Merry Christmas and Please Don't Kill Yourself

I've known for a long time that the holidays are a peak time for suicide.  That fact hit home again last week when we learned that a neighbor had ended his battle with depression in a terrible way.  I'm always sad when I hear someone has died, but it's even worse with suicide.  I feel sad and guilty.

I've always been a fan of the movie It's a Wonderful Life.  I think it's a beautiful anti-suicide story.  However, lately, I'm wondering what would happen if we changed the story a little.  What if George and Mary were divorced?  What if George had been out of work for several months or years?  What if George didn't come from a prominent family in his community?  What if George lived in a big city?  Would his life still be worth living?  Would people still come to help pay off his debts? Could we still find a long list of good things that happened because he was born?

I wish I could be an angel like Clarence to help all the George Baileys find answers to these questions, but I can't.  So I'll just say what I think:  Your life is worth living.  People still care about you.  These people may not be the same people that you wish would care about you; they may be different people than you are expecting.  You may have to look for them.  And they may not help you pay off your debts.  But, even if you're not a George Bailey handing out loans to your friends, you've done good things in your life and there are many people who benefit because you're alive.