This One's Gonna Be Hard

It’s unfortunate, but sometimes suicide is what it takes to wake us all up when it comes to mental health. And, as expected of human nature, we tend to wake up even more when a celebrity takes their own life. Two well-known people—Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain—ended their lives this week, and the world was in shock. How can two people like this decide to take their own lives? They touched so many with their talent and influence, and, yet, they’re no longer here. In the blink of an eye, they’re both gone. Just like that. 

We may never know the reasons why, and I don’t think that’s really important. They could have been struggling for years, or it could have been something more recent. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. What I do know is that talking to someone when you feel as if something “isn’t right” is good practice. 

I’ve made emotional and mental wellness a priority in my life because I know it's just as important as taking care of my physical health. I’ve found balance by going to counseling consistently, praying, working out, and making good decisions about my environment—what I listen to, watch, people I hang around, etc. It works for me. 

I encourage everyone reading this to make your emotional and mental health a priority. If it means cutting toxic people out of your life, taking time off, or talking to a professional, do that. We need you here.