With the
holiday season here upon us, amongst all the celebrating and warm wishes, we
must remember that not everyone is filled with holiday cheer and are having a holly
jolly good time. By this I don’t mean that we have a Scrooge on our hands, who
instead of wishing everyone a happy holiday is going around shouting bah humbug
while wearing an unpleasant scowl across their face but rather people who are
hurting inside and can’t bring themselves to open up about it out of fear of
ridicule and/or judgment by their peers.
This world
makes people feel bad about expressing their feelings, that something is wrong
with them if they are not of the same mindset as the masses and that
unfortunately is the reason why most avoid being transparent. Because of this
they keep their true identify hidden and I don’t mean one of superpowers and
superior crime fighting abilities but more so one of overwhelming sorrow and
soul shattering pain, their own personal mental war.
No matter
who is around them and/or what gift they unwrap the anguish that burns inside
of them will not simmer, if anything it burns hotter and more out of control
during this time of year. For most it is hard to believe that during times of
such happiness that someone could be suffering so, but this is reality and a
truly dangerous one at that. They are a ticking time bomb waiting to go off and
without someone to cut the correct wire they will someday explode, leaving
nothing more than a memory and a trail of broken hearts and tortured souls with
so many unanswered questions and regrets.
So act now,
show the people in your life how much they mean to you while they are still here
to appreciate it; don’t wait until they are six feet under and you are left talking
to a tombstone. Be aware of the body language, pay attention to the subtle
clues and most importantly don't be afraid to get involved and if necessary
help them find professional help. Sometimes a shoulder to lean on and an open
ear could do wonders for someone’s mental state, it could be the best gift they
received all year and in some cases even a lifesaving one.
Also these
individuals can be anyone from anonymous stranger, someone you may see on a
regular basis but not give much thought to, or even a friend or family member,
you just never know. This problem is not exclusive to one group or another, so
don’t believe that this couldn’t happen to you or your friends/family because
doing so would be completely foolish and possibly have devastating consequences.
While
you're thinking of what you want for Christmas there are others who are
fighting with thoughts of suicide. Look after each other this holiday season
and don't risk getting the gift you always wanted but losing the person you
forever loved. This holiday season encourage your loved ones to have anything
but a "silent night", encourage them to share their feelings and to
let you know if there are any problems they are experiencing emotionally,
mentally and/or physically. Don't just go through the motions, truly love.
Our brothers and sisters are hurting and as we worry about what gifts to buy each other and who’s bringing what to the family dinner they are searching for a reason to continue on. We don't need to be visited by three spirits to know something has to change, be like the Grinch and let your heart grow three sizes this holiday season, trust me the world will be a better place because of it.
MJM
