The workstation at the Samaritans Colchester branch
Two days ago, a friend and former colleague, Stan Horwitz, messaged me. He simply wrote, "Just checking in to say hi ... you've been quiet, and I hope all is okay."
The simple truth is that I have just been mega busy working and parenting. But that might not have been the case, and Stan wouldn't have known this.
A few years ago, we lost a dear friend to suicide. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of J, the wonderful man and friend he was, and whether I or anyone else could have done anything to save him. I wrote about J in this article.
We will never know the answer, but I have learned from being a Samaritan that sometimes simply checking in with someone is enough. Just like Stan did.
We live in a busy world. It can be overwhelming at times. But that should never be at the cost of being there for our loved ones or ourselves. And in the context of posting this on LinkedIn, many people commit suicide because their work overwhelms them, including people being mean or overly pressuring them at work.
No financial metric is worth someone's well-being, let alone their life. Be nice to everyone out there because you never know what they're going through. Love one another and be kind.
Thank you to each of our subscribers for being with us. If you're ever feeling low, please get in touch with me, or call the Samaritans on 116 123.
You are loved and have a special place in the world.
Thank you for reading. Take care of yourself and others.
Much love,
Benjamin
If you’d like to explore your light and live your most purposeful life, we have a meaningful course called Living With Purpose. You can learn more here.
We’ve had the joy of running it since 2017, and we’re about to release an online version. It's seven modules you can do at your own pace, with a notebook and a cup of tea.
It covers much of what we’ve touched on here: noticing when you feel most like yourself, understanding your natural gifts, and taking one honest step toward a life that feels more fully yours.
And if money is tight, just email us, and we’ll give it to you for free, no questions asked. Sticky Claws hasn't enrolled yet, but it’s early days.