I learned of the death of college student Carly Henley two days after her passing, on October 6, 2010. In the days soon to follow it became clear that scores and scores of people were wounded to the core by the loss. Wonderful evidence around the internet serves to almost suspend Carly Henley's personable allure, her impressive musical talent, and a short life the likes of which most anybody could envy.

Various reports tell of her short term struggle with depression of perhaps three months in duration. Significant in that was the introduction of anti-depressant drug Zoloft via prescription some two weeks before Carly took her own life.

Not lost on me now, finally, is the wording in the "Black Box Warning" with Zoloft, which states that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in persons younger than 25. Risk is especially heightened during the first two months of taking anti-depressants.

The labels on anti-depressant drugs in the U.S. were altered to reference young adults aged 18 to 24 just three years earlier - in 2007.

It is my belief, now, that Carly just happened to land among the small percentage of anti-depressant users who are susceptible to being so affected by a powerful drug such as Zoloft.

One need not ever have known such a remarkable woman to feel the pain all around at the loss of Carly Henley.


So many life lessons are so well represented by Carly Henley's compelling spirit. Let me see if I can help some to gain fuller appreciation for a woman who continues to inspire everyone who ever knew of her.



Mark another anniversary of Carly Henley's birth

 


Everybody who pauses to think about Carly Henley today will attempt to imagine her as she might have been upon turning 34.

The variables are endless in largest part because nobody could manufacture the first 20 years in a way much more appealing than they probably were. When the human imagination gets to take-off from a point already so lofty, it tends to accent the positives and gloss-over the negatives and that usually leaves quite a noteworthy image.

The average person so engaged, when pondering Carly Henley at 34, would be challenged to remind themselves that she could only have known one path to this point. That is to say that you can't fit-in every wonderful outcome known to humanity and fairly envision such fate upon one human.

For example, by age 34, Carly would have either had kids, or she wouldn't. Once the image in your own thoughts decides that question, then your vision to this point of Carly Henley, needs to stay on that side.

Indeed you can go back and forth with regard to being (at any given point) married, or not, but kids clearly dictate a turn on your imagined path of Carly Henley's evolution.

As of late July, 2024, America is in the midst of an election year, and the media won't let us forget or take a break from it. Politics dominate the news channels on a daily basis. This may be a relative improvement from 4 years ago when it was largely Covid that was dominating the airwaves. For at least you're not frowned upon for leaving your house and taking a break from live media coverage.

Among the biggest surprises in American media of late has been the rise of the one known as "Hawk Tuah girl."  Take a thick southern accent and apply it to a 21-year-old woman who is radiant and sought-after. Then add a rather crass and unscripted intro to the world, followed by a whirlwind ride of instant celebrity.

At her core, though, the "Hawk Tuah girl" possesses vast appeal to all humanity which is similar to Carly Henley's impact on those who knew her and lived around her. Obviously Carly was never fully "discovered" on the same level, and no question that Carly Henley's image shall forever remain more wholesome than that of Haliey Welch. 

Attempting to fill-in complete blanks between age 20 and age 34 is left to the individual imagination.  The radiance of, and societal draw to present-day 21-year-old Haliey Welch in 2024 seems a useful marker  to those for whom 14 years of time have caused their sense of then Carly Henley  to have faded more than they are comfortable with.

The message personified by both present day Haliey Welch and by the late Carly Henley, is so clearly: just be yourself - as that is emphatically enough.

Happy Birthday to Carly Henley - July 30, 2024


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