A Prayer Please

To anyone who reads this, I ask for a prayer for veterans. Very close to me, one is struggling. In complete darkness but trying to reach for the light.

They need our prayers. You may know a veteran but you most likely will not know the darkness and sadness they carry. Pray for them. Be kind to them.

To the soldier coming home. Please be aware of the darkness that may come. It’s ok. Don’t be ashamed of the darkness. Just breathe and reach out for help. Keep reaching until you find that hand that will grab ahold and help you through.

Please

Soldiers. Veterans.

We, government and citizens, do not take care of our soldiers. Our veterans. We ask them to do things and make sacrifices that we are afraid to do in dreams. Dreams we call nightmares.

We yank the alcohol from hands and replace it with a gun. Saying “Defend”. Back home and battle worn, we yank the gun out of their hands and replace it with alcohol. Saying “Deal”.

We need to do better.

Afghanistan II

Dear Veterans,

I won’t lie and say I understand the pain, the anger, the despair… But I know others who do… As my mother tells me “This is reminiscent of Vietnam” and I’ve listened to the stories of those who were there… So please, as your wounds are reopened, reach out to those who’ve walked this path before…

A Vietnam vet, as I said thank you, told me thank you but it didn’t matter… That is not true… Because you do matter and what you did matters… And we must always have you, the soldier… During peace time and wars…

So as I say thank you I ask that you please take care of you and know that you mattered then and you matter now.

With love, gratitude and respect,

a minute in the mind of darkness…

This is what living with mental illness feels like:

I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit. I want to quit.

I am not going to quit.