When You're Broken.

I used to think teenagers that killed themselves, ran away, or cut themselves were just stupid kids that thought their lives sucked and there was no other way out. I thought they were just crying out for attention just because one little thing was wrong: a boyfriend/ girlfriend dumped them, they failed English class, they got grounded, etc.

But over the past eight months, I've been forced to eat alot of the harsh words I've spoken towards those kids. I've been there. And now I really understand why they do what they do.

They're not stupid, silly, rebellious, seeking attention, or just depressed. No, that's not it at all. In all honesty, they're simply broken, lost, hurt, and they've quite frankly lost all hope.

Even when there are a million people that care about you, in one split second, all that can fade away, and you feel like you're completely alone in this world. And it sucks to know that just one person can make you feel this way.

If you've never been there, you're damn lucky. If you have, you're not alone.

I'm not saying suicide, running away, or even cutting is okay. It's really not, there's always a better way... but sometimes, that better way just doesn't show itself in time.

Instead of judging these kids, why don't we take the time to ask them "Are you okay?" or "Do you want to talk?"

When you say harsh words to a teenager you don't know, you may be pushing them further and further towards the edge. And if you do, then you're one of the reasons they killed themselves, ran away, or cut themselves. And that should make you feel like shit.

If you look at it this way, it takes all those negative, judgemental people to drive that one broken, weak teenage girl or boy to the breaking point, when it would only take one of them to save that person's life with a simple act of kindness.

I hate knowing I've been one of those judgemental people, but I have been. But now that I've been there for myself, and felt the pain and the sorrow that comes along with it, I wish I saw those kids then as I see them now.

When you're broken, and don't know where to turn. Every tear falls down for a reason. You make mistakes, you create battle scars that won't ever heal on your heart. Never look back, but never forget. All of this just makes you that much stronger.

Too bad I can't take my own advice.