Suicide Prevention Saturday

There it is. Ta-da! Um, yeah, one of these times I'll actually know. I'll like watch the 3, 2, 1, and then poof. So I'll say, hi, welcome back replay viewers. Um, but anyway, hi everybody. It is 9 o'clock. It is Suicide Friends and Saturday, and I am just moving my thingy so that I know when people talk, sort of. All right, so what is it? It's Suicide Friends and Saturday. Why are we here? Because to Every 3 gun deaths you hear about are a suicide. And if we are looking to save lives and improve life, we should talk about the issues of mental health in our society here in America. And while we're talking about mental health, why don't we talk hair? Because what is more important than having fluffy alfalfa hair on a Saturday night just coming from a party? Because I got to be— sorry, I'm laughing. See, this is why I should always hide the chat. Yes, Paige in the Dark is super excited because he's gonna be here live versus leaving me a comment an hour or two later or the next day because I go to bed after this, so I don't know when he actually leaves it. Oh, look, Guns and Barbecue also 2 out of 3. 2 out of 3 what? I'm missing something, obviously. But anyway, why are we here? Suicide Wednesday Saturday. Because, well, you know, it's, it's that time of year. It's Christmas party time. I just came from a Christmas party, um, and because I knew I was going to be here— oh wait, hold on, make this more Christmasy. It's got lights, see? Even better. Um, since it's Christmas time, one of the things we're talking about at the Christmas party, because everyone's like, why aren't you drinking? I'm like, because I'm going online and I'm not going to, uh, be drinking and then coming doing this. So anyway, why is being online for Suicide Prevention Saturday so important during the Christmas time? It is because there are so many people who are going through so much stuff where everyone is going to parties and having a great time, and it might be their first time without their mom or their sister or their brother or their kid. And so it's party time for so many, but it's also important to understand that it's super hard for some as well, for all sorts of reasons. Um, grandmas— oh my gosh, not having a grandma the first Christmas, oh, so horrible. Um, so yes, Mike, thank you. Uh, yes, Mike was at the same party that I was at. Um, and so kids— we're going to talk about kids this, this week because Someone had suggested that, and oh my gosh, yeah, Jonathan Berger, what he said. Oh, peanut butter and jelly. Who, who, who? That was the wrong one. Um, I don't know what 998 is. Um, peanut butter and jelly. Yes, because I don't remember who mentioned that. Um, not peanut butter and jelly, but the kid thing. So I want to say it's Mike White, who I saw earlier today while I was at the Second Amendment podcast for polite society. All right, um, at the party, one of the people I talked to was a teacher, and we were talking about why I wasn't drinking and what I was going to do tonight. And as a teacher— she teaches high school, and she just deals with a lot of kids— and she was just saying how We have to remember what is important. We have to remember that whatever we're going through, we have to keep going because the rate of suicide in our preteens and our teens currently is on the rise and it has been for almost a decade now. 2013 is when the slope started going up. COVID and being sequestered and all the isolation did not help that at all. When I was talking to the teacher, she also said, when we were kids, we did all sorts of stupid stuff. Thing is, there were very few witnesses and the world did not get to see it. The problem— one of the problems today's children have is that if they do something stupid and someone has one of these, it could be forever. And I don't know about you, but when I was a teenager, I am super happy there were not video phones everywhere. Very, very happy. Um, so, oh my goodness, sorry, I will get there. Um, so it's one of those things where our kids— it's hard enough being a teen, right? You are raging hormones, you are insecure, your body is doing weird things. Or even our preteens, our 11 and 12-year-olds. I mean, the idea that we have 9-year-olds out there taking their own lives— now this is off the gun topic because most kids are not shooting themselves, but it's still a horrible, horrible problem. So it's like the idea that a 9-year-old would take their life, their own life at 9 years old— what was I doing at 9 years old? Let's see, I'm in 4th grade. Where was I? I'm living at home with my grandma and my uncles and a whole bunch of other people. I'm playing with frogs in the pond down in my yard. I would go for walks in the woods, and I would read. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, or listen to The Hobbit because we had it on, on, on, uh, you know, those record things. At 9 years old, that's what I did. I would go hiking, I'd go horseback riding, but do those things. Suicide at 9 years old. What is the world coming to? How in the world do these children get to the point where they've not only lost all hope, but they've figured out how to kill themselves at 9 years old. What? They can find out how to do anything on the internet. There's blessing and curses to having education. There's blessing and curses to having unlimited knowledge available at your fingertips, especially when it fits in your pocket. It's absolutely crazy. What else is horrible for our teens right now? They just want someone to notice them. They want someone to say, "Hi, my name's Brooke. What's yours?" "Oh, nice to meet you. What are you doing today?" or "How can I help you?" or "What would you like to do today?" or have a conversation with them because the amount of parents that sit here and do this— and yes, I'm being critical this evening— with their children over there, "Oh honey, what do you want? Oh, here, take this." and be entertained so I can have my chat with my girls. The parenting is missing as well. And is it hard? Yeah, of course it's hard. Parenting is super hard. No one gives you a how-to guide with parenting, but all of us need attention. All of us need to know that we are valuable because, you know, I tell you all that you are an amazing miracle that God has put upon this earth, or whatever you happen to believe in. I'm not judgmental on that. You all have your own road to hope. Yeah. So however you define miracle, remember that you are one. But there are people that have never been told that. There are people that have only been yelled at for all of their lives. There are people that, I just want to be better, I just want to be better, so I just criticize them all the time and tell them how they can be better. And this is where their children are lost, and our society is not making it better. It's me, me, me, me, me. It's what I want to do. It's how I want to do it. I don't need anyone else. I can do it all by myself. No, we can't. We are social creatures. We need one another. So what do we have to do? First things first, be aware. Right? Understand what is happening. What can you do? I don't know. Like, for real, I have no idea. However, what could we do? What are ways that you can impact your neighborhood? What are ways you can impact your town? Is there a Big Brother Big Sister organization near you that you could join? Maybe. Do you have the ability to possibly consider becoming a foster parent? It's a pretty big ask, but maybe. What else can you do to help the world? And think locally, not globally, right? I say what you can do to help the world, but what I mean is what impact can you have? Because there's so many of us who just feel so overwhelmed by such the horribleness in the world whether it's children suicide, veteran suicide, regular suicide— the regular, that I just mean the rest that don't fall under the veteran and children, because yeah, it's all horrible. Um, but it's just, yeah, um, Patriot in the Dark, positive reinforcement. Um, sorry, and I just read his previous thing of the My daughter baked me a cake today, and dinner, I reward her by making her clean up the mess. So, um, yeah, see, in our house, if you cook, you don't have to clean. So that inspires more people to do the cooking, which we've actually had a very spectacular, um, week this week where on Monday I made the kids do the meal plan, and then I went shopping, and we've done the meal plan 3 out of 4 days so far. So it's been very close. Like DJ said, be aware. Realize that we're all going through crap. We are all having challenges. I just had like the worst, most emotional 2 and a half days after almost finishing my EMT course. Yeah. So be aware of yourself too. Be aware of what your family's going through. Your friends, all of that. All right, too many cameras. Yes, um, absolutely. Kids are not able to live anything down. Um, and I'm gonna pick on guys because unfortunately it tends to go this way, but more often than the other. But it's like dudes will take pictures of women when they're not paying attention, or send a video to someone saying, oh, I love you, and then have it posted up when it was supposed to be for that person. That's not cool. Speaking of not cool, uh, over on the Facebook side, my mom is still flu and COVID paralyzed. So sad. She is alone, all alone, and is afraid to have family over. Yeah, the fear that has been instilled in so very many people, it's, it's the worst on the kids. I mean, like you guys all know, I go to the Capitol. And we— I went to the education, uh, hearings, and they were trying to make learn at home a standard. The teachers are like, heck no, do not keep everyone home, do not, um, do not sequester everyone. We are social creatures. High school, as painful it is, is where you have to learn how to overcome the bullies in your life. And overcoming, I believe, is like being water, as Bruce Lee teaches, because water is the strongest thing out there because it can bend around things that it cannot move and it can knock over the things that it can. So I like being like water and doing the flow thing. Also, if you watch schools of fish, It's very interesting to see how they can move through water. But then you can watch schools of birds, flocks of birds, that's what I meant, and just how they move. And there's just so much miraculous things in our world. And so picking, getting a kid to pick their head up from their phone is a win. So there's that. All right, that's it. 12 minutes. It's going to be 13 before I say goodbye. You know how this goes. Say, okay, um, let's see what else. DJ, think globally, act locally. Um, yeah, putting yourself in the mix. Like I said, we all have crap going on in our lives all the time, and, um, sometimes the best thing you can do when you're in a bad place is go do something nice for someone else. I swear that is probably one of the best things ever. Um, just because it takes you out of focusing on what's wrong with you and it allows you to do something positive for someone else. And it also is a way for you to redirect whatever you're thinking about that's bugging you and you're serving someone. And to me, there is no greater good than servicing others. Hence the reason I left my holiday party early for all you folks. And, um, not that I was gonna get smashed drunk or anything like that tonight anyway, but, um, it's definitely one of those things. Ooh, and here's another thing, qprinstitute.com. It does not take much to go get certified, right? Um, 4 hours. They have some 2-hour courses, all of that sort of stuff. And even if you get certified, it doesn't mean you have to do anything, but it's a little bit more, a few more tools in your toolbox. So I don't know why 13 is an unlucky number. No, it's not. That's old wives' tales. Um, and no, I never say crunchy peanut butter and jelly. That's going to be a Guns and Barbecue thing because I just say peanut butter and jelly. So anyway, that's it. That's what I got for you. Next Saturday is Suicide Prevention Saturday. What else is it? Oh yeah. I'm going to be leaving another holiday party for you guys early. Yes, I am. Because it is Christmas Eve. And I just have to say that I am super excited that I am going to be here for Christmas Eve because we had a family meeting about this. I asked my husband because DJ had asked, hey, are you gonna do that on Christmas Eve? And I think I told you guys this last week, but hey, people like Patriot in the Dark are actually here, so I have to tell you again. Um, uh, my husband said whatever you want. Then I, then I'm like, all right, well, Christmas is more of a kids thing, so I invited my son, my 16-year-old, my daughter, my 15-year-old. I'm like, all right guys, what do you think? Should I cancel Suicide Wednesday Saturday for Christmas Eve? And my daughter says, no, Mom, if there was ever a time that you should not cancel it, it's on Christmas Eve because someone might need you. This is where family matters, teaching our kids what's important. And yes, now I'm gonna cry. Um, and then I'm going to say hi to Mike and hi to Vanessa and hi to Rita. You are coming on one of these days, by the way, woman. We will get you on here. Well, you don't have to, but you and I still need to have a chat. Rita lost her daughter to suicide and drugs. So anyway, yes. And my daughter is a very smart girl. Oh, so, so emotional. Anyway, good night all. I will see those— and please, for the, for the love of God, um, like I told DJ, just because I am going to be here on Christmas Eve does not mean you have to be here on Christmas Eve. Please go spend time with your friends and family. Enjoy your family. Um, you know, do what is important, uh, for you on Christmas Eve. But I am just super happy with my kid. It's been so long since I've cried in front of you guys. I think I'm gonna hit the end broadcast system now. So, oh, all right. Yes, my Rugrats are awesome. Yes, they are. All right, ladies and gentlemen, with that, I bid you adieu. Um, see you either Christmas Eve— and I promise you, this gingerbread man is not gonna last that long. Or New Year's Eve, I still have it finally scheduled up ahead of time, so it's really happening. And, um, oh gosh, yeah, sorry, just what I'm about to say. Same, same. Um, it's just, yeah, it's not just kids. I mean, it's children, it's other people's children are committing suicide regardless of the age. Um, No matter how old someone is, it's not just about kids. It's anyone who commits suicide. The fact that they have lost and they don't realize how much they have lost others, affected their families. So anyway, this is going to be an off— I hope this does not end up being the thumbnail when I turn this off. So anyway, good night all. Thank you for checking in. It will be a spectacular Christmas. I have faith. Oh, I got my kid. I can't tell you in case he watches this, but I will see you all next week. Have a spectacular week and do what you can to make the world a little bit better.