A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

 This past weekend was DragonCon in Atl. This building with these trees outside always reminds me of the book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's a sad book about poverty, despair, and life and how living in poverty is sometimes all you can see. Atlanta does not have a lot of trees in the city part, but these two remind me of the tree that grows in Brooklyn in the book. A sign of hope in a concrete jungle.  Read it if you haven't. It is truly humbling. When I came around the corner I always gasped in glee. My tree that grows in Atl is still there. I cannot explain it but when we go to DragonCon seeing these trees is my highlight.

Trees and nature have a way of surviving even when we build over them, even when it struggles and breaks through the sidewalk, trees grow, flowers bloom, and nature perseveres. I see this as a metaphor for life. We work, we bend, we grow, and we are survivors. We push through so much in this world. Hunger, poverty, jobs, divorces, miscarriages, babies, happiness, sadness, and depression. 

This Week is National Suicide week. It hits me that I  have known quite a few people who have committed suicide, so many who have thought of it, and even more, who thought about it, made a plan, and then someone or something intervened and are still with us. I'd like to believe we are like the tree in Brooklyn pushing through the hard stuff, battling with our lives, struggling to remain upright. 

988 is the new suicide hotline. If you need it, call, if you are dealing with a loved one battling depression and/or suicidal calls. If you need information, call. signs are easy to see AFTER we lose someone to suicide. Start looking before it happens. Pay attention to your family and friends. Are they withdrawing, are they no longer doing things with you or anyone else. 988 is the new suicide number. 

If you have not read the book, read it, if you have someone you are noticing is going through something, reach out. We are all in this together. Be mindful of others, and pay attention. Look up the signs online and stay alert to your mental health and those around you. I know people say show kindness, but show your friend or family member you truly care by listening, by being there and looking for them not coming out, not answering calls, and them receding into their own world. Be there for them and listen to them and if need be reach out and learn how to get them help.

Now and always be alert to each other. Definitely show kindness, but show true compassion and engage with others. Sometimes a talk and someone to listen is all a person needs, sometimes to call the suicidal hotline, other times to help find a professional. Stay present, put down the phone, and look and listen to the people around you who need you to be there for them. Your caring can make a difference in someone's life and you don't even know it.

May you be like the tree that grows in Brooklyn, may you grow and blossom and bloom. Be there for each other, that is what we are truly meant to do on this earth. Not how much can I achieve, how much can I be of benefit? Figure out where you can help in this life and be the strength, ear, financial supporter, friend, or family member someone really needs right now. We do not know what each other is going through until we talk. 

May this life be a blessing to you, and may you know you are treasured and loved.

Your friend,

Debbie xoxoxoxo