silentspace
First Post
Uzumaki, please post to let us know how you are doing!
You asked what's so good about life, and there are so many wonderful responses here! Open your heart and feel the great outpouring of love on this board, and know that everyone here cares deeply.
If I may, I'd like to help you filter through some of the responses here.
God. Many have mentioned God, religion, church, or priests (or ministers, what have you). You may have different beliefs. Or your experiences may have led you to abandon your beliefs. Please don't feel like anyone is trying to force their religion down your throat. Finding and embracing your spirituality is a wonderful thing, but it happens differently for different people. Spirituality sometimes comes to people in their time of crisis, but it doesn't always. If you are unable to find solace in religion in this, your time of need, don't despair! The question you asked, "what's so good about life" is a good one, and there are many answers that will get you through these dark times.
Many have said Take one day at a time. I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but it is excellent advice, and you need to remember it. We all do! Sometimes the most important truths are this simple. And sometimes, when a day is just too long, you need to take one moment at a time.
Don't listen to people like frankthedm. Many great philosophers said things along the lines of "happiness comes not from others but from within," but this is often misunderstood. Even famously independent individualists like Socrates and Thoreau surrounded themselves with people. Thoreau did not lock himself up alone in his cabin for months at a stretch like some believe. He interacted with people all the time (he even hosted events at his cabin!). Do the same. You don't need throngs of students and followers like they had, either. You can wrap yourself in love from a single person. Your mom. A friend. Even a pet. And yes, you should 'suffer' for the benefit of others. We all do, in order to make the world a better place. Only it's not really suffering. It's building. Building a family, a friendship, a community, a world. Building a life. Let others share their love and strength with you.
As insensitive and uncaring as this sounds, I think people like JoeGKushner are actually trying to help. The advice I think he's trying to give is not that he thinks he should be paid more, or that you're a foolish, idle youth, but that searching for happiness will always be a struggle. He just got wrapped up in his own issues and forgot to say that. And he forgot to say that the struggle is worth it, and give the reasons its worth it to him. It is a struggle. But believe the rest of us when we tell you it's worth it.
Seek professional help. I know when you posted you probably didn't want to hear this. Otherwise you would have sought professional help instead of posting here! People here saying you should see professional help does not mean they think you are a nut job! There is no shame in seeking professional help. It does not mean you are 'crazy'. It does not mean you are a failure. It does not mean you are weak. In my first post I considered mentioning professional help, but instead wrote that you should let your mom help you, knowing that your mother will try to get professional help for you. Let her. She's doing it because she loves you, not because she thinks you're a failure. She's not ashamed of you. You're not weak. You just need some help. We all need help at times. Let her help you.
You asked what's so good about life, and there are so many wonderful responses here! Open your heart and feel the great outpouring of love on this board, and know that everyone here cares deeply.
If I may, I'd like to help you filter through some of the responses here.
God. Many have mentioned God, religion, church, or priests (or ministers, what have you). You may have different beliefs. Or your experiences may have led you to abandon your beliefs. Please don't feel like anyone is trying to force their religion down your throat. Finding and embracing your spirituality is a wonderful thing, but it happens differently for different people. Spirituality sometimes comes to people in their time of crisis, but it doesn't always. If you are unable to find solace in religion in this, your time of need, don't despair! The question you asked, "what's so good about life" is a good one, and there are many answers that will get you through these dark times.
Many have said Take one day at a time. I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but it is excellent advice, and you need to remember it. We all do! Sometimes the most important truths are this simple. And sometimes, when a day is just too long, you need to take one moment at a time.
frankthedm said:
Don't listen to people like frankthedm. Many great philosophers said things along the lines of "happiness comes not from others but from within," but this is often misunderstood. Even famously independent individualists like Socrates and Thoreau surrounded themselves with people. Thoreau did not lock himself up alone in his cabin for months at a stretch like some believe. He interacted with people all the time (he even hosted events at his cabin!). Do the same. You don't need throngs of students and followers like they had, either. You can wrap yourself in love from a single person. Your mom. A friend. Even a pet. And yes, you should 'suffer' for the benefit of others. We all do, in order to make the world a better place. Only it's not really suffering. It's building. Building a family, a friendship, a community, a world. Building a life. Let others share their love and strength with you.
JoeGKushner said:
As insensitive and uncaring as this sounds, I think people like JoeGKushner are actually trying to help. The advice I think he's trying to give is not that he thinks he should be paid more, or that you're a foolish, idle youth, but that searching for happiness will always be a struggle. He just got wrapped up in his own issues and forgot to say that. And he forgot to say that the struggle is worth it, and give the reasons its worth it to him. It is a struggle. But believe the rest of us when we tell you it's worth it.
Seek professional help. I know when you posted you probably didn't want to hear this. Otherwise you would have sought professional help instead of posting here! People here saying you should see professional help does not mean they think you are a nut job! There is no shame in seeking professional help. It does not mean you are 'crazy'. It does not mean you are a failure. It does not mean you are weak. In my first post I considered mentioning professional help, but instead wrote that you should let your mom help you, knowing that your mother will try to get professional help for you. Let her. She's doing it because she loves you, not because she thinks you're a failure. She's not ashamed of you. You're not weak. You just need some help. We all need help at times. Let her help you.
