Normally, I reserve the Sunday Updates for monthly members. But this time, I wanted to share something with everyone who follows me. Today, I feel comfortable enough to talk about it.
Though, some of you who are close to me already know.
Last Monday, right before my live stream on YouTube, I got a phone call regarding a family member. It's one of those calls that you never want to receive. In my case, it's the second one in about two years.
My brother had shot himself.
I was probably closer to Brian than I am with any member of my family. And the news of this shattered my world. To be honest, I'm still having issues handling everything. However, Brian wouldn't want me to crash and was constantly telling me how proud he was of what I've done and what I've become. So, degrading like I have this week feels like I'm taking something away from those experiences.
I guess part of why I'm really not all that well is because, in 2019, my son ended his life. That makes two suicides in as many years.
Why Am I Telling You This?
I'm not looking for sympathy. You don't need to say anything, really. I am telling you this as an explanation as to why I've been silent for the past week. I haven't really done much on social media, haven't uploaded videos, and wrote one single blog post yesterday for CrossingColorado.com.
I have been in a bad way and you have to take care of yourself if you want to continue helping others. So, I needed to take a break and deal with everything going on. And, unfortunately, this ride hasn't come to a complete stop.
Secondly, I want to take this moment to remind you of the importance of mental stability.
I often talk about how fitness improves brainpower. Mostly, it's to share how effective you can be by mixing in a fitness routine as it helps you process information, improves memory, and even aids in your mood. In other words, fitness helps you become a better writer overall.
But I don't often talk about how negative emotions and feelings can lead to utter destruction. Well, outside of dealing with impostor syndrome.
Mental Health is Vital!
My brother wasn't mentally well. I watched as he slowly degraded over the past seven years. But no matter how often I talked to him or offered advice when he asked, he still didn't make the best decisions to help guide him to a better place.
It doesn't make you any less of a person to seek help. Not everyone can handle the same loads of stress the same way. You can't compare your successes and failures against someone else. We are all unique and have specific needs and wants.
Don't simply look for the easy answer. Because in most cases, those quick answers don't exist or have the potential to make things far worse. You won't wake up one morning and be instantly happy. It will take a lot of work and sacrificing bad habits to make those kinds of changes that will lead you down happier paths.
One of the worst things about mental health is that many people will simply refuse help or won't take their problems seriously until it's too late. You have to want help while making the decision that you want to be better. And that's what leads many to fail...not thinking they need the help in the first place.
If you're having mental health issues, seek help as soon as you can. Don't think that you can take the load all on your own. Remember that almost every problem in life is temporary. Things can improve if you take the steps to make it happen. Yes, those first steps will be the hardest of your life. But everything clicks into place once you build momentum for yourself.
When I left a relationship of 14 years and my two girls behind in 2016, it was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. I didn't know if I was going to be able to handle it all, especially since that was the first time I've ever been so far from my babies. It tore me to shreds inside. But I know that if I didn't make those changes, I wouldn't be here today to write about it. In fact, my heart stopped shortly before moving to Los Angeles. It was ever so brief, but it was enough to make me realize I needed to change.
Your Brain is the Most Important Organ
The fitness of your brain helps you process information. But that's only part of the equation of being able to handle whatever life throws at you. In my opinion, mental health is far more vital to existence than physical strength. And being able to care for yourself while being comfortable in your life is a key element to living well.
Always be aware of yourself. Because all it takes is one fleeting moment to make a drastic decision that will ultimately affect and change the lives of those around you in a negative way. No problem is too great if you're willing to put in the work to better yourself.