In New Zealand we have very high suicide rates and most of us are affected.
Personally, I’ve had two friends and a co-worker take the shortcut home –very sad. Personally, I’ve considered suicide when I was a youth, in my darker days. Suicide is invisible and relentless. During those times I would sometimes receive some kindness.
It was a beam of light striking through the evil, through the illusion that,“I didn’t matter”. I almost never received personal encouragement, but when I did, it was like a sword slicing through the heaviness, giving hope and a sense of purpose again.
Young people need us to care, to encourage them. They face even greater challenges than I did some 20 years ago. Social disconnection is at an all-time high as far as I can tell, and I cannot see a general improvement for society in the near future.
A kind word can save a life; a careless word can lay another rock in the bag, dragging someone under. Consider it. The brave smile from the ‘people pleaser’; the joke from your alcoholic neighbour; the silent years from the tradesman fixing your house; – we are all facing something.
We don’t have to fix others, just acknowledging each other and being genuinely interested in each other’s well-being is enough. Even just passing comment can transform someone’s day. Being enthusiastic when you see them, kind of like they are a celebrity/worth celebrating, just for being there!
Life is pretty amazing folks, but let us remember that for many it is a black hole with a thin shield barely holding them from falling in.
Personally, I remember a dark season in my life when I couldn’t control my tears – falling apart while building a shed – turning to face the corner of the structure so the client wouldn’t see the rivers pouring down my face. Still to this day I struggle to explain why I had so much grief or why I was crying. I just knew I wasn’t okay and felt so worthless.
I’m much better – whole now in my late 30s, so don’t worry about me (still have a healthy cry sometimes).
People matter; you matter. Be kind; It matters.
◾️Editor’s note: Jeremy is a local tradie. He brought this into The Informer office. He wasn’t afraid to share his reflections though I could see it took courage. These words reminded me of some of Barry Crump’s reflections – Jeremy’s grandfather.
