13 Reasons

You should chose to live!

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Whatever reason has brought you to read this, be it for yourself or for someone close to you, just taking this amazng step to look can help significantly. The reason I chose to title this 13 reasons to chose to live is in reference to the show that seems to have taken over Netflix. I have watched this series and I do see the benefits this programme brings, it’s highly thought provoking and informative. However, I worry that perhaps it focuses too much on blame! Another question I ask myself is does it provide enough warning measures for people that perhaps may be affected greatly by the intense scenes. Are there enough preventative measures in place on the programme, perhaps the whole idea of the ‘shock factor’ is meant to do that in itself.

My life has been impacted by suicide.

When I was 12 I lost my uncle. He had no prior documented mental health issues and was living a very functional life. He was surrounded by people that loved him and had so many people to go to, whether he knew this or not I’ll never know. I loved my uncle like a dad, he was a highly significant part of my life.

Over the last 7 years I have fought to make peace with his death. It took me a really long time and I miss him every day but I want to channel the sadness and grief that I will always feel into helping prevent others feel that exact grief.

My reason for disclosing this to you is that not only do I want to put the reasons out there as to why you should chose to live; I also want to tell my story of how I decided “just living” isn’t enough.

Dream big, travel far and smile as often you can.

The Thirteen Reasons

Reason number 1

The Sound of Laughter

A baby’s giggle, a child’s laugh or an adults chuckle- they are all pure and beautiful to listen to. Take away the situation and context just focus on that laughter, something that is so pure has got to be a reason right?

Reason number 2

The 4 Seasons

Everyone has their favorite season but there’s no denying that each one brings joy in some way… Whether it’s the:

Joy you feel when you see the first flower or lamb in spring,
warm feeling of sun touching your skin in summer,
crunch of autumn leaves under your feat,
or the delicate brush of a snowflake on your cheek in winter.

You deserve to experience the uniqueness of each moment year in and year out. The blue sky out of my back garden this morning was beautiful

Reason number 3

Animals and pets

Whether you consider yourself to be an animal lover or not the sheer happiness that anyone can feel when we watch Marley and Me, Charlotte’s Web, Hachi, War Horse the list is endless. One of the main reasons we enjoy these films are because animals and pets bring us joy.

Have you ever come home and not had your dog run to you after being at work/school for the day? Watching their little tails wag as though their soul purpose is to wait for you to come home and make you happy. They are completely innocent and full of love.

Here’s a cute picture of my two puppies… Misha and Sky

Reason number 4

Humans

Now the reason I used the title ‘humans’ is because this is such a non-specific category. You could have a girlfriend, boyfriend, bestfriend, mother, father, grandparents, cousin, nephew or niece or even a colleague that all want you in their lives. I don’t want to specifically say parents because not everybody has both in their life or sometimes people have neither. My biological father isn’t in my life! I think that even if we have one person in our lives that cares that is one reason worth living! Even if you feel like you have none of the above, you really don’t know the impact that you can have on people’s lives. One day you could be walking down the street and smile at someone and that could change the whole course of their day? You’re important. Even if you don’t feel like it.

Reason number 5

Help others

Now this is a reason that kept me going for a lot of years. Now remember that looking after your mental health is the number one priority! But once you feel like you’ve gained control over that helping others can be very rewarding. Whether that’s volunteering, positing in a group forum or even writing your own blog you truly could help someone else. I know after the isolation I felt after going through my problems I never wanted anyone to go through that alone! Hence this blog. On all my social media platforms I forever discuss how whether my posts reach 1 or 1000 people doesn’t matter to me, if I can give one person a little help with what they are going through, then that was enough reason for me to stay alive.

Reason number 6

Books

Okay, so I’m well aware this reason isn’t for everybody. But for a significant amount of people this is one hell of a reason, including myself. Whether your a book worm now or have been a book lover in the past and have lost your way; just think about the last time you were truly engrossed in a book. Time loses meaning and reality fades, at the moment all that exists is the characters and the story and I feel like that is truly something special. If you ever start to question your existence trace your mind back to the last time you felt real emotion from words on a page. It can be quite powerful!

My favorite series of books when I was younger was The Twilight Saga, I must have read them 100 times. My favorite book as an adult has to be Wuthering Heights!

Reason number 7

Nature

Whether you are an avid walker, a outdoors enthusiast or someone who prefers to just looks out at the hills, rivers, lakes and mountains I think it’s safe to say we can all appreciate beauty. Earth truly is a magnificent place!

“Located only about 10 miles from Aspen, Colorado, the Maroon Bellsare two 14,000-foot peaks in the Elk Mountains that are reflected in crystal-clear Maroon Lake, snuggled in a glacial valley. They are the crown jewels of the Rocky Mountains and by far one of the most photographed scenes in the country.”

“Victoria Falls, aptly named Mosi-oa-Tunya – the Smoke that Thunders – by locals is a breathtaking spectacle of incomparable beauty and majesty. The largest water curtain in the world, this enormous waterfall on the Zambezi River on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe can be heard from 40 kilometers away, as the waters of the normally placid Zambezi river plummet over the edge of the wide basalt cliff into the magnificent gorge 100 meters below.”

https://vacationidea.com/getaways/most-beautiful-places-in-the-world.html

Now I may be totally bias, but I live in The Lake District in England and I believe it is absolutely stunning:

Reason number 8

Food

I mean this one deserves it’s own blog post, I LOVE food.

Food is beautiful. Think about freshly baked cake and cookies, just the smell is mouth watering. Breakfast in bed, whether its a full ‘english’ breakfast or cereals and pastries (yum) there is nothing quite like breakfast in bed.

Think of all the new flavors that will probably come around in your life time, the possibilities of flavor combinations are endless.

Reason number 9

Singing

I’m well aware that not everyone has the voice of an angel. Whether you sound like a bag of squealing cats or your set to be the next Beyonce. Sing! Sing when you feel sad! Sing when you feel happy! Just sing to the point where you drive people mad. It truly is good for the soul… Live for the times when your sat with friends screeching at the top of your lungs and the belly laughs that follow!

Reason number 10

Movies and Box-sets

This is somewhat similar to a good book. The feeling of watching a new movie that you just get your teeth into and follow from start till finish. Or when you re-watch a childhood favorite. Those box-sets you can watch over and over again (mines gossip girl). There’s no feeling quite like it. Live for that feeling.

Reason number 11

Travel

Dependent on your individual budget you might look forward to a holiday once in a blue moon, or an annual girls holiday, you may be lucky enough to travel the world at on time or another in your life. Live for the experiences that you’ve had and the ones that are yet to come.

The personal pin maps are what dreams are made of, I’ll definitely be giving those a try when I’m rich (haha).

Reason number 12

Fresh Laundry

Another one of my favorite things, NO not to do the laundry! But the smell of it once its dry and ready to go. I’m always on a mission to find the nicest smelling tablets. Here’s some of my laundry on the washing line, fun!

I’m unsure what I thought I was going to do with a fluffy dressing gown in July…

Reason 13

YOU

By far the most important reason, live for yourself! You are amazing and beautiful and special in your own individual way. You bring so much to this world without even knowing it. Don’t think you are? Message me, I’ll tell you exactly why you are wonderful.