Teetering on the edge. Just what is needed to recharge the spirit?
Today, September 10th, is World Suicide Prevention Day.
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is a popular suicide location. (Somehow ‘popular’ seems an odd word to use in this case. It is like saying the “No.1 suicide hot spot! Get your tickets now!”)
Other ‘popular’ locations include Japan’s Aokigahara Forest (aka the ‘sea of trees’ and or ‘suicide forest’) and England’s Beachy Head. Suicide is so common in these places that signs are posted urging potential victims to seek help.
The jump from the Golden Gate Bridge is 250 feet. Most victims die from the impact of the body hitting the water which can instantly demolish the central nervous system, transect the spinal cord and rip blood vessels. Not the mention the terror of falling which can cause an immediate heart attack. Even if they make it to the bottom alive, there is always the chance of drowning and shark attacks. Reportedly, only 1% of those who jump survive.
One suicide victim who died jumping off the bridge left a note saying:
“I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
He jumped.
Histories and Mysteries 
Intense and sadly very true. The ending is a lesson to all of us. A small act of kindness, even a smile can change a life. Thanks for writing this.
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You are so welcome! Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to smile 🙂
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On a walk today with my hubby we stopped to smile at others, some were very eager to engage in conversation. They needed someone. Your words are overflowing with truth!
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Thanks! It makes me feel good to know it helped — maybe even brought happiness to someone. We all need a friend sometimes. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
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This can be more complicated than just a smile. The unfortunate soul who was looking for a smile on his way to the bridge, could be doing this in the middle of a night, thus not meeting anyone on his way. His problem could have been more than just wanting a smile.
Just saying
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Yes that is certainly true. Still you never know how you may help someone with a smile, a kind word, or an ear to listen 🙂
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Your post is a nice reminder about the subject of suicide. I worked for the GGB District for 15 years and before I went out on the bridge for the first time I was told to smile and wave to everyone—and to stop and chat with anyone who looks to be distressed.
On a side note: The sidewalks are closed to pedestrians after a certain time of night. It changes with the seasons and accommodates the early/late hours of the sunrise/sunset.
Ω
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I think it does make a difference (at least in general) if we smile at one another and make an effort to be cheerful. People need to know someone cares.
I saw the Bridge for the first time a few years ago while vacationing in San Fran. Our tour guide briefly mentioned the suicide cases but of course did not want to dwell on it. I thought it was an interesting/ sad phenomenon.
Thanks so much for your kind words! 🙂
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[…] – pix to words WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: EDGE – Words We Women Write Murtagh’s MeadowEdge witchlikeSmile at Someone Today living on the… – What does nelkumi think? ねるくみの頭の中 Ain’t Found A Good […]
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I’ve had a few suicides in my life so far of people I loved , it’s terrible. I am still mad at them really, but I also understand them. But the insane rage and confusion and hurt one feels right after one discovers someone they love has done it , it’s VERY intense.
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Yes, I have had a few also. I totally understand it — the reasons, the inclinations and emotions involved. I have a very spiritual outlook on it.
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I’ve always tried to explain to folks who get unusually weirded out by it that other cultures don’t think of suicide and hell as being “combined”. The ancient Romans for one thought it was honorable in certain situations. These days thanks to the Big 3 it gets painted as this horrific thing- “the worst death.” The Romans would have considered someone who committed it for no “real reason “to be an idiot – i.e. Over love like Marc Antony – but if someone actually had a sincere reason (like again Marc Antony sort of did because he was horrifically defeated and humiliated by Augustus ) then they actually praised it. They had no real tolerance for defeat lol “oh my god we lost miserably …where’s the nearest knife??” It was in and out for the Romans lol .
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Yes — for the Romans it could be a ‘noble act’. Kind of like Hari Kari. But for modern folks it is usually out of desperation. I suppose how we view it would depend upon our belief systems…
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[…] witchlike Smile at Someone Today […]
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HI Christine,
You may be interested in this article about a man (now dead) who used to try to talk down people contemplating suicide at the heads in Sydney. He just lived across the road and would walk over with his hands open, smile and ask if there was anything he could do. Apparently he talked down about 160 people. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/death-of-the-angel-of-the-gap-the-man-who-saved-the-suicidal-from-themselves-20120514-1ymle.html hope the link works
Louise
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Thank you Louise! What an uplifting article! Mr. Ritchie was a fantastic person, a true earth angel. We all could take a lesson from him. Thanks for posting 🙂
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You are welcome Christine.
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Maybe they should put this in dangerous places:
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That would be good! It is very true. (Not easy to grasp but true.) Lao Tzu was the Master 🙂
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Yeah, might need rephrasing as a help sign but seems to have the right idea. The signs on the cliffs in Sydney emphasise reaching out to others …
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Oh, I did not mean the words were difficult — just putting them into practice 🙂
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Indeed!
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Christine, thank you so much for this. Sometimes in the midst of one’s own dramas, one forgets how much the smallest gesture might mean to someone else.
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You’re welcome Eliza! Yes, I think that is exactly true — even brought to more awareness by people’s comments here. Thanks for reading 🙂
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this is a beautiful post. sad, but beautiful. thanks.
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Thanks Doreen. I know you are always smiling and helpful. It probably benefits more that you know 🙂
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awww. trying to keep things sunny…
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Indeed 🙂
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I’m going to smile at a whole lot of people today. 😀
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Yes, I have been trying to smile more too 🙂
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That is tragic, it really is a cruel cold world.
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In many ways, yes. Sadly so.
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Indeed. A smile welcomes people to open up. It encourages people to talk.
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Yes. I once read a smile is an ‘investment’ — in someone else’s and also your own well being. Thanks for reading 🙂
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It was impossible to avoid reading 🙂
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Thanks! That is a definite good thing 🙂
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I didn’t know about Beachy Head but I knew about the suicide forest and the Japanese custom of finding “suicide buddies” sometimes on-line. It is sad…but I think we have to acknowledge that many problems are real and deep and that some people have trouble finding a reason to live.
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Yes. I believe compassion is the key.
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My best friend from high school jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge.
He was 19.
Thanks for writing this piece.
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Dear god, I am so sorry to hear that! Please trust he is in a better place and he did the best he could do at the time. Thanks so much for sharing. I am glad you liked the piece.
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Such an incredibly beautiful post. Thank you. We humans mess things up so consistently for vulnerable and exceptional people, animals, and the planet. It makes me mad and sad, and is why I like wild animals. They are generally much nicer.
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Animals are very unconditional in their love — more accepting and less judgmental! As for humankind, we have a long way to go. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Glad you liked it 🙂
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Awesome post! Gave me goods bumps to read the Last note from one of Those who jumped from the Golden Bridge
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Si, es muy triste, incluso escalofriante. Pero es posible para dar una sonrisa cada dia, es posible para ayudar, un poquito. Gracias por leer! Que tengas un gran dia 🙂
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Gracias! Efectivamente, ha sido escalofriante leerlo, pensar en ello y saber que se podía haber evitado solo con un gesto amable, una sonrisa. Me ha impresionado leer esto. Igualmente, have nice evening.
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Nunca sabemos cómo vamos a afectar a otra persona. Gracias de nuevo.
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True. But we know a smile can’t harm anybody 😃
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Wow. This is beautiful!
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Thanks Darryl. This too is a tiny peace promotion in my tiny corner of the world 🙂
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This is amazing and awespiring…. thank you for your piece. I have been that person who needed the smile but because someone offered me one I was able to come the person with the smile
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Thanks so much for reading and for your awesome comment! We need to spread more smiles in the world. Have a great day 🙂
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