Take Five – You’re Worth It!
To those of you who feel utterly hopeless,
Overwhelmed, think there is no way out,
Or see nothing to look forward to,
I ask you to take a few minutes,
To consider another possible solution,
Than that of ending your life…
There are people who love you,
There are those who care about you,
Even if at this very moment,
You feel unloved and uncared for,
They could be your parents,
They could be your neighbors or special…
Teachers/mentors/relatives or friends,
In the depth of your depression,
You may not be able to understand,
Or absorb how significant and dear,
You are to those who cherish you,
But you are; your life is precious,
Take five, you’re worth it,
These few minutes may,
Be enough to help you,
Put into perspective,
What you are facing,
Or think of alternatives.
Hang on for dear life,
Even if in the throes of despair,
All you see is black,
Do not succumb to suicide,
This is a permanent act,
That cannot be undone…
Even if a miracle happened,
And your attempt failed,
Your loved ones* would be,
Tormented not for days,
But for years,
What did they do wrong?
What should/could they have done,
To prevent you from reaching this place?
How could they have missed the signs?
Why did this happen?
Thank god, you are here, but…
Could this happen again?
And what about you?
If you are no longer here,
You don’t get to see or do,
All those wonderful things,
You were meant for,
Instead, all possibilities are cut off.
You don’t get to know that,
Just around the corner,
Something yellow and bright,
Is starting to rise like the sun,
Bringing you hope,
Making things feel better.
Life is sometimes SO hard,
There is no denying that,
But you must stop yourself,
You can click to read this,
You can reach out for help,
Be it to a friend, coach or therapist.
Or you can call the Lifeline helpline,
At 1-800-273-8255,
In the meantime, know,
You are not alone,
There are people who care,
Take five, you’re worth it!
*Based upon the experience of several different individuals who had loved ones attempt suicide
Note: The free Virtual Hope Box is a free app created by the VA. It provides provides tools on coping, relaxation exercises, distraction content, and positive activity thinking for anyone needing a tool to use in a time of need.
Access resources, get support at time of need and access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7.
Do you think this poem may be helpful to someone you know? If yes, please share it.
If you need to talk or are concerned about someone else, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If someone is in immediate crisis, dial 911.
It is so vital to remember that no matter what happens, there is someone in the world who would be looking out for us always… lovely poem….
You have said this so very beautifully! Yes, for every dark night there is always a brighter day after it.
Depression is a passing phase while suicide is permanent and irreversible. The thoughts of the depressed person , the after-effects of the failed act are poignantly brought out through verse.
Thank you, Bhavya and Shilpa
Your kind feedback is most appreciated and you each highlight an important point for someone who may be feeling hopeless:
1) there are people who care
2) things do/will improve
I believe that if we are able to hold these two points in mind [and reach out for help/connection] when we are going through life’s inevitable challenges, we can not only survive but thrive.
Thanks again
Beautiful Poem!
If all those who committed suicide, had this five minutes… we might still had them among us.
Kalpana,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
The after-effects of the failed act are not only familiar to me through my work but also personally…
You are most kind, Me
I think so…
Dear DorleeM,
Such a heart-touching poem!!
I like the part where you say, that they think about where did they go wrong – it is really sad that many people – are unaware of the turmoil going through their near and dear ones’ heads.. and lives. But a strong family support system, in which, a slight tension in the child is also addressed and progressively dealt with, would go a long way in treating the root cause.
A strong family and friends’ support system ensures that the person shares his/her grievances. It acts as a safety net.
Another thing is to learn not to ridicule a depressed person or make fun of them. That truly pushes them into a cell.
Thank you so much, A Walk in the Woods, for sharing your thoughts and kind feedback.
A strong support system can certainly help prevent a person from feeling alone and desperate when they face difficult situations.
Tragically though, you can also have loving families trying everything they know and can to do to help to no avail including working with family/other therapists.
Depression is tricky… even experts may misdiagnose a depressed child/teen as oppositional or school phobic… because it manifests itself differently among children/teens than it does among adults.
Furthermore, people [whether they are children or adults] can sometimes be hard to read… they may not know or be conscious of what is truly troubling them… all of which complicates the communication between the person who is depressed and those who would like to help that person.
That said, I think and hope that everything we can do to talk and open up this conversation, is one step closer to making a difference.
Dorlee,
Pausing – it’s such a powerful technique – one where you stop, breathe and wait, and breathe some more, until this storm has passed.
Hi Marianna,
I love your analogy of the Take Five with pausing… yes, it is the same and it can make all the difference in the world, for so many things.
Hi Dorleem, it is such a beautiful poem that expresses different thoughts that is experienced by the victims and comfort words that must be spoken to them. A perfect post on Int’l Suicide Prevention Day.
Vishalbheeroo,
Thank you for your kind feedback on this post.
It was my hope that this poem offer some comfort and/or pause for thought [as Marianna eloquently stated above].
Dorleem,
thank you so much for writing this and for raising awareness. The poem is truly beautiful and heartfelt. I’m sure it rings true for many:
“Life is sometimes SO hard,
There is no denying that,
But you must stop yourself,”
Thanks for participating in the campaign to blog for suicide prevention!
Gaby,
Thanks so much for your kind feedback on my poem and most importantly for organizing the blog campaign for suicide prevention.
The more awareness and discussion we bring to this topic, the more of a chance we have at making a difference 🙂
This is lovely and so inspirational for anyone who may read it.
You are most kind, Kathy 🙂