Let’s not pretend every year is a good one.
I slew demons, permanently marred people, and screamed to (not at) God this year.
This was my first full year that I did not have a season of suicidal thoughts since I was 8. Instead, I realized something major. Something I think every depressed suicidal person needs to know.
We aren’t craving for the death of our bodies and the release of our souls. We’re craving for the death of our normal. Death of the habits, systems, routines, and relationships that are making us question our value and draining us beyond cruelty. We feel stuck in this “normal” no escape. No hope of change.
Well, perhaps we should do the rebellious and “hateful” thing and throw everything into chaos for a moment. We can change EVERYTHING. Let 2024 be the year we scare them. Let it be the year we stand up and do what they don’t want us to. Let us quit our jobs, call out our in-laws, and leave our malicious mothers for good. Let us walk away from everything holding us in our graves.
Let’s break the addictions. All of them. Let nothing control us. Caffeine, social media, porn, validation, or even specific people. Let’s stop arguing for the sake of a rush and start walking out.
Let us study God’s word, statistics, and PEOPLE for ourselves. Let us not take their word for it ever again. Start thinking. Thinking for yourself. Do you want to stay home 24/7 or do you have a talent you want to put into action during the week? Do you want more kids or are you just scared you will make people think less of you? Are they really your friend or do you fear being lonely? Do you want the thing or are you worried not having it will make you less than?
Let us spend hours meditating this year, and no time scrolling. Let us post our art without even a thought of the haters. Let us be truly free.
If they had healthy full lives they wouldn’t notice what you were doing enough to judge you for it. Proving they are just as or more messed up than you.
Get fit, eat good food, pray, sing, dance, find grateful hearts to fill, and READ. Read the bible, read nonfiction, and read books about different cultures.
This new year let us reintroduce ourselves not kill ourselves.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
John 12:42-43 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.