National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

You may feel you are ready to eliminate all and any options for your life. I have no interest in or need to judge your perspective. I am writing this series to offer a few thoughts for your consideration before you take an irreversible step.

Perhaps you feel you have done or experienced something that has deeply shamed or embarrassed you. Perhaps you feel you have done something that will bring deep shame or embarrassment to people or groups you love, admire, or are obligated to in some way. Perhaps you feel the consequences are more than you can handle.

Consider this: the ones you love or are obligated to may have more resilience or bounce back than you know or imagine.

You may be thinking "well, they have never shown that bounce back in the past.

Maybe they never thought they would lose you forever.

Maybe you don't know about everything these people have recovered from, have done, or have experienced.

If the ones you fear disappointing or letting down are your age or older, it's possible or likely they have seen, done, or experienced as much (if not more) than you. Failure to talk about an experience is not the same as not knowing or understanding an experience.

Let's say you're right. They show you no compassion or empathy. Others (yet to come into your life) may show you the forgiveness, compassion, love, and empathy you have longed for and need. If you end your life now, you will lose every chance to experience the caring and empathy we all want, need, and deserve.

If those you fear disappointing are younger than you, they may be more flexible and more forgiving than you imagine. They may  view that has happened in a very different light than you. Their love for you may override whatever you have done or experienced.

Consider these things.

More to come in Part 2.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255