lives. We see it every day.

We’ve built an army of cheerleaders and supporters, and it’s growing by the day. If someone struggles to understand what we do — that’s okay. The Jae Foundation is for everyone, but not everyone might be for the Jae Foundation. Yet.

Maybe it’s a chance to walk them through what we do.

Maybe it’s time to sponsor their Jae Boots.

Maybe they’ll need us in a few years.

Or maybe, 50 years from now, their grandchild will be struggling in a big way — and their Jae Boots will change everything.

And here’s what I’ve come to believe:

Anything in life worth doing well is going to stir up emotion. When I started the Jae Foundation, I signed up for all of it — the tears and the joy, the conflict and the healing, the lives saved and the lives lost. I signed up for the sacrifice, the leadership, the time, and the reward of walking this mission out.

What I didn’t expect was the community.

The people who would come into my life through this foundation — they’ve changed me. They’ve reminded me that hope is contagious, and that love, when lived out loud, multiplies.

So whether you’re a teacher, business owner, firefighter, doctor, politician, student, coach, athlete, dad or mom — just remember: there will always be naysayers.

My ask is simple:

Give grace.

Seek common ground.

Resist the pull toward anger and defensiveness.

Instead, lean into understanding, unity, and love.

Strive to unite — and make peace.

We may not always agree, but we can always choose to honor our shared values. Let’s put those above all else — and strive to unite and make peace.

Because when we do, we change lives.

We save lives.

Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for walking this journey with us.

Let’s keep going.