Suicide: I'm Still Breathing!

I've tried to start writing this blog about a hundred different ways, and none of them have felt appropriate. The subject I'm going to talk about is deep and emotional for those affected. It's not easy to talk about, but the alarming statistics of suicide in the United States shows a larger societal problem that cannot be ignored. In 2010, almost 40,000 people could no longer bear their perceived burden and opted for suicide as their answer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (http://rt.com/usa/us-suicides-crisis-cdc-report-761/) The report also indicated a 30% increase in adults aged 35-64. The US Department of Veterans Affairs released a report (http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2427) in February indicating that one vetaran takes their life every 65 seconds. The CDC also marks that one in twelve teenagers have attempted suicide. This subject is close to my heart so when I saw the "I'm Still Breathing" awareness campaign on Facebook, I knew I had to take part. My grandfather committed suicide in 1977, we lost a childhood friend to suicide in high school, and I was hospitalized for attempted suicide in 2005.

Some of our biggest lessons comes through the darkest hours of the soul, when we can barely hold on by our fingernails, tasting only our blood, sweat, and tears. Many people get stuck in this abyss, not realizing that they have already won the battle. When we find ourselves in the midst of chaos, peace seems to feel the furthest away. We must realize that if we can start to build a solid foundation in the midst of the pandemonium, what we will experience when we come out on the other side will be the exaltation of grace and joy. It's never easy, but it's always worth it. All that is required is a decision, and luckily, there are no wrong decisions. We are exactly where we need to be!

At our very core we are all connected. We all want to love and be loved, to feel happy, healthy, and secure. We all laugh or cry in the same language, and we all bleed the same color. Many people disagree with this notion, but I truly believe that everyone operates from love in their own level of consciousness, and if we could just take the time to see each other as kin, there would be no way we would want to hurt someone else, let alone kill them. This is one of the first important steps we must take in making peace.

It's easy to get caught up in the melodrama and back and forth, but one thing I have learned from it... hate begets hate, violence begets violence, negativity begets negativity, and love begets love. It's when we truly remove ourselves from the drama, and not allow ourselves to be caught up in the menial back and forth that we can find release.

I encourage you all today to walk away from the nonsensical. People are going to attempt to tell you who you can and can't be. They will set expectations that even they can't live up to themselves. They will talk about you, and if you are doing something right, they will judge and criticize you! Let me tell you right now, if anything they say is not based in pure love, don't you dare listen to them or believe what they are saying, not even for a second!! Let's take it a step further, if what you say to yourself is not based in pure love, you are lying to yourself! You are beautiful. You are magnificent, and you are perfect, just the way you are!!

If you are struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. It gets better! Believe me, I'm still breathing!  

Facebook page for group with I'm Still Breathing pictures: https://www.facebook.com/selfharm.supportpage

**The number to the National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255)