Sometimes it feels impossible to perceive the brilliance of living until mundanity is slipping through your fingers. There are seemingly boring, dis-interesting aspects of life that can become the brightest part of a day once you hold your experiences close to you.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death between adolescence to middle age, and suicidal thoughts are unsettlingly common among teenagers in high school. It has become easy for people to believe nothing would change without them here, but we have to find ways to prove that the opposite is true.
”The Morning After I Killed Myself” is a devastatingly thought-provoking poem written by author Meggie Royer. The poem paints a picture of a stranger’s daily routine. The reader knows nothing about who they once were, and they are only shown the aspects of them that have been left behind. When they try to go back and stop themselves, they find it is already too late.
The poem is such a strong, powerful reflection of humanity that forces a connection between your life and the life this person has left behind. How much of our lives do we let pass by in order to jump to the next big moment? How often do we disregard our raw, vulnerable, tender states of being human and alive that we miss them entirely?
Always feel free to reach out to the people around you and ask how they are doing. Checking in on somebody can mean the difference between that person saying everything is okay or them finally reaching out for help. Most of all, pay close attention to how you are doing, because you cannot take care of others without taking care of yourself first.
Depression and other mental illnesses take away the normalcy of everyday life. It can become so difficult to enjoy the memories you are making when you do not feel like you will have anything to remember in the future. Suicide takes the lives of so many people that believe nothing will change without them. If we do not start making more of an effort to show people they are needed, acknowledged, and loved, we will only lose more people we care about.
Be the reason someone changes their mind, especially if it is your own. There are resources working and available 24/7 for you or someone you love. If you ever feel like you are struggling, call 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline or reach out to an adult you trust.
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