Check Out Bobby Hines’ Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Hines.

Hi Bobby, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
On 12/31/2020 my younger brother died by suicide. He battled addiction and mental illness for years.

I reached out to a friend of mine who lost a loved one by suicide as well. We set down and talked about how we wanted to help people. Help end the stigma that surrounds mental health and let people know that it is ok to talk about it. That they are not alone.

There is a quote I found shortly after my brother passed that reads ” Just a reminder in case your mind is playing tricks on you today: You matter. You’re important. You’re loved and your presence on this earth makes a difference whether you realize it or not.” The phrase You matter really stuck out to me.

So in talking with people and having great conversations with my friend Jason Stillwell we came up with this sign that simply says You, Matter. It grabbed everyone’s attention more so than we ever thought it would. Our main goal is to put a smile on someone’s face. The world is a tough place and we all navigate through it to the best of our ability. My goal is to make my little piece of this world a better place to live in.

I battled addiction most of my adult life. Someone took a chance on me and gave me an opportunity and it probably saved my life. As long as I am in a position where I can help people, give them a little hope and share some happiness with them then that is what I will do. We are currently filing paperwork to begin our nonprofit and really take this thing to the next level.

None of this happens without the support of all of the amazing people that I have around me starting with my wife. I never knew the extent of all the mental illness that is out there and the people that are fighting for their lives every single day. I’m not qualified by any means to save anyone but I can be there with a listening ear, provide some resources, and share my experiences about my life, my brother’s life and maybe just help somebody get through the day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest obstacle I have at this time is finding balance in my own life. I get drawn in with my career, the You Matter stuff, being a good husband, father, and just life in general.

I have to remember to take care of myself along the way. I take a lot of pride in everything that I do and I do it to the fullest. Time is the most valuable thing in the world. I just try to make the best of it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the General Manager of Sandys Restaurant in Blue Springs, MO.

I currently have 32 employees and the responsibility of running an amazing Restaurant. The owner Erika Lucas has shown me how to be a part of the community help a lot of people and feed some along the way.

I think what sets me apart from others is I refuse to fail and I accept any challenge head-on as it comes my way. Failure is not an option but I don’t do any of this on my own. I have an amazing staff and support from my family and the community.