Suicide

Linkin Park posted the following message on their Facebook page on July 25th.

“Dear Chester,

Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.

You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you.

Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled—a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing. We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. You had the biggest heart, and managed to wear it on your sleeve.

Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.

Until we see you again,

LP”

Wow. Beautiful words. Amazing words. Truthful words.

As someone who "feels too much," these words in particular resonate with me:

"We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. "

As a kid, I was taught suicide is a sin, and therefore the dead are buried in shame. As an adult, I know better. That mindset oversimplifies suicide, an act that is in itself complex and not at all black & white, AND not to be judged by those who are left behind. Suicide is about someone's personal demons, it's not about you. 

For some of us, life gets too heavy. For some of us, we cannot see a way out. For some of us, we try and find peace the only way we know how: by bringing life to an end. For those of us who remain, let us lift up the spirit of those who could not crawl out of the trenches. If we could not carry you in this life, we will carry you into the next with prayer, and song, and love.  Your life is to be celebrated. 

The ones we lose to suicide, tend to be the most emotive. The most caring. The ones who feel too much. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be there.