Hope is Real. Help is Real.

Image by Abdallah™ via Flickr

Asher Brown, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Hamilton Middle School outside Houston, shot himself in the head last week after being "bullied to death." And today 19-year-old Colton Tooley fired several shots at the University of Texas. Hearing this has me scratching my head, asking why... Why is it that a 13 year old kid would be so alone and so hurt by what other 13 year olds do that he has no choice but to take his own life. It saddens me that this happens so much in this country and so much in the last few years. While there is no way to reliably figure the exact ratio of attempted suicides to completed suicides, the National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. That means that for this one 13 year old kid there are 25 others who are in the same place and have tried to take their own lives. There are 272 deaths a year by teens and kids just like Asher. If the statistic about 25 being attempted for every completed suicide that means that 6,800 kids feel the need to take their own life before they even get to live it. Something has to be done about this. This has gone on too long and everyone can help. Most kids who have suicidal thoughts said that they felt like nobody understood or cared. If there wasnt so much hate and everyone knew that they were cared about and mattered then this would not happen. We have become such a loathing, hateful society. As human beings we are capable of such enormous love and compassion, yet we choose to hate so freely. To tear down instead of build up. The truth is is that everyone can put a stop to this and make a difference in peoples lives and help people who are struggling. Im sure there were warning signs that went unnoticed and even if they were noticed they were only for "attention", well if someone is saying things for attention then THEY NEED ATTENTION. I mean I think we look at those people the wrong way. Sometimes they just need to know that they are loved and know that someone cares and that they will be missed. If you know someone that is suicidual you CAN make a difference and save their life. To Write Love On Her Arms has it right, To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.  TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Dont think that you can make a difference. Together we can all put a stop to suicide and make a difference!
Hope is Real. Help is Real. Your story is important.

Cutting Yourself Short

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It seems like everyone has on part about them that they don't like. Whether its because of their physical appearance, a disability, or for no reason anyone, including themselves, knows. But the problem I have noticed that a few people around me have is they let it run their lives. People who dislike themselves may acknowledge they have positive attributes but any emotional impact they have simply gets blocked out. They do not allow themselves to be successful.
The thing that I have noticed about people in high school is a lot of people are in search of love and instead of actually finding love they set themselves up to be hurt more and lower their self-esteem. A lot of people when this happens will turn to the opposite sex because they want to feel wanted and think that having someone want them will make them feel special. In reality most people end up getting hurt worst and lower their standards and settle for lower than they deserve because they have been hurt so many times and they feel like thats the only option they have. Thats how abusive relationships happen is because the person getting abused feels like the deserve it and that this is their fault.
 In other words, if we want to like ourselves we have to earn our own respect. Luckily, doing this doesn't require that we become people of extraordinary physical attractiveness or accomplishment. It only requires we become people of extraordinary character, something anyone can do.
A simple thought experiment supports this notion: think right now of your favorite person and ask yourself, what is it about them that attracts you the most? Odds are it isn't their physical appearance or their accomplishments but rather their magnanimous spirit; the way they treat others. This is the key quality that makes people likable, even to ourselves.
The truth is, we are a much better person than we let ourselves believe. We cut ourselves short by settling for less than we deserve in life. If we just realized that we are special and we are a great person than we can live happier and healthier lives!

Taking Advantage of Life

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They tell you that you can be whatever you set your mind to, but that's not true. I can't write a symphony or throw a baseball ninety-five miles an hour. The truth is if you try your best and better than your best, and work yourself some more, then if your have luck on your side, then you can live life to the fullest and be all the good things God made you to be.
I remember being a little kid and not having a worry in the world. I played all day with my friends,
built forts, played hide and seek, and had snack time. I didn't have to worry about a thing in the world because I knew my parents would take care of me. I was completely happy and yet I couldn't wait to grow up. Now that I'm older I realize how much responsibility and worries I have in my life. Growing up is overrated and i think we focus to much on tomorrow and not on today and the moment. If i got in a fight with a friend this morning we would be best friends again this afternoon. I really think that we had the concept of life right as kids! Forgiveness, snacks, naps, building forts, and being carefree is what we should be doing. Just like we knew that our parents would take care of us we should realize that God will take care of us. If you have a chance learn a lesson from a young child on how to be happy with life. And always be the friend to someone that you would want them to be.
I know that not many people have the superhuman ability to play in the MLB or be a professional songwriter. But I also know that everyone has a gift and should take advantage of every opportunity that is set before him. We sometimes cut ourselves short by not living life to the fullest and not trying our best to make the best out of life!