Add to that the myriads of issues that hammer us in living life and that just about covers everybody. Connection and community matter to the human being!

This week has been a challenge to say the least. A few surprises, a couple of heartbreaks, and some powerful lessons that affect all of us. Life is hard, it requires intention and the ability to cope with all it throws at us. Thankfully for me my faith informs me that there is a place where things can be different here, and through eternity. Some days it is all I can hold on to. Regarding my own addiction (I am just shy of 40 years drug free), much of my behavior is driven by my desire to escape and avoid. Many times, I am just trying to avoid dealing with my own emotions and my own crap. I think its easier … but its not. Another big component of my addiction was bringing down the barriers that cause me to feel I don’t fit in, again the plan didn’t really work.

Without Hope We Are Without Hope

I have been reading a book entitled “How Then Should We Live” by Francis Schaeffer. He was a brilliant author that wrote a lot about life in the 70’s and 80’s. It amazes me how relevant what he says is for today. Most of his writings are heavy reads that deal with the issues of humanism and life disconnected from God. In the book I mention he points out that once we lose hope of purpose and meaning in life it all falls apart. What concerns me is many today, especially our young people are there. That’s the point of my title, “People Need Propping Up Addicted or Not.” The people you care about really need your support.

Some Heartbreaking News

I am embarrassed to say but I learned this week that Amy Bleuel passed away over seven years ago. Most would not know her by name, but many would know her by the movement she started, Project Semi-Colon. The tagline for her vision was: “Your story isn’t over.” That’s what the semi-colon means, the author could have used a period, ending the sentence, but instead used a semi-colon because there was more to say. Sadly Amy died by suicide.

When I read that I was overwhelmingly sadden.

I am not saying Amy was without hope, I never knew her well enough to know that. I do know she brought bucket loads of hope to millions of people through her work. Lauren, and I were just two of those people. The movements aim is “presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury. This short summary of a Washington Post article , and a piece written by a fellow suicide advocate who knew and honored Amy give a fuller picture of her life and work.

The Mission of the Movement

• Reducing stigma: We want all parts of society talking about suicide and taking action to maintain good mental health, so that it is as normal as talking about and maintaining physical health.
• Encouraging help-seeking: We want more people who are experiencing emotional distress to seek help before they become suicidal.
• Providing the appropriate support: We want to ensure that when people in emotional distress seek help, they receive appropriate support from the people or organizations they approach and that they are offered appropriate options.
• Reducing access to means: We want it to be harder for people experiencing severe emotional distress to have access to the means to take their own life.
• Reducing the impact of suicide: We want to ensure that people affected by suicide get the support they need to cope with the impact on their life.
• Improving data & evidence: We want there to be better official data about suicide in England, and more evidence about effective suicide prevention. Those working in suicide prevention should find it easier to obtain this data and evidence.
• Working together: We want organizations with an interest in suicide prevention collaborating with each other to make a bigger difference.

The Project Semi-Colon site is well worth bookmarking and sharing with people you care about, the mission can relate to those we love in addiction as well.

Never Stop Lifting Up or Looking Up

In the article referenced above written by Dese’Rae L. Stage she says . . .

“I’m guessing Amy didn’t know how deeply she affected so many people. I’m guessing she didn’t think there was a rescue boat for her, but I think it was just a foggy night and she couldn’t see her lighthouse.”

One of the things I often say to young people when I speak at school is “You can get through everything life throws at you but you will never get through it alone.” Here is a wonderful story of a school I spoke at in Connecticut, “Never Forget You Are Seen” If you would like to hear an amazing story about a girl from this school send an email to vinny@wechoselove.com with “Send Me The Hope”.

If you are fighting a mental health issue, an addiction, a combination of both or something entirely different, its important you never forget that, “You Are Seen“. If you love someone that is fighting for their lives please be the lighthouse that Amy may have lost sight of.

Our tendency when we are living with addiction or mental health issues is to isolate and disengage. As people who want to love and support them we can’t let that happen. Yes, the work is on us! The post “Leave Me Alone” speaks more about this and what we can do.

Helpful links for crisis prevention:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800–273–8255

Warmline.org contains links to warmlines in every state. Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. If you want to take action, consider donating your social media data for suicide prevention research at ourdatahelps.org.