Today is RUOK? Day.
“A national day of action that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones.”
The goal is to remind us all to take a moment to ask those around us if they ‘are ok’, to reach out and make a connection and perhaps stop a small problem becoming a big one.
Many bloggers have written touching, personal posts about how suicide, depression, or mental health has touched their lives. You can find them all linked at My Big Nutshell.
My blog post isn’t inspiring, or moving… in fact it’s quite boring…. but it’s still important.
I’m a lucky person.
Not lucky enough to win the lottery, or to have a million pairs of shoes, or a rich and kind Uncle.
I am luckier than that.
My life has been blessed with many, many good things, but I am not immune to hardship.
I have had my fair share of difficulties and I’ve faced things in my life that I never thought I would get through, but I have.
I haven’t gotten through these things without moments of fear, without falling in a heap now and then, without wondering if I could just walk away and not have to face it. Sometimes I’ve gotten through by withdrawing from the world, by totally ignoring the warning signs and pretending everything was ok when it wasn’t.
But I am lucky.
I am lucky because I have people in my life, lots of people in my life, who know me, who love me and who ask if I’m ok. I have people in my life who just quietly step up and help, without pushing me, without making me feel uncomfortable and without making a fuss. I have people in my life who refuse to walk away and believe me when I say I’m ok when really I’m not.
I am lucky because I am ok.
Today I am reminded to take a moment and make sure the people in my life are as lucky as I am. To make sure they have someone to ask them if they are ok, and someone who knows them well enough to not believe them sometimes.
If you are not ok, or if you need help, or just someone to talk to Lifeline offers 24/7 telephone counselling on 13 11 14 and you can find them online www.lifeline.org.au Or for more options have a look at the RUOK I Need Help Page.
For more fabulous posts for RUOK? Day check out My Big Nutshell’s RUOK? Day Bloggers Collective.
Your post isn’t boring Kate – it’s a reminder for most of us just how lucky we are :)
Love it. We so rarely stop and realise how lucky we are. I am slowly working through the many, many posts on this issue. It brings tears to my eyes that so many of us care.
Lovely post for R U Ok Day Kate. Such wonderful exposure for an important cause. I have a particularly important guest post today on my blog in support of the day, someone brave enough to share her R U Ok Day story. http://jodigibson.com.au/2011/09/15/r-u-okay-post-natal-depression-a-real-story/
Let’s all support each other and the ones we love and ask this simple question, not only today too. xx
Good one Kate, as a blogger sometimes blogging and sharing the message isn’t about who has the biggest story to be told, sometimes it’s about encouragement, and everything that comes with that.
I don’t think your post is boring at all.
I am glad you have such supportive friends and family Kate when things weren’t so ok .
This is such a great post Kate. xx