Challenges and Changes
Life revolves around us, and sometimes we want to get off.
How do I feel about suicide? I have mixed views.
I value human life in all forms and functions and believe that everyone has a role to play and a purpose to fulfill. Do we have a right to cancel our fare and to bail out on those we love and those who love us? Everyone has a different view, and many believe it is selfish.
I am a Funeral Celebrant. I celebrate funerals, I celebrate lives lost to disease, accident, age and yes suicide. I work with those preparing for the death in palliative care and aged care. Those who want control to the very end. And to some degree, I believe that suicide is indeed taking control to the very end of that persons journey and life.
A medium once said that the souls he sees who have suicided have the deepest regret, and usually didn't intend to actually go through with it. They shocked themselves when they were suddenly on the other side and looking at their families and friends wondering what they had done to them. They are sadder on the other side than they were here with us as the stark realisation hits them of the impact their life and their death has had on the people they were in some way trying to protect.
This week, I took my celebrancy "business" to a new level by adding a Facebook page. I thought it was a way of reaching out to people, and of providing uplifting and motivational pieces to those who needed it. To provide an avenue for people when suddenly faced with a loved ones impending death to contact and to begin the process with someone they may know already and feel comfortable with.
I admit I was quite excited when I received my first private message. I was thinking it would be congratulations, or a question about a palliative care patient, or some other query, perhaps asking if I also married people.
Wrong. It was a suicide note.
The practicalities of receiving it provided a new challenge. Phoning police, finding out his mobile number, asking what was happening in his life of people who may have known him. I'm still waiting for those answers, and it may take some time too.
The other questions it raised I can answer though.
While I felt concern for the man in question, I didn't feel that I could have done anything, as I had no control, no knowledge of his whereabouts or his situation at the time. I felt that I had already provided a very valuable service to him by providing an outlet for him to speak his mind and heart fully and openly without fear of recrimination or of having his mind changed when it was so obvious that he felt so strongly he needed to complete this final act.
Many may think that I am heartless for thinking this, but when someone reaches this point of their life, they will attempt many times before succeeding. They will struggle with all manner of things in their life and eventually they will complete it.
Some will never have the opportunity of using a social media page, and a professional service to outline their thoughts.
I believe he is resting in peace.
How do I feel about suicide? I have mixed views.
I value human life in all forms and functions and believe that everyone has a role to play and a purpose to fulfill. Do we have a right to cancel our fare and to bail out on those we love and those who love us? Everyone has a different view, and many believe it is selfish.
I am a Funeral Celebrant. I celebrate funerals, I celebrate lives lost to disease, accident, age and yes suicide. I work with those preparing for the death in palliative care and aged care. Those who want control to the very end. And to some degree, I believe that suicide is indeed taking control to the very end of that persons journey and life.
A medium once said that the souls he sees who have suicided have the deepest regret, and usually didn't intend to actually go through with it. They shocked themselves when they were suddenly on the other side and looking at their families and friends wondering what they had done to them. They are sadder on the other side than they were here with us as the stark realisation hits them of the impact their life and their death has had on the people they were in some way trying to protect.
This week, I took my celebrancy "business" to a new level by adding a Facebook page. I thought it was a way of reaching out to people, and of providing uplifting and motivational pieces to those who needed it. To provide an avenue for people when suddenly faced with a loved ones impending death to contact and to begin the process with someone they may know already and feel comfortable with.
I admit I was quite excited when I received my first private message. I was thinking it would be congratulations, or a question about a palliative care patient, or some other query, perhaps asking if I also married people.
Wrong. It was a suicide note.
The practicalities of receiving it provided a new challenge. Phoning police, finding out his mobile number, asking what was happening in his life of people who may have known him. I'm still waiting for those answers, and it may take some time too.
The other questions it raised I can answer though.
While I felt concern for the man in question, I didn't feel that I could have done anything, as I had no control, no knowledge of his whereabouts or his situation at the time. I felt that I had already provided a very valuable service to him by providing an outlet for him to speak his mind and heart fully and openly without fear of recrimination or of having his mind changed when it was so obvious that he felt so strongly he needed to complete this final act.
Many may think that I am heartless for thinking this, but when someone reaches this point of their life, they will attempt many times before succeeding. They will struggle with all manner of things in their life and eventually they will complete it.
Some will never have the opportunity of using a social media page, and a professional service to outline their thoughts.
I believe he is resting in peace.
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