Love is the Movement

Warning: the content of this blog post may be a bit heavy for some readers...

Tomorrow, November 13, 2009, is To Write Love On Her Arms day. If you are my Facebook friend, you probably already received an invite to this event; if not you can check it out here. This organization is so very near and dear to my heart. I won't go into too much detail about the organization, but I encourage you to check out their website if you would like more information. To Write Love On Her Arms day is a day where anyone can write the word LOVE on their arms, to support those who are fighting against depression and those who are trying to recover. On this day, just write love on your arm(s). Other people will ask why you have love written on your arms, and you tell them you are supporting To Write Love On Her Arms day, and how its benefiting a non profit organization helping stop depression, and making Love the Movement. It will achieve the goal of people knowing that there are other people out there with the same problem, and/or people who are supporting them with love.

Many of you don't know that I battled with Major Depression for about 6 years, from the time that I was 12 until about 18. During that time, I became a revolving door for many friends, attempted suicide several times and was hospitalized twice. I was also a cutter (self-mutilator) for about 3-4 years. I was so numb that cutting and seeing the blood became the only way for me to know that I was still in fact alive. There was so much going on in my life/world at that time and I didn't know how to deal with any of it. I did have some friends and family that were by my side every step of the way, but there were some that just didn't know what to do and gave up on me. I temporarily had given up on God because I felt he had given up on me. I generally don't tell many people about this part of me because of the shame, guilt, and hurt I felt and caused during that time in my life. Lately, I've been realizing that I can help others by sharing what I've been through. Because of my past is why I love this organization so much. Knowing that I wasn't alone and there were others like me is what helped me to recover. Those people that stuck by my side giving me unconditional love and support when I so desperately needed it, is what helped me to recover.

This organization helps to provide hope for the hopeless. Please, if you are able, write LOVE on your arm(s) tomorrow. Show support and love to those that are suffering, have suffered, or are on their way through recovery. A lot of times depression can be a secret and hidden illness, and you might never know if someone is suffering from it. The same goes for cutting and self-mutilating. I hid my cutting well for the most part, and when I didn't hide it so well, I was just looking for someone to notice me and my sadness. I was an honor roll student, involved in my church, involved in many student organizations, involved in dance and sports, and had many friends. A lot of people that find out about that secret, hidden part of my past are shocked; I constantly get, "but you seemed so happy." This is one reason why I'm sharing my story with you today, you don't always know when people are suffering, and sometimes they just need to be reminded that there is hope and they ARE loved.

Thanks for letting me share with you.