Thankful to be Alive

Thankful to be Alive

AFSP Out of Darkness Walk

On November 1, 2015, I volunteered for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of Darkness Walk.  I don’t know how I stumbled upon the event or the opportunity to volunteer, but I was glad that I did.

Organizers ask that volunteers be on site by 10:45 am and of course when I arrived organizers were already there.  I worked at a table with several over volunteers under the photo tent (the tent where walkers took photos with their team of one or more people).

It rained all day and although the walk did not start until 2:00, people steadily poured in (no pun intended) to honor their commitment to volunteer or walk, but most importantly to honor their commitment to those that they had lost to suicide.  Not all walkers had lost someone, many were survivors themselves and others never attempted suicide, but had contemplated about doing so.

As we handed out signage with the team names on them and as I watched them have their photo taken, I really admired their commitment to support the cause in honor of their loved ones.  It was also very emotional as I sat there and wondered if the deceased knew, while they were alive, how much people really cared and whatever made them doubt that their life was not worth living.  I didn’t want to think about it for too long or too hard, but I couldn’t help but feel bad that a life had been lost at the hands of the deceased.

There is far more to my emotions on that subject than I’m sharing here, but that’s another story.  I will say this, I am so thankful to be alive.

Even though the Out of Darkness Walk is over, you can still make a donation.  My AFSP page is still open and you can click here to donate.  Please consider donating.

“Every day presents another opportunity to hit the reset button on your life.” Charita Cadenhead, Renew Refresh Reset Your Life