The thought of suicide isn’t easy for anyone to deal with, especially when it hits close to home. I have had several family members commit or attempt this over the years, and I actually found the body of a suicidal man behind my house a few years ago. Just this last week now, I heard that the local high school was on lock down because of a gun threat. The cause? An 8th grader at the junior high shooting himself in school.
In lieu of revealing my location, here’s the article that highlights the incident: Student commits suicide in hallway at junior high school. The article states that none of the students in the area knew what was going on, and they thought someone else had been shot. When I originally heard the story though (from someone with a child there at the school), I learned that he killed himself in front of the girl he liked and that he was in fact a victim of bullying. The news may state otherwise, but I think that’s just a ploy to protect the school’s reputation.
Now the question is, how do I deal with something like that? How should you deal with something similar that happens in your town? The truth is, there’s nothing you really can do. I have used this as an opportunity to talk to my younger brother about bullying because he recently got in trouble for hitting a kid in the mouth. In the episode with the man behind my house, I used it as an opportunity to secure my home better and truly get to know my neighbors. You can be sad about the situation and learn from it at the same time. That’s what I’m trying to do.
If you or someone you know has a problem with suicidal thoughts, seek help right away. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always there to talk through your problems. With a little support, you should be able to make it out of whatever situation you’re in.
There have been so many times when I’ve been sitting here wishing I could just pack everything up and move somewhere else. Maybe even as far as southern California (I live in New York now). But, alas, I cannot. I’m fortunate enough to be able to do my work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, but I couldn’t afford to leave my house and pay for living accommodations elsewhere. Still, I know there are plenty of you out there who are itching to leave and in a great position to do so. So, here are some things to consider getting order before you leave. It’ll make the transition that much smoother. Trust me, I can’t do it myself, but I spend an awful lot of time thinking about it.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hearing about a lot of breakups and divorces lately. It’s pretty depressing stuff. I’m talking about couples who have been together for 20 years and just decide to call it quits. It’s like bad news is all around. But every cloud has a silver lining, right? Not only do all of those people get to start a new chapter of their lives with fresh enthusiasm, but they also get to get over their sadness with some amazing breakup songs.
Have you ever gone on a road trip with a four-legged friend? It’s not as much fun as you might think, I’ll tell you that. That’s why you really shouldn’t just decide on a whim to take Fido along. It’s not fair to either of you. But, there are times when it can’t be avoided. Maybe you’re going on vacation and can’t find a dog sitter (and boarding isn’t an option). Or, maybe you’re making a move across country. In that case, taking the dog in car is the safest way to get her there.
Last week, I prepared a list of uplifting and positive songs for a friend who has been going through a hard time. Most of those songs I already had in one of my own playlists, but I had swapped out a few to personalize it for her a little more. That playlist of mine has helped me through one very serious challenge. But, I have to give you a word of caution about this type of playlist. You may not be able to use it ever again.
I don’t have any upcoming road trips planned (poor me), but I have a few friends who are taking a small trip. I can’t go because I have a wedding to attend that weekend. I’m sad that I’ll miss out on the good times and bonding, but the wedding should be a good time also.
On one of my favorite road trips of all time, I made an awesome playlist that spanned the duration of the drive. To this day, whenever I hear a certain song, it takes me back to the moment it was playing through the car speakers and my friends and I were belting out off-key lyrics. Was it the playlist that made the trip so awesome? I like to think so, but I’m probably not right. Still, it certainly didn’t hurt. Actually, a good friend just found out that she was awarded the Hope Scholarship on the day of our trip, so that definitely lightened the mood.
Road trips can be so much fun, but they can also be the downfall of a vacation that would have otherwise been good. A bad time in the car can spiral into arguments that last the entire trip. So, the bottom line is that you should really be on your best behavior.
I’m not such a big fan of the “99 bottles of beer on the wall” thing (is anyone?), so I like to have a few fun games in my arsenal before I head off on any road trip. This way, when someone starts singing, or telling an in-depth story about their online accounting courses, I can intercept with a “Hey; who wants to play a game?”