PSA

I wanted to approach this w/ care. It’s a little too important. 

Mental Health deserves more than a “check-in” and a cursory reminder to “Be Kind”. Mental Health asks that you are mindful of yourself and others and how OUR interactions affect each other. In a world where attention spans are strained, exploitation is high and morale is low…there are probably more ppl hiding behind smiles and platitudes than ever before. One foul event away from calling it a night…forever. If I sound overly familiar w/ the space…it’s b/c I occupied it for a while. 2018-2019  to be totally transparent w/ you. I started calling ppl out of the blue and told them “goodbye” but in a roundabout way. Yeah. What turned that around for me was being alone…intentionally…even in crowded rooms. There’s a difference between that and being misunderstood. I had to isolate my mentality from my surroundings to see what I was doing to myself. I know…I know. Therapy. That will do NO GOOD unless you are prepared to open up, talk, and then listen to YOU. With that said, our differences call for different strategies and plans of attack…so far be it beyond me to tell you THIS is how you do it. I ain’t Montell Jordan. I am better though. Well enough to have been fired at Xmas time w/ 2 kids, a wife, a relatively new vehicle, a house…and no real guaranteed way of paying for them…as well as none of the self-destructive thoughts that could have cost me everything years ago. My point is we have no idea what the next man or woman is balancing within their mind. We have no clue what type of stress they are managing or demons they are wrangling or trauma they are suppressing …or how this compartmentalization compounds the pressures til the pipes bust.

When I saw this Brother’s smile…and read the headline…I didn’t want to know how it happened. I didn’t want the reference. The days following brought all the reactions we have come to expect from social media. My favorite…is the brief intersection of caring about Black Men and why other ppl should…while not speaking to or with Black Men. Not everyone is guilty of this…but every time we see it…it adds to the conditioning…and may very well inch us closer to a conclusion. Brothers…the conclusion is you are needed. I need you as an example of how to be the better me…the better man…and I can’t get that from anyone other than Men…who have overcome…being overwhelmed. The seeds need us as an example of stability, strength, and wisdom in the face of foolishness (even if that is us evolving out of the immature into the upstanding and righteous)

To Twitch, only you know why you made that decision. Regardless of whom it hurt on this plane, the fact that whatever pained you no longer has access to you…gives me peace. To my Brother and Sisters still, here, I love you. We love you. We need you. Despite who acts otherwise and backs that w/ bullets and bullshit.