The tragic news of Robin Williams taking his own life has prompted me - I feel compelled - to come out with something. I am suicide survivor. I still have a white scar on my wrist I look at almost every day. It reminds me of October 16th, 1999, my 36th birthday. It wasnt my first attempt. It was my last. When I think back on that night, I almost cant fathom what brought me to that place. Yet I can easily remember what has carried me forward every moment since. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Its a narrowing of ones focus. Too narrow. I focus on the broader picture since then. I focus on overall achievement, not singular failure. And in the nearly 15 years since, I am the happiest I have ever been. Im so sad that Robin lost sight of that bigger picture. In 40 years he went from a mime in Central Park to cultural icon. He changed lives. He improved them. He helped people. I wish he could have seen that.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:45:12 +0000