INDIANAPOLIS— An Indianapolis woman and former Butler University student started a business shortly after she tried to commit suicide in college.
Kennedy Harris said she didn’t think she would live to tell her own story, let alone help people in the process. Harris said during her sophomore year at Butler she hit an extremely low point. Fortunately, a group of friends found her at the right time and she was able to get the help she needed.
Harris started writing down her agenda in a weekly planner, which helped her feel less anxious.
“My everyday life in college was surrounded by an hourly layout and just setting goals for myself and writing them down and accomplishing them,” said Harris.
Her friends complimented her colorful pages and beautiful handwriting. Soon, Harris was making planners for them too. Now her business called “Live Inspired” is reaching people all over the world.
At the time, she was the President of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Butler’s campus. She decided she would use her hobby to help raise money for the organization.
“Two seconds later, I was Googling how to start a business and so that’s kind of how it started. And just in my free time, I hand drew the planner and found a company to help produce it and within four days, they sold out and I found myself making more,” Harris said.
Each page in the “Live Inspired” planner includes an inspiring handwritten message.
She is still donating 20% of each planner sold to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Story by Demie Johnson
