This is going to be very hard for me to write. As much as I worry about getting forgetful and am afraid of the "A" word, sometimes I simply want to forget what happened in my second year of BA summer vacation.
A little over forty one years ago (June of 1970) my classmates and I received the horrible news that one of my friends had commited suicide. We were all very young and full of hope for our future and dreams about being educated and having it all. Then one very quite morning I got a call from my best friend that our other best friend had killed herself. She was engaged to be married a year later, after her graduation. She liked and cared for the young guy she was engaged to. Then what happened? Needless to say we were all devastated but the cause of her suicide was even more shocking. Something no one could ever think of. She was tired of her parents fighting with each other.
To this day whenever I hear news about anyone commiting suicide, I break down. How could they do this to themselves. Was life really that hard for them? Do family members and loved ones miss the signs they would not if they knew better? What can we do as human beings to save another human being from taking their own life? Do they even realize that suicide is so final? I have always wished that there were people who can educate people to watch out for signs. I guess my wish has come true. In our area ie the Hudson Valley people are organizing "Out Of the Darkness Walk". I hope that there are areas where they are doing this as well.
Here is the link to my daughter's fundraising page. Please check it out especially if there are growing children in your family or even adults with special concerns. We always grieve for our loved ones, but suicide is not like any other way of dying.
10 comments:
There was a story in the paper today - a girl broke up with her boyfriend - he took a picture of himself with a rope around his neck - then he told her he was going to kill himself - put it on FACEBOOK - and then committed suicide.
What is this world coming too? Kids - tomorrow will be another day.
sandie
I've always felt that suicide is a very selfish act...however, we can't always understand the deep depression and hopeless feelings that lead someone to do this. My heart always goes out to family who's left behind to feel sadness, anger and guilt. Working in health care I've experienced suicide is different forms. Sometimes it's quick and precise..sometimes people slowly kill themselves with their life style choices..alcohol, drugs, over eating, not eating...ways we don't always associate with suicide. Tomorrow always comes and hopefully we can remember to watch for that sunrise and find help if needed.
I really am not sure of what we can do but to remember to always be kind to and thoughtful of others.
So good of your daughter to get involved in this very worthy project. I hope they have great success with it-
I once came to the brink of suicide. It happened about a dozen years ago when I hit bottom in my personal life---marital, business and spiritual. I needed an end to my problems.
I sat in my back yard at midnight with a loaded .357 magnum revolver. I intended to put an end to my misery. To this day, I cannot tell you why I did not pull the trigger. I proved to be a failure at that, too.
But looking back, I see how God---whom I had excluded from my life for decades---was working on me.
I had no other options before me...I fell to my knees in the darkness of my basement and gave it all up to Him. I had proven to be a pretty miserable caretaker of my own life.
Immediately---within 24 hours---my life began to change in miraculous ways. God showed me the way. He is now the first consideration in my worldly affairs.
A miraculous turnaround happened to me. And the same turnaround is available to others, as well.
God bless you for this post.
Wow! What a heavy but need to know about subject. I wish you and your daughter the best in getting the information out to others concerning the matter.
A difficult topic indeed. I can sympathise with being so depressed that one can't see a way out...and, yes, suicide is so final, and I don't think it really solves anything. The soul will still carry that wound with it into the next life and the next life until it learns how to self-heal. I always find suicides the saddest of all deaths...:(
Judy, South Africa
I went on this walk a few years ago in Oakland CA. (I went in honor of a family member.) It was an amazing experience. Thanks for posting this. The walk is coming up in October where I live now too.
Munir,
Thanks for this insightful post. A sad story, but a good reflection on suicide awareness, and a kind invitation to take part in this campaign.
You are making me think about writing a couple of stories involving suicides and nursing home residents. Not that I have had a suicidal act in my nursing home, but I have had two residents who lost their loved ones that way: one of her son and the other her husband.
Thank you Clint for sharing with us about such a critical life experience, and your transformation by your Faith and spiritual beliefs.
Blessings.
Doris
Thank you for the beautiful post! What a difficult thing.
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