Pressing the off switch
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When I was younger and would hear about people ending their own lives through suicide and I couldn’t understand or comprehend how someone could ever get to that point. As a result I would speak with little empathy or with undertones of judgement and condemnation.
Well I’m older now and my understanding and perspectives have evolved and changed. I now can see and understand how and why people end their lives.
I’ve never seriously contemplated pressing the off switch on my own life but I have, and do now, find myself in places mentally where I can see how and why people get to the point where permanently switching off feels like a reasonable option.
Suicide is another one of those complex and complicated problems that none fully understand how to solve. Humans are complicated and what drives each to the precipice and some over the edge varies.
Anxiety and depression are common elements, but feeling stuck, hopeless, worthless, unlovable or unworthy can all inch people toward that dark place where powering down sounds like the best or only option.
My point is, if I have one, that our world could do with a little more kindness and connection. We don’t have to understand or be able to solve another’s problems in order to demonstrate kindness and create moments of genuine connection.
Social media isn’t connection. A text message isn’t a conversation. Most of us will never get to the point of switching off by taking our own lives, but each of our lives would be enriched by more genuine communication, conversation and kindness.
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