The Icky Topic of Suicide

Oh sure, you clicked on this post because the topic of suicide is on everybody's Top 10 List of favorite subjects to read about, right? Well, it's not the most pleasant of topics, but an important one nonetheless.

Maybe you're reading this because you know someone who you think may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. Perhaps you've been affected by the death of someone close to you, who took their own life. Maybe you're considering suicide yourself. Or maybe you're just curious about something that seems to have such a grip on people, & you wonder why.

Moving On

What does it mean to move on? When someone you love dies, there are always those who will feel you have grieved long enough, & will tell you it's time for you to move on (for the record, people should be able to move on from their grief when they are ready...not when someone says they should). Then there are those whose relationships have ended, & in order to find peace, they must learn to move on. What about those who have hurt you? Would it not be easier to feed the grudge you have against them, instead of letting them "get away with it" by ignoring them or choosing to not dwell on what they did?

No Longer the Victim

I don't need to be a victim.

I don't want to confess my pain.

I don't need to share my heartaches -

I want my dignity back again!!

I will no longer place blame with others

For the things they "should not have" done -

I'm responsible for the present.

I will leave the past alone.

I can't blame my loving family,

Nor my friends, nor someone else,

For the problems in my life - 

I am responsible for myself!!

"Woe is me" is gone forever

From my mouth, where once was home

To a host of negativity,

And where self-pity was free to roam.

I cannot change my history,

Nor undo the wrongs done unto me.

But I can make my future brighter,

By being the best that I can be.

For life's too precious to waste it fretting

Over events of yesterday.

I will live for every moment

And judge my life for just today!!

© Cari Kissel (first written in 1994...edited in 2013)

Remember Paul Walker, but Others Too

The death of every human being is a loss. Sometimes it may seem that one person's death is more important than another's. Why just this morning, I heard the traffic reporter on the radio say that a huge section of the freeway had been closed because someone jumped to their death off a freeway overpass. How tragic & very sad for that person's family who has to cope with their loved one's suicide, especially during the holidays at this time of year. This person's death will not make national headlines. Only those who knew this person, & those who heard the traffic report, will be aware of this individual's death.

Having a Dog With Cancer

Animals are awesome. They have the amazing ability to feel discomfort, yet still act as if nothing is wrong. I mean, there are dogs hobbling around on 3 legs, acting as if it's a perfectly normal thing. People on the other hand, whine & fuss, complain & evoke sympathy, when we are in pain, sick with the flu, or just don't "feel right". When we're not feeling well, most people know it.....unless we have the physical stamina of an animal, & can hide our discomfort well.

Where to Draw the Line

How can you tell if something that someone says or does is the last straw, or if it's just something very unpleasant, but tolerable? How do you know when to say "enough is enough!" & draw that line in the sand that says you will not tolerate something any longer? That is a topic that I have thought about a lot in the last ten years of my life, & something I sometimes have a hard time identifying, when certain situations come along.

Forgiveness

My friend Kelly writes a blog. Kelly writes from her heart, & her posts are quite entertaining. Why am I talking about Kelly, you may ask? Because she inspired me. 
Kelly knew I was feeling a bit hurt because it seemed as if 
nobody cared about the things I had to say. 
She reminded me that writing can be cathartic, & that the motive for writing should be because I enjoy doing so. So with that in mind, this post is from my heart. I want to share some thoughts on the topic of forgiveness.

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Pardon Me, Your Self-Esteem is Showing

Today boys & girls, we are going to talk about body image & self-esteem. Yes, it may seem like a silly topic for a blog post, but in flipping through the channels on our TV, & glancing at magazine covers as I'm waiting in line to check out at the grocery store, it has become so evident that this is a topic which does not receive enough attention. One only has to look at the tabloid magazine covers to see how much our society is drawn to images of celebrities being made fun of for having visible cellulite while wearing a bikini, or other magazine covers to learn the secret of losing weight & keeping it off.