#5282 To anyone that might read this,
I’ve a request for you. A very simple one. It just takes a minute to complete. But hear me out first, okay?
See, among young people ages 15 – 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. That’s terrifying. And its incredibly sad. Sad to think that so many millions of people across the planet will attempt it, and even sadder that so many of them will check out early, because they couldn’t see beyond the pain of the present to see how beautiful the future could be. And not just young people. People of all ages contemplate suicide, attempt suicide, and commit suicide. I want to prevent that from happening, to the best of my ability. So many friends, loved ones, lovers, coworkers, family members have died in a desperate attempt to shut off their pain. Let’s do what we can to stop the cycle.
A friend of a friend is doing this project. It’s called
#LIVE. It’s for suicide prevention. And it’s really easy to get involved. All you gotta do is write
#LIVE on a piece of paper, along with a written saying or phrase, have yourself or someone take a picture of you holding it up, and, if you could, post it in the comment section here, and then I can forward it to Emily, the person doing this project. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you can check out the Instagram page for
#LIVE. It’s www.instagram.com/liveproject2014, and maybe send it there, or send it to her Instagram directly, @elxtric_emily. Please consider doing this. As a person who has been suicidal, as a person who has had a loved one attempt suicide three times,
#LIVE would be a good way to get the message out there to those dealing with depression, contemplating suicide, or other issues that they are not alone, that there is hope, and that checking out early is NEVER a solution. There’s hope.
And for those struggling right now…
It sucks, doesn’t it? This whole obligation to stick around and be alive, right? It’s fucking shitty, isn’t it, having to be on this Earth. I know. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there, the long, endless nights, the dread at having to wake up in the morning, the grief sitting on top of your ribcage, the guilt, the anger, all the fucking anger in the world, the shame, the feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, the very, very boring, very dreary days, those feelings of being so lost inside yourself that all you want to do is sleep for a thousand years, feeling trapped behind your ribcage, hoping to unzip your skin and escape the pain somehow. Believe me, I understand. I spent five years down there. I’m still down there, where everything is cracked and upside-down and ass-backwards and very, very sad. I’m with you. I’m in pain, just like you. You are not alone. Maybe we can help each other climb out of this shithole we’ve dug.
I know it isn’t easy right now, and I know it hasn’t been easy for a very long time. I’m sorry. I am sorry you are in pain, I really am. It hurts, it hurts so much. So fucking much it feels like this pain is gonna fucking kill you anyway, even if you don’t. I know, I know, believe me, I know, and again, you’re not alone. But you can’t just throw in the towel, not yet. You can’t. You have so much to offer, so much to give the world, even if it’s just a smile. Yes. A smile. The world deserves to see you smile. The world deserves to have you stick around. You’re beautiful, and you deserve to be happy. Please remember that. You deserve to be happy, you have so much love to give, and you have so much joy waiting for you, if you’ll just let yourself find it. Please be stronger than me. I’m lost, so very lost, and I know you are, too. I know it feels like you’re chained to a wall, but I promise you, it’s not as you think. I know you think you’re nobody, but I promise you, you’re somebody to me. And you’re beautiful. The shackles are open, they’ve never been locked, they’re not even real. Please hear me, you are free to go. You’ve got so much happiness waiting if you’ll just let yourself stick around for it to find you. Get the help you need. Talk about it. Dying’s easy. Living is hard, so hard. And life is scary, and painful and itchy and dull and boring at times, but it’s crazy, and lovely, and full of joy. I can’t promise you that the pain is gonna go away soon, or that it’ll ever completely go away, but I know you’re gonna be okay. And you’re gonna hold a whole bunch of fucking happiness in your hands one day. That, I can promise. I know, it’s a lot easier said than done. I know, I sound like a hypocrite, since I’m still in that place too. And I know, it sounds so very self-helpy and preachy and Oprah-esque and silly. You ain’t gotta tell me. (:
Just consider it, this business of “sticking around.” Think about it. And when it might seem easier to swallow the poison and go to sleep, think twice. And then think again. Checking out early and missing out on life cannot possibly be worse than living and being the way you are. Even I know that. And I think you know that too. And if you take nothing else from this, take this:
There’s no such thing as perfect.
Why be perfect when you could be happy? You deserve to be happy.
Don’t ever be afraid to speak up. You’re gonna be okay. Just keep breathing.
You’re gonna be okay. Just keep breathing.
You are beautiful the way you are. You are. No matter what you say.