“I must acknowledge with a heavy heart, the holes that exist in our lives where people we know and love used to be. It’s a void that cannot be filled, a place where laughter once echoed and smiles brightened our days. These individuals poured their time and energy into our lives, leaving an indelible mark. Yet, their absence serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of our struggles and the subsequent behaviors we subject ourselves and others to.
The losses feel countless, too numerous to be counted on fingers alone. And there is an insufficiency—a lack of them. The laughter shared in those isolated moments with each of them linger, capable of haunting our waking hours if we let them. Echoes of those random good days permeate the silence in between.
Just recently, I lost another person to suicide. In the aftermath, I retreated into silence, hoping that silence would heal me. And in a way, it always does.
However, the true healing comes from being of service to others. Our lived experiences become gifts to be shared with others. I want to tell you today that I see you, I hear you, and I know you. I know the strength that resides within you. Despite the challenges, the journey is worth it. It may not be easy, but it is worth every ounce of effort.
I am grateful for having known all those who have gone before me. Even if their laughter now haunts me from time to time in secretive whispers, I would choose to be haunted than to have never known them at all. Their presence in my life, however fleeting, has left an everlasting impact.
Let us honor their memory by continuing to support one another, by reaching out our hands to those who are struggling, and by showing up with unwavering compassion to those who battle addiction and mental health issues. Together, we can bring healing to those who feel broken and alone, and together, we can build a world where fewer holes are left in our lives. “
Dedicated to all those who have gone before me.
MISTER WILLIAM REILLY 