Before posting some poems yesterday, I was toying with another topic. I scrapped it, because my thoughts were unfocused. Then I woke up and checked twitter, and now I feel like I have to get my words together and write about what I meant to yesterday.
There is one topic that I did not touch on during my Breaking the Stigma series, and that is suicide.
I would never call myself suicidal, but in my youth I did have feelings of such despair that death seemed like a viable option. However, I had an image in my head that kept me from making such stupid mistakes, and that is my grandmother, Lois. When she died, I found her, and while the cause of death was natural enough, none of it seemed natural to me. The thought that, were I to kill myself, someone would have to find me-that was enough. So much of my pain came from that point in my life, because of that one little moment, so how could I inflict that pain on others? Furthermore, there’s the pain of losing a loved one, which I learned at an early age, and I could never impose that on my family. Ergo, I reasoned that suicide was stupid.
Don’t get me wrong. There have been times I was so depressed that I begged God to just end it, but I would never do it myself.
Some people think suicide is selfish, and I’m not going to argue that, exactly. You can have that opinion. I just think that there must be some deep well of pain that causes people to kill themselves that most of us will never experience.
This week we lost two icons. Kate Spade, whose bags brought joy and whimsy to my wardrobe, not to mention my favorite wallet that I intend to use until it falls apart. And today, Anthony Bourdain, a personal hero of Mark’s and host of one of our favorite travel shows. I can’t imagine what issues they faced, but I am so sad that they have left us, and it reminds me that suicide is something that can affect anyone.
In September, I will be walking in the Out of Darkness walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I participate in this event every year, in an effort to raise money to help those considering suicide. If you would like to donate, there’s a link over to the right of the page. If you’re feeling like you need to talk to someone, there is the number below. If you want to talk to me, I’m right here. There is no reason to leave this life…there is always a better moment coming. Stay strong.
Ham 'N Eggs 