Tonight I will make a 16 mile journey called the Overnight Walk through the streets of San Diego from Sunset to Sunrise in the name of Suicide Prevention. I walk alongside countless others who carry the names and stories of loved ones they have lost to suicide.
My connection to the cause is birthed from my own struggle of depression, self harm, and suicide attempts. Tonight I walk for the ones who have felt like giving in to lies of depression. The thoughts that tell us that we are not worthy, the feelings like things will never get better, the nights that are just too difficult to get through.
Most days those thoughts are not there. But this is the reality of depression for me, those thoughts will come. And I fight like hell to push through them. Because I believe that my story is worth telling, and I believe my life is worth living even when it’s difficult. Even when everything in me hurts like hell. and I believe in fighting for the better days. Because my God are they worth it.Even though I live with depression, I live a full and amazing life. and I don’t ever want to try to throw it away ever again.
I am living a story. I will NOT give up. _TWLOHA
So tonight I walk for the brave soul facing the hard battle. For those who live with mental illness, who sometimes struggle to find the strength just to get through the day. For those who choose to walk the road of recovery as difficult as it gets sometimes. For those who struggle to find the light in the darkness. I walk for you because I have been there too. I walk to tell you that you are never alone. I walk you to tell you that there are in fact better days ahead. I walk to tell you that there is a community here who loves you and cares whether you live or die. I walk to tell you, that on the hard days you can reach out and we will come running.I walk to tell you that you NEVER have to be ashamed of your story, no matter what it looks like. We are here for you. I walk so that you do not have to walk this road alone.
I walk for all the stories daring to be written.
There is so much life ahead to be lived. and I want to join you in the fight to get there. Because it is worth it.
YOU ARE WORTH THIS LIFE.
PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP.
YOU MATTER.
YOU ARE LOVED.
YOU ARE NEEDED HERE.