I Was In A Mass Shooting And It Changed Me Forever.

cmalisze
cmalisze Posts: 2,636
edited April 2023 in The Porch
I'm taking a risk here. But this risk isn't greater than the ones I took on 7.4.22.

I was in a mass shooting. I was the Co-Chair of the Highland Park, IL Independence Day Parade when a man opened fire and killed 7 innocent people.

Was the worst day of my life.

Needless to say, it changed me in ways I never thought possible. You can't imagine.

"It's OK."

Nevertheless, I'm doing something about it.

A friend of mine (Todd Blyleven) who sadly was in the Las Vegas shooting and I have teamed with an amazing Doctor of Psychology from New York and created The Walking Tall Movement. Here we hope to inspire all people to Walk Tall by showing strength in vulnerability while discussing mental health. 

Check us out. 
www.walkingtallmovement.com

You can also see some cool PJ related mental health content on my LinkedIn. Here is an example of a post I made today about "Jeremy."

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-maliszewski-cprp-20190061_walktall-pearljam-mentalhealth-activity-7055511508780253184-fdXx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

If you need to talk please reach out. You are not alone. 

If you wish to know more about The Walking Tall Movement please reach out. 

Hope to see you all in August and September on the road. 

Walk Tall! 

Post edited by cmalisze on
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Comments

  • CopperTom
    CopperTom Posts: 3,151
    Good luck with everything.  I work in a school and I hope I never have to relate. 
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 32,193
    Whoa sorry to hear about your ordeal but what your doing really shows how to turn such a horrible situation into a positive one! I commend you I’m sure your movement will help folks in need 🙏🙏
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    CopperTom said:
    Good luck with everything.  I work in a school and I hope I never have to relate. 
    I also hope you never have to. Shootings aside we all can relate to the mental health crisis in America. Being vulnerable is being strong. Walk Tall!
  • Go Animal
    Go Animal Posts: 7,412
    @cmalisze is a good dude, and we need more things like this across the country🙌
    35 years, 35 shows.

    Song Wishlist: Alone, Let Me Sleep, Brother, full W.M.A., Hold On, Bugs/all of Vitalogy, Mankind, Around The Bend (full band), The Long Road, Don't Gimme No Lip, Pilate, Push Me Pull Me, All Those Yesterdays, Rival, Parting Ways, Ghost, Bu$hleaguer, WWS, Parachutes, Army Reserve, low octave Driftin', Strangest Tribe, Other Side, Undone, Fatal, Hitchhiker, Education, Black Red Yellow, Of the Earth, Love Reign O'er Me, Gonna See My Friend, Santa Cruz, Infallible, Yellow Moon, Alright, Comes Then Goes, and the Mamasan Trilogy.

    Wanted Posters: WPB '98, Tampa/WPB '00, Tampa '03, EV Batmobile '08

    ISO: any picks, or setlists from any of my shows!
  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,093
    Sorry you had to go through that.  I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been. Thank you for sharing and doing something great to help.  
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 (#25) | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2025: Raleigh 2


  • steven87
    steven87 Posts: 1,740
    I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to go through something like that. But thank you for all that you’re doing to help people who’ve been through similar situations. 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    Whoa sorry to hear about your ordeal but what your doing really shows how to turn such a horrible situation into a positive one! I commend you I’m sure your movement will help folks in need 🙏🙏
    Thank you.  Please check us out and share us as much as possible! 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    Go Animal said:
    @cmalisze is a good dude, and we need more things like this across the country🙌
    We need a lot of things in this country and kindness and vulnerability are just a few. Join us! 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    on2legs said:
    Sorry you had to go through that.  I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been. Thank you for sharing and doing something great to help.  
    Thank you for your words. Please visit us and check out our podcast. It's step 1 in the movement. 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    steven87 said:
    I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to go through something like that. But thank you for all that you’re doing to help people who’ve been through similar situations. 
    You can't imagine and that is ok. We intend to show all people they are not alone no matter the issue. Please keep sharing us and our movement. We need help! Walk Tall!
  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,462
    Big ups, support & hugs all around. I have worked with survivors of mass shootings in my practice. There’s healing to be found. Thanks for turning your trauma into advocacy. ❤️
    www.cluthelee.com
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    Big ups, support & hugs all around. I have worked with survivors of mass shootings in my practice. There’s healing to be found. Thanks for turning your trauma into advocacy. ❤️
    I'd love to learn more about your practice. Message me. Many ways we can help each other. Let's discover them!
  • hrd2imgn
    hrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,935
    God bless
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    hrd2imgn said:
    God bless
    Thank you.  Please check out our podcast. That's the first step in our movement. We have lots of work to do. 
  • hrd2imgn
    hrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,935
    One step and day at a time!
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    hrd2imgn said:
    One step and day at a time!
    That's what I've heard. And I am trying. But we have work to do. People to let know they're not alone. No matter what. 
  • BF89905
    BF89905 Posts: 1,449
    Thank you for your efforts to bring people together to talk about our vulnerabilities with the goal of uplifting our communities. 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    BF89905 said:
    Thank you for your efforts to bring people together to talk about our vulnerabilities with the goal of uplifting our communities. 
    You eloquently summed up our overall intent. Thank you.
  • 3days
    3days Posts: 1,200
    This is so cool. My gf is a mental healthcare worker, and we're stoked to learn more. Thank you for sharing, and walking. 
  • cmalisze
    cmalisze Posts: 2,636
    3days said:
    This is so cool. My gf is a mental healthcare worker, and we're stoked to learn more. Thank you for sharing, and walking. 
    Thank you for valuing. I would LOVE her feedback. We have big goals to achieve and feedback is critical. Walk Tall!