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Life-Coaching Park Slope Couple Commits Mutual Suicide
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jun 5, 2013
Modified Jun 5, 2013
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By
Lauren Evans
Published Jun 5, 2013
Modified Jun 5, 2013
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"It's always too early to quit," were the words of Norman Vincent Peale that appeared on the home page of the website of psychotherapist Lynne Rosen, who on Monday was found dead along with her husband, the motivational speaker John Littig, after an apparent mutual suicide. The couple looks to have suffocated themselves in their Park Slope home by putting plastic bags over their heads and inhaling helium, the Daily News reports.
Police are unsure why the pair, who hosted the monthly radio show "The Pursuit of Happiness," decided to end their lives.
The couple together had a life coaching business called "Why Not Now," which according to its website offered "focused life coaching designed to help foster and encourage your inner strengths, identify hidden and untapped resources, and put you confidently on the path to designing the life you've always wanted to live."
Littig's bio describes him as a "motivational speaker, workshop facilitator and personal life coach," as well as performer under the name Jadex. "He uses his experience from teaching and performing to help people find their inner confidence, and build on their real talents and competencies to reach their highest potential," it says.
The News reports that the super kicked in the door of the couple's brownstone after "noticing blood dripping down into the basement floor." Neighbors also reported noticing a foul odor emanating from their first floor apartment.
"I could smell it all day yesterday," one neighbor said. "At first I thought it was a dead squirrel, but it was much stronger than that."
Here is a retrospectively chilling video of the couple encouraging listeners of their show to "get comfortable with change."
The episode, which was recorded on February 27th, features all sorts of eerie omens.
"People get scared to make changes, and to step out of that comfort zone. Stepping out of the comfort zone is important," Rosen said. "I'm doing lots of different things in terms of my own life and developing now."
"No change no life," Littig adds, before launching into a lecture on second chances.
"There are ways in which this society encourages, tolerates a kind of risk taking and dynamism, and allows...an ability to reinvent yourself," he said.
"This culture loves comebacks. You do have many chances and many ways that you can reinvent yourself, and define success on your own terms and be successful in your own way."
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Tagged
life coaching
park slope
suicide pact
Lauren Evans
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