A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Part 1: Precious, Priceless, And Irreplaceable

Group Hug

The topic of suicide is a delicate issue, yet this tragedy defies age brackets.  Putting it into a framework that's suitable for those 13 and older is challenging.  It's an unhappy thought and a weighty responsibility — regardless of the intended age bracket.

Definition:

My favorite definition of suicide is as follows: "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."  Anonymous.

Causes:

I believe that the causes of suicide equal the number of suicides and suicide attempts combined.

"Nice job at weaseling out, buster."

Not...  Exactly...

People love to overly complicate things.  Suicide is an intensely personal decision — even if one's culture supports certain excuses.  Such reasoning may be based on "shame," or even "honor."  Likewise, it may be considered a "mercy" — as in, "You've suffered enough.  Let go."

My opinion: "Even if billions believe something, that doesn't make it true.  Truth doesn't require anyone's cooperation or approval."

So, in context, what is The Truth?

•  I echo a former friend who survived brain cancer, only to become legally blind:

"Has anybody told you today that you are precious, priceless, and irreplaceable?"

Regardless of one's scientific or religious beliefs, the very fact that any life exists on this little rock that we call The Planet Earth...  THE VERY FACT THAT LIFE EXISTS AT ALL IS MIRACULOUS

You are no mistake.  In the entire history — of the entire universe...  THERE ONLY EVER HAS BEEN — OR EVER WILL BE — ONE YOU

You are more unique than a snowflake, more brilliant than a ruby laser.  Hence you are, "Precious, priceless, and irreplaceable."  This would still be true even if you were 1 out of 10 million clones.  [It'd be true even if your parents suddenly transformed into zombie gerbils.]

(Hey.  There'll be days!  Yes, when it'll be "oh, so tempting" to believe that -Your-Entire-Family-

... is more idiotic than a bag of rocks.)  😛

[Trust me: I have "many" siblings.  We come from a -looong- line of "braindead zombie gerbils."]  🙄

Hope

Most people who attempt suicide really want to live.

"Say What?!  That makes no sense..."

Nonetheless, it's true.  They just want to escape their anguish.  Whether it's rage, fear, shame, betrayal, grief, pain, jealousy, depression, and so on...

⁍  All of which is temporary.

Life is a spark, a fleeting vapor, a wink of God's eye.  Being dead is usually perceived as permanent.  My advice?  Don't bet your eternity on that.

"Um, Sir?"

Yes?

"How do you know all of this?"

Well, I had long episodes of depression as a child, especially as a teenager — which is a time of great change for us humans.  And, yes, I was passive aggressive — even self-destructive at times.

Later, something happened in the military that wounded my conscious — even after my honorable discharge.  It took decades to come to terms with the event.  At times, it still troubles me.