We have all heard of the tragedy on the Hudson and the story of Lashanda Armstrong. I will not rehash the details of the horrific story. I do want you to know that there are thousands of Lashanda Armstrong’s out here and I want to speak to those women who feel they are desperate and at the end of their ropes. I want you to know that even though you may feel the walls of darkness closing in around you they are not going to totally close. There will always be a ray of light to look for and find comfort in. The ray of light is within you. Find solace within yourself. Find strength within yourself. Most importantly, find love within yourself. Loving yourself is the key. Loving yourself, accepting yourself-everything about yourself is the number one priority in warding off the darkness. What is done is done. Look to tomorrow with hope. The past, your past is just that the past. Whatever transgressions you may have committed or has been committed against you, LET IT GO! We can never change the past, we can learn from the past. Learn from something from every experience, the good and the bad. Cherish and treasure the good. Take a moment and only a moment to be introspective and figure out what you have learned about the bad and what caused the bad. Then let it go and approach life with a new clarity that only longevity can give. Remove all persons that destroy your spirit. People who manipulate, control, and hurt you. Do not use “LOVE” as an excuse to stay in destructive relationships. Those persons who violate you in those ways do not love you. You are only a transitory commodity to the person, a commodity that only makes them feel good. Those persons are “happiness-stealers”; locusts who move from one person to the next for the purpose of satisfying themselves only. You don’t need them and believe there is someone out there who will love you in truest, fullest sense of the word. Don’t let “he’s my baby daddy” or continuous “I’m sorry” deter you from jettisoning those persons from your life. You must always take care of yourself first! Mentally and physically. Seek out help!! Seek out help from family. If family cannot help, seek help from friends. Don’t have friends? Seek out help from your church. Don’t go to church? Seek out help from organizations. Catholic Charities, Parents without Partners, a Friends Place, SAFE House, are just some organizations that are available to help you. There are thousands of others. Seek them out. Don’t dismiss psychological assistance. There is no “Scarlett Letter” attached to seeking out a mental health professional. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, even more so. As long as you make a commitment to yourself to break free of the darkness, have faith that you can! These organizations and persons will definitely be able to help you. Just keep searching for the light!!! Love yourself!!! Seek help!!! Believe you will overcome and transcend!!! Do not let the darkness win!!!

Parents without Partners: 800-637-7974                                                                                                                                            A Friend’s Place: 800-603-4357                                                                                                                                        Safe House: 702-564-3227                                                                                                   National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255