Reach Out For Help....

My father got the phone call on our way home from our most recent fishing excursion, and I knew something had gone wrong, terribly wrong. 

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry" was all my father could say.  He went ashen white as he stared blankly out the window of our car.

One of his best friends, former co-worker,  hunting and fishing buddy, had committed suicide.

Life had come up and smacked us in the face.  Miles burned by without much to say other than to soak up the somber news.

Today we attended his funeral.  Full military honors, 21 gun solute and a church full of mourning people.  Stories were told of his character, his love for family, the little things he did to brighten others lives. 

My father's friend committing suicide and the packed church at his funeral got me thinking long and hard about why things ended as they have.  Nobody will ever know why this happened as that secret was taken into the afterlife.  

The human mind is an intensely powerful thing.  It makes us forget what is important, and how many people do love you.  Here you have a gentlemen that was loved by hundreds and my guess is that he felt like he was on his own personal island of depression. 

I have dealt with anxiety issues and have felt the power of imbalance.  It can make you think in ways no other will or can understand unless they too have gone through it.  While suicide has and will never be an option,  I understand what our minds can make us do

What I want everyone to take from this is that if you ever feel like your by yourself....you are absolutely not.  Think of that church today.  It was full.  FULL.

If you do feel alone, make yourself this promise now to reach out for help.  Tell someone what's going on.  Dont be a tough guy and keep it all within because it doesnt work.  Talk to a friend, a co worker, anyone. 

Start the process of going to see a trained professional.  The old stigma of seeing a shrink makes you a weak person is as far from the truth as possible.  Try thinking of your brain as a muscle.  When you pull a muscle, you rehab it.  The same goes for your knoggin.  It can only get better

Again, reach out and talk.  There's more people out there who love you than you know.