For the first time, I’ve started a project that has me walking around all day asking myself “How are we going to make this work?” The Bread Tie Challenge isn’t for a classroom grade and it’s not something that is being pressured on me. It’s a movement that I have completely bought in to and want to see grow and succeed. With the excitement I have felt over the last week, I’ve had the opportunity to see different reactions to the project. It’s given me the perspective I need to persuade people to care.
One thing that I have found for certain is that this movement is bigger than suicide prevention. It’s bigger than walking around with a bread tie on your finger and posing for a picture for social media. This is really about being a good person. I understand people might see the words “suicide prevention” and immediately think, “Oh, that doesn’t apply to me, so why bother?” Yes, that might be true but this isn’t about just you. This is about joining together as a community and making a statement that suicidal thoughts, mental illness and depression are accepted by us. Our main goal should focus on doing anything in our power to help those who need it.
This challenge relates to “The Golden Rule” in real life. You and I might be okay today, but who knows how we’ll feel in the future. Is someone going to be there for me when I’m not at my best? Will someone pick me up when I’m down? These questions are where The Golden Rule and the Bread Tie Challenge intertwine. Today, I’m happy, but if you’re not then I am here to help, because I know there will be a day where I’m going to need help. I hope that when that day comes, someone that is happy that day will reach their hand out and help me up. I want people to care about this now so that there isn’t a moment when you do start caring only because it has entered your life tragically.
We can’t be afraid to ask questions that we don’t want the answer to. What I mean by that is, it’s hard to look someone in the eyes and say “do you need help?” I think we want to assume that person is perfectly fine. IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY! You think it’s not okay to be depressed? Well let me tell you, 1 in 10 adults in America are depressed. You think it’s not okay to have an eating disorder? There are 24 million Americans that suffer from an eating disorder. You think it’s not okay to be have a drinking problem? Around 1 out of 3 Americans suffer from alcohol dependency at some point in their life. These are just some examples, but I could go all day.
Where I’m going with this is we are human! I hate to break this to you, but at some point you’re going to be less then your best and need some help. If there is one message that I can deliver with this bread tie on my index finger, it’s that I am here to help in anyway I can to anybody, because I know one day I will probably need that persons help. So to everyone who is passing off this chance to make a difference, I hope you will reconsider. I hope you know that as a team, we can send a message to a relative, friend, or complete stranger that could give them the courage to reach out and ask for someone to lean on.
As of right now in my life, you can lean on me.
-D
Standard Santos 