11 years without Tyler.
July 18th never gets easier. It’s been 11 years since I lost my brother to suicide and not a day goes by that I don’t think about his laugh, his heart, and the life he should still be living.
Each year I try to write something that captures the pain I feel, the love I felt, and the lessons this grief has taught me. But this year, the words have been harder to find. Maybe because I’ve felt the weight more than usual.
What I can say is this…
Mental health doesn’t discriminate.
It doesn’t care how strong you look on the outside. It doesn’t care how many people love you. It doesn’t care about the job you have or the money you make. And I know that not just because I lost my brother, but because I’ve faced those same dark moments myself. There were times I didn’t think I’d make it either. Times I believed the lie that the world would be better off without me. But I’m still here. Somehow. By the grace of God, I’m still here. If you’re struggling right now, I see you. You are not alone. You are not broken. And your story is not over. It’s truly OK to not be OK!
Tyler’s life matters. Your life matters. My life matters. Don’t make a permanent decision to a temporary problem!
Let’s keep having these conversations. Let’s keep checking on each other. Let’s keep choosing life even when it’s hard.
I miss you every single day Tyler! I carry you with me. If you’re reading this and you need someone…message me. No questions asked.
#MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #SuicidePrevention #ForTyler