TwoCents | Broken Mirrors - by Samuel Ibok

I've been on this green planet for 25 years, and I can tell you that humans are capable of great things. We are equally capable of terrible things. I know a lot of people who switched from being soft and caring to be hard and indifferent. You can't really blame them because everyone has their own shege to deal with. I don't believe that people just change overnight; I believe that it is the result of an event, which occurs most often when people experience terrible things. The truth is, we can't control everything that happens around us, and while we think we are strong, we actually are not. I know what being broken feels like. I remember crying for several days because I blamed myself for the passing of my friend. I had somehow convinced myself that he wouldn't have been there if not for me. Truly, "when you are part of the last few hours of someone's life, your conception of life changes." It took a while for me to get rid of survivor guilt. And some people helped me out with that. The treasures of the dead reside in the hearts of the living. So yeah, discard the mindset that you don't need people. My dear, you need people. I believe that the biggest resource is people. There are people who have been through terrible things and are willing to help you through your issues if you allow them. Now, it could be tricky because we (mostly men) tend to bottle up our pain and just go with the flow. Please speak to someone and experience freedom. I know that before saying things on the road, you must first look into the bushes because we don't want our secrets exposed. However, we need people. You don't want to stay broken for too long; it's extremely messed up. If you notice someone is in pain or if you think something is wrong, lend a helping hand. Make an offer to help or ask them if they are fine. They may reject the help, but they would at least know people see them, which is a good thing. No one wants to be hidden. We want to shine, but most of us don't know how to go about these things. We tend to see just the great part of people's lives, and we don't ever think to check the back story. Please, don't suffer in silence. There is no freedom in ending your life. Greener pastures may have insufficient grass at times, just as half a loaf of bread may be spoiled bread. It seems there's a battle in everyone's mind, and mental health issues are on the rise. We've got to stay strong, share our issues, and receive help. You can't DIY everything. Mental health is a serious issue. Again, mental health is a serious issue. Sadly, many people have faced so much betrayal that they feel like everyone is out to hurt them. This is why people reject help. I've been there, so I know what it feels like. Fellow comrades, you don't want to convince yourself that everyone wants to hurt you. That implies that you will live as though you are alone. Loner ma pa mi na!That's not sexy! Take a mental swerve and accept help. Mental health is real. I hope we all do better by showing and giving love. Our closets know us better. Stay strong. How are you doing? Be sincere.

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