I was surfing blogs today and I came across a post by Debt about people who were so in debt they wanted to commit suicide. I commented on the page, but I wanted it to be on my blog too since I felt so strongly:
“You might think I’m too young to know about debt (never been in debt either) but suicide is a subject people from any age can look at — the big picture:
Debt is one of those problems that is both externally and internally damaging. But life is more than what’s in the bank (or isn’t); to be happy takes more than lack of complications. Happiness isn’t effortless and it’s more of a mental choice than a mood.
Suicide to relieve the stress of debt is especially sad because it’s not your “self” that you face issues with, but your situation. You have to want to be at peace with yourself to really get through anything.
Projecting your thoughts about the despair of your situation into feelings of worthlessness is a great disservice to your “soul.” The person in the middle of all this trouble, you, needs to be treated well to get well.
Try to work towards a better financial state by being honest to yourself and others and following better spending habits in the future. Everyone goes through bad times, some worse than others, but your actions define you who you are. Don’t be afraid to live.“
I’m only in college and spend carefully so that I won’t have problems with my budget, but I can understand how sometimes people may end up in a financial crunch that they might never get out of (or so it might seem at the time).
People commit suicide for a variety of reasons: in college, there is a different sort of pressure I’m aware of and it exists in every person upwards of a good degree of ambition. Some people do commit suicide thinking that they are ’saving’ themselves further misery but the event and aftermath devastates everyone else around them. Even if you don’t have a family and friends as great as some people are lucky enough to have, the value of your life will always surpass the reason for suicide. Living for others is a noble thing and by dying you will never know what you are capable of attaining. There is a potential ever present in us all.
–I really do feel this way, but I’m also counting this as my public service announcement for the day. Live well people!
Filed under: blog, life, reflection | Tagged: death, debt, life, money, self, suicide
It’s true, debt doesn’t kill people, people kill people.
Thank you so much for your posting here to help reinforce the importance of life over debt.
Nice public service.
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.
Tim Ramsey
Get out of debt squirrel — I’m trying to make up for not joining the army haha
Tim — Thanks! I enjoy creating it
good topic to reinforce and send out the message
I have known quite a few people now that have done such a thing and its tough to understand (I still dont)
Its amazing that such a common theme (debt) can be such a powerful influence on people
Keeping smiling
Paperdreamer – This is a subject that is really worrisome in our society today. So much emphasis is put on instant gratification. You see young girls with the latest designer bags and think nothing of it when they get tired of them they just throw them away. People don’t stop and think about their futures. They never save. They put everything on the Never Never (the credit card that never never gets paid off).
I personally do not believe in debt. I owe zero money. If I can’t afford it, I don’t buy it. It is as simple as that. Mind you, I am at the point in my life where that for the most part isn’t many things. But that is because I have always lived this way.
When I was a child, my mother pounded into my head save for retirement. It comes quicker than you know.
Good article. I wish more people felt the way you do.
Right on, Paperdreamer.
It’s sad to think that money (or lack thereof) would cause someone to consider taking their life.
Credit card companies suck, by the way.
Pomdog — I sense bitterness haha
Oh yeah.. they took me for a ride.
It took me a while to get back to normal.
I’m the poster boy for two things:
1. You can get out of any debt.
2. You can still watch Lonney Toons in your late 30’s.
So, there.
Pomdog!
I agree credit card debt is a nasty thing! But some debts really do take generations to pay off! Those are the ones that start nightmares :/
But luckily people don’t work themselves into that much of a pickle offhandedly.
I’d continue watching Looney Toons as well, but I don’t have cable I’m okay with the Simpsons though
.
Amberfireinus — Thanks! At some point I will have a credit card to build up a credit history, but right now there are other things!
[...] The Important Stuff I was surfing blogs today and I came across a post by Debt about people who were so in debt they wanted to commit suicide. I commented on the page, but I wanted it to be on my blog too since I felt so strongly: “You might think I’m too young to know about debt (never been in debt either) but suicide is a subject people from any age can look at — the big picture: Debt is one of those problems that is both externally and internally damaging. But life is more than what’s in the bank (or isn’t); to be happy takes more than lack of complications. Happiness isn’t effortless and it’s more of a mental choice than a mood. Suicide to relieve the stress of debt is especially sad because it’s not your “self” that you face issues with, but your situation. You have to want to be at peace with yourself to really get through anything. Projecting your thoughts about the despair of your situation into feelings of worthlessness is a great disservice to your “soul.” The person in the middle of all this trouble, you, needs to be treated well to get well. Try to […] [...]
[...] The Important Stuff I was surfing blogs today and I came across a post by Debt about people who were so in debt they wanted to commit suicide. I commented on the page, but I wanted it to be on my blog too[…] [...]