I would be willing to give up the concept of “always” if it would give some of us more hope.

To know that it wouldn’t always be this hard.

To know that it wouldn’t always be painful.

To know that they wouldn’t always be alone.

We all stumble at some point in our lives and many of us survived that stumble because there were family, friends, complete strangers out there who wanted us to pick ourselves back up and keep trying.  Who helped us believe that no state we got ourselves in or that depression forced us into is for always.

Hope is beautiful.  The grace of others sticking by the side of someone who feels that their life will always be in the dark is beautiful because they can be key, these family members, friends, complete strangers, to realizing it’s not always.

Yesterday, I was reminded of the good side of social media when I started seeing people promoting National Suicide Prevention Week.  Complete strangers shouting out into their computer “You’re not alone!”  ”What you feel now is not forever!”  ”Hold on!”

I hope there are some of you out there who have never, ever experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide.  Never felt the fear of almost losing someone to suicide.  Never felt themselves edging towards that kind of permanent decision for themselves.  That is how it should be for everyone.

Because, as To Write Love on Her Arms says this week, we cannot be replaced.  I’m joining those shouting voices tonight.  Suicide is not the answer.  There’s much more beyond the dark place.  People waiting for you, who will love you no matter what your darkness has turned you -temporarily- into.

Here’s why I can’t be replaced.  What are your reasons?

There’s even a song to go along with my post tonight.  I think it’s beautiful because it’s about someone who has emerged from that dark place and recognizes the loved ones that  stuck by their side no matter what.  My favorite line:

“To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace

But to be loved like a song you remember

Even when you’ve changed”

xo’s to you all

xo’s to Jen and Kristi  and I totally got the prompt wrong this week.  I’ll plug ya anyway.