We asked our regular contributors through e-mail What is your go-to quote, phrase, or particular memory in life that keeps you going even in your hard times? We got many interesting responses. Here are some of them. We have just copied and pasted their responses, not editing them in any way.
1. Paraphrased “It’s not that you want to die. You just want your life as it is right now to end.”
– waiting_for_rain
2. The memory of my best friend keeps me going.
She didn’t get a chance to live her life. So on the days when I’d rather not live for me, I live for her instead.
– sleepyhollow_101
3. “My cat wouldn’t understand where I went.”
– YaCANADA
4. If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, please seek help. Here is a basic list of resources/hotlines that you can call if you are feeling suicidal, or are worried about someone who is.
United States: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) or text 741741 anytime
United States (en Espanol): 1-800-SUICIDA
United States-veterans 1-800-273-8255, Veterans Press 1
Europe Wide: 116 123 (free from any number)
Argentina: 135, https://www.casbuenosaires.com.ar/
Australia: 13 11 14
Belgium: 02 649 95 55 and for Dutch speakers is 1813
Brasil: 141
Canada: Numbers vary by region.
Deutschland: 0800 1110 111
Denmark: 70 20 12 01, www.livslinien.dk or Skrivdet.dk
Estonia: 6558 088
Finland: 010 195 202
France: 01 40 09 15 22
Greece: 1018 or 801 801 99 99
Hungary: 116 111
Hong Kong: 2896 0000 (24-hour hotline)
Iceland: 1717
India: 91-44-2464005 0 or 022-27546669
Ireland: ROI – local rate: 1850 60 90 90 ROI – minicom: 1850 60 90 91
Israel: 1201
Italia: 800 86 00 22
Malta: 179
Mexico: 5255102550
New Zealand: 0800 543 354 or 0800 505 050
Nippon:03-3264-4343 or 3 5286 9090
Norway: 815 33 300
Osterreich: 116 123
Netherlands: 0900 1130113
Polska: 116 123
Portugal: http://www.spsuicidologia.pt/sobre-o-suicidio/telefones-uteis
Seoul: (2) 715 8600
Serbia: 0800 300 303 or 021 6623 393; Online chat: http://www.centarsrce.org/index.php/kontakt
Singapore: 1800 221 4444
Slovenia: 116 123
South Africa: LifeLine 0861 322 322; Suicide Crisis Line 0800 567 567
Sverige: 020 22 00 60
Switzerland: 143
UK: 08457 90 90 90 or text 07725909090 or email jo@samaritans.org or 116123 (freephone and 24/7)
Uruguay: 7pm to 11 pm – Landlines 0800 84 83 (FREE) 2400 84 83 24/7 – Cell phone lines 095 738 483 *8483
Useful Websites
Dutch – www.113online.nl
Greece – http://www.suicide-help.gr/
International – http://www.befrienders.org/index.asp
Spain – http://www.telefonodelaesperanza.org/
United States – http://www.suicide.org/suicide-hotlines.html
Uruguay – www.ultimorecurso.com/uy
– eDgAR-
5. I procrastinate a lot, to the point of self-sabotage. The only thing that gets me out of it is “he who does not obey himself will be commanded. ”
– AblePanda
6. My mother’s scream. This low, ungodly wail without tears, like a mortal wound, when she found out that my younger sister had died in a car accident. I’ll remember that sound for the rest of my life, and the way she raced at me, grabbed my face in both of her hands, and wail-screamed, “this wasn’t your fault” before falling to pieces.
It’s been six years. My family is closer than ever but none of us have recovered from the loss. Whenever things get overwhelming, I just think of that wail and realize that no matter how bad it gets, I will never be the one to CAUSE that sound.
– ReallyMissTea
7. The memory that keeps me from attempting suicide is when I tried it the first time.
– ral365
8. “Don’t kill the person inside you who wants to be alive.”
Every time I feel down and/or have suicidal thoughts, I think about the part of me who went through so much sh*t to get to this place. I don’t want to throw away the effort of that person.
– whyyyshouldicare
9. The image of my mom devastated, I couldn’t do that to her.
– Position10supguy
10. “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” From Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’.
– boogoesmoo
How does one become a ‘regular contributor’ to this site? There’s so many ‘ask readers’ I would love to have written to but have never known how.
Max Planck, has said, science makes progress funeral by funeral: the old are never converted by the new doctrines, they simply are replaced by a new generation.
This applies to any human run entity and is especially applicable to politics and the old people making laws.
What is your go-to quote, phrase, or particular memory in life that keeps you going even in your hard times?
How did this question morph into suicide stories?
Covetous Shen: Hope… Do not look down, my friend. Even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
Hope for a better day, hope for a new dawn.
Or just hope for a good breakfast. You start small, then see what you can get.
The marine from Beavis and Butthead often said, “A marine can do anything.” I watched that as a young teen and have repeated it to myself countless times throughout my life. It has morphed into, for me, “If anyone can do it, so can I.” This simple phrase and the image of that marine grimacing, has helped me endure some strenuous drudgery.
My personal favorite is a Hymm written by Annie Johnson Flint.
“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”