I stumbled onto a simple little song last night that causes a strong emotion in my heart every time I listen to the words, by Iris DeMent. Sometimes something hits you at exactly the right time, and leaves an impression, and that may be the case with the song “My Life.”

Last week there were two suicides in the news, and thousands that were not. While Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain shocked everybody with their decision, someone we know may be thinking about suicide right now, maybe have been for a very long time. It took me about twenty minutes to write that last sentence. That’s how hard a subject suicide is. I am no expert on the subject but I don’t think that most families that suffer with this sadness are either. From memory there are three people that I knew well, at one time or another, that took their own life, and we all go through hard times at one time or another, but most of us recover. I think, in the end, most of us are private people that are guarded in what we share and with who. That makes suicide a very private thing, even when so many are waiting and eager to help.

That brings me back to this song that is filled with despair, and a chorus that contradicts each verse. Please find help. Please reach out. There is a chorus waiting to be sung by you.

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