There has been an overwhelming amount of suicide issues in pop culture recently, from famous public figures taking their own life to shows that continue to spark controversies about what being suicidal really is. People on social media are quick to jump into these debates mostly encouraging others to reach out to those who they think need help, but they refuse to inquire beyond that mere prevention tip and ask questions perhaps like why do people choose suicide?
Named Tim Bergling in real life, Avicii’s family confirmed he committed suicide, it made me realize that no matter how comforting it may be to have someone you could reach out to for help in dark times, it’s not always enough to shut off the thoughts that go in your mind which urge you to take your own life.
“When he [Avicii] stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most—music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace” –Avicii’s family
Life will always be complicated. Kind words will always be appreciated. Still, the existential questions we keep asking ourselves will not always be answered. There is no doubt that reaching out to people who are going or have gone through something similar what Avicii had experienced would help, but even if we don’t have the answers to their questions or troubles, we should try and show them that life is indeed worthwhile and we prove this to them by not just being there for them when they need us but by being there as part of the life they thought couldn’t bear in our admittedly complex world.
(photos obtained from the facebook page of Logic & Avicii)
How do we do that?
When Logic released his song 1-800-273-825, he gave people going through tough times something to make them know they are not alone. He reached out to everyone by reminding everyone that they can find help, and has also inspired and moved us to get help without fear. Inspiration is a really powerful tool that can help us reach out to anyone in any situation; it doesn’t have to be a one-on-one conversation with a therapist or a friend asking you to not choose suicide. It just has to make a certain sound sometimes.
The world is big enough to carry loneliness, beauty, joy, and all of us together.
Sadness exists with other things like happiness for a reason, and over the past years I had to deal with the pain of a broken family, I discovered that it is for us to find the beauty of the two in either or both. We cannot be happy without appreciating sadness. We cannot remove existential inquiries in our heads without someone to maybe exchange them with. We cannot continue to exist in this world without accepting that dualities, dichotomies and even unwanted circumstances are present in this world.
Tim searched for meaning, life, and happiness. Everyone still does. Now, we could always seek out that acceptance first, for maybe that is the meaning, life, and happiness we have all been painfully searching for. It starts with one person accepting that such interdependence between us and all the pains and goodness in this world is what we have been looking for to make this world safer. Logic proved it by being an instrument to show that framework. This world exists for us to do so too.
It helps to turn to others for help in times of vulnerability as much as it does help to be the start of your own peace with yourself and the rest of the world.
Continue dreaming big, kids. Start with this small piece of advice from your fellow kids. The world is big enough to carry not only our triumphs but also our troubles and worries. In a similar manner, we also are big enough to take them all in too.
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