The Blog of Daniel

Just my place to write without any delusions of self-importance.

Jumping the Shark

Deer in a field A friend recently asked me if I have had more good days or more bad days in my life.  Though I've some really bad days in my life, so far the good ones far outweigh the bad ones.

In the last couple years I have had a disproportionate number of my sick or disabled friends quite literally say "I give up" and within days or hours were dead.  Some even took the more proactive route and committed suicide.  With some of those friends, I knew long in advance.  Not because they made threats but just because it came up in casual conversation.  With cancer, brain tumors and such there comes a point when the bad days outweigh the good days; life has "jumped the shark" and taking the fast lane out is the less painful road for all involved.  They knew they were going to die and/or that it was 100% guaranteed that their life would not get better so they found peace before pain could find them.  People sometimes say that suicide is for cowards yet these were the bravest people I have ever known.  A coward is someone who runs from responsibility.  These people didn't run, they took charge of their destiny.  I miss them terribly but I understand.

I should add that if you're a young and healthy person and you're thinking about it, don't do it.  Bad grades, bad job or a broken relationship isn't the end of the world, it's a right of passage.  There is still time to shape your future and there are a lot of people out there willing to help you.  Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or go to http://www.save.org/

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