Bookish Weapon Number Thirteen

Today’s “Bookish Weapon” is not from a book so this is a rule breaker I suppose. It is from one of the authors discussed elsewhere, Jocko Willink. It is a quote from his podcast about suicide. I think it needs to be reproduced everywhere. I suppose it does not have the impact of hearing his booming voice, but the words are wisdom and may just save someone. Here it is in its entirety:

Powerful Antidote

“If you feel like life is in a place where you can’t get any lower and don’t think you can find any way out – Good! That means the ultimate challenge is ahead of you. You can only go up and it also means things are going to be tough. The storm you’re in from your perspective  seems like the storm is enveloping the whole world, but it is not. The storm you’re in – it is hard to see past it. The storm is everything, but it is not, and won’t last forever. You can get out of the storm and it will end and you will see sun again. Right now you are being tried. Forged and tested by fire and pain. Don’t fail the test! Don’t give in or quit! Fight through the pain and come out the other side stronger and tougher and better. A fighter! A survivor! A Winner! Victorious! Free from that storm. Free from the darkness!”

Use It

This was one of the best verbal “antidotes” I had ever heard for someone thinking about taking their life. Suicide is, as I write this, an epidemic among the military and young people. However, it touches all walks of life and ages. If you have lived very long you either know someone or know someone who knows someone that killed themselves. So share this with others. It is one more tool in your belt when fighting this kind of darkness. Use it!