Puzzle Piece

Before I begin writing, let me first state emphatically that I am not suicidal or depressed. I have simply been watching a good show which has got the wheels in my head spinning…

As much as we hate to admit it, a lot of times, how we feel about ourselves comes from the events and people around us. It comes from our own decisions, as well as the words and actions of others. It’s all a bunch of puzzle pieces.

When someone commits suicide, or attempts it, or even just considers it, we look for that one reason that will answer the question “why?” But it rarely is one reason. It’s a series of reasons. It’s a myriad of puzzle pieces coming together. And the picture those pieces make is dark, bleak, empty. It’s a picture of utter aloneness.

When someone commits suicide, perhaps you’re on one of that person’s puzzle pieces. Perhaps I am. And it usually isn’t intentional. It’s simply a decision we made that seemed harmless at the time. Or perhaps a decision we knew was harmful, but it was really no big deal in the grand scheme of things. It was no big deal to you anyway. Or me. Or those other people. But when the puzzle pieces are all put together, it can be harmful.

Anytime you decide to tell a lie about someone, no matter how insignificant you think it might be…

Anytime you choose to listen to a lie about someone, and believe it…

Anytime you choose to tell someone else what you’ve heard…

You become a puzzle piece of that empty picture.

Anytime you tell someone to just ignore the lies being spread about them…

Anytime you tell that person it’s no big deal…

Anytime you tell that person they’re just over reacting and taking things too personally…

You become a puzzle piece.

Anytime you try to silence someone from speaking out against the lies…

Anytime you accuse the person of just trying to create drama…

Anytime you shut off your phone to avoid the drama…

You become a puzzle piece.

Anytime you ignore the cries…

Anytime you ignore the signs…

Anytime you ignore the pain…

You become a puzzle piece.

Anytime you choose to believe a person’s reputation is truth…

Anytime you choose to believe and think it’s acceptable to proposition someone because of her reputation…

Anytime you choose to believe and think it’s acceptable to grab or smack her ass because of her reputation…

You become a puzzle piece.

Anytime you call her a whore, or bitch…

Anytime you tell her she’s fat, or stupid…

Anytime you insult her character or appearance…

You become a puzzle piece.

Every decision we make in what we choose to say…

Every decision we make in what to believe about another...

Every decision we make in our actions towards another…

Gives us the potential to become a puzzle piece in that empty picture.

I’m not saying we have to be there every minute for every person. I’m saying we need to be aware of how our seemingly insignificant actions can affect someone when we least expect it. I know I have been a puzzle piece before. I know I may be a puzzle piece right now for one or more people. I can only pray to be more aware of this potential, and pray that puzzle of aloneness never gets put together… that I can change things and become a puzzle piece of a brighter picture.