The Face of Healing
As a field advocate for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, actress Karen Henning has faced up to intense personal heartache, and used it to foster hope. Here, she reveals what she’s learned and what she strives to impart to her daughters. Karen, you seem to have a rare ability to connect with others in profound ways. When you first saw your husband you told your cousin you knew you were going to marry him. 2 years later you did so. What was that experience like, having inside information and getting to watch the situation unfold? I’m not sure how I knew in that moment that he was the one but I just did. My cousin said it was the $3 pitchers of beer. Haha! It’s always a fun story to tell people when they find out
we’ve been married for 12 years. It’s been quite an adventure being married to my best friend and also the longest “thing” I’ve ever done. My relationships before him were a matter of a few months. We connected so easily and quickly that it really made me believe in soul mates and love at first site. I love looking back on our relationship and knowing it was meant to be. That while our marriage has had it’s ups and downs, we have prevailed so beautifully. I’ve always felt that I had strong intuitions on things and I believe it’s kept me out of trouble a lot of times. I think I can connect with people because I am so open and I don’t judge others. Until I can say that I’m a perfect person, than who am I to say a person is wrong or bad. I try to always see the good in others and to forgive easily. I believe in second chances and that we all deserve them. I feel that’s what people see to make them comfortable enough to open -48-
