Linkin Park's Somber Reminder

CREDIT: Burak Cingi/Redferns

Yesterday as I was driving down the highway I heard of the death of Chester Bennington, former front-man of Linkin Park. Tragically, he died by suicide.

It's always shocking when someone takes their own life. And so terribly sad.

For me this is a somber and sobering reminder that healing isn't just a 'nice to have', but can mean the difference between a good life and a miserable one, or in this case, life and death.

We often trivialize our trauma, and our mental and spiritual wellbeing. And instead of addressing it and healing, we push it down and it just snowballs until we can't stuff it down anymore and then often, vices (drinking, drugs etc.) come in. Then depression or anxiety can follow. And ultimately, in some instances, death.

Only a few months ago we lost the iconic rock singer Chris Cornell to the same fate. Since the two front-men were friends, some people believe that Chris' suicide spurred Chester's. I hope that Chester's doesn't inspire anyone else to take their lives and continue this morbid domino effect.

But it does show us something - we all matter.

As cheesy as that may sound, it's true. Our choices affect other people. I know at times, we feel alone, we feel small, like we don't matter. I feel that way too sometimes. But it's not true, we're not alone and what we do does matter. It matters to everyone who loves us, everyone who's lives we've touched. My heart goes out to Chester's wife and kids.

Even if we don't reach the point of suicide, a life lived unhappy, fearful, or apathetic still affects those around us. It affects the decisions we make, how much we achieve, how much love we share. It's like a bubble of radiation around us. It even picks our friends for us.

When the vices come in, many people opt out of our lives. Not because they don't love us, but they may not like everything that goes along with our vice of choice (perhaps that's being unreliable, creating drama, etc.). And people who share our vices opt in. It's great to make new friends, but there's one thing that makes this toxic - it creates a sense of normalcy. When we're surrounded by people doing something long enough, it seems normal, no matter what it is. So if we surround ourselves with others who are emotionally unwell, it becomes the norm and people can then spiral down together. This is often why people who have just gotten out of rehab will avoid their former drug/alcohol circles.

Or it can go the opposite way, and we can completely isolate ourselves, losing our friends to the dark corners of our depression.

As scary as it may seem, all we need to do is take the first step - Ask for help.

PLEASE, if you are feeling suicidal, reach out for help. Call (604) 872-3311 in Vancouver.

Or visit Canadian Suicide Prevention to find your local crisis hotline number.

Your life matters.

~Wishing you a peaceful road, wherever it may take you <3