a note on blogs 12 and 12.5

both of these poems were taken from an article in rolling stone magazine. the article featured to write love on her arms. it is a non-profit movement that works to provide a path to help and recovery for people who struggle with depression, addiction, eating disorders, self-injury and suicide.

it began as an attempt to help a friend who was in trouble and needed people who would simply love her. t-shirts were made with "to write love on her arms" and sold to raise money to help her pay for rehab. they soon found out that these issues resonated with thousands of people and it grew into a movement.

if you want to find out a little more (as i'm sure i've hardly managed to explain this well enough) go to their website. this is the story that began it all. and this is their statement. though i recommend check it all out.

12.5 never give up

he listens
empathy
feel the love
honesty
feel truly valued

whispers
kill yourself?
he saved her life

community of hope
her story being alive
you are not alone
a self-taught savior prayed a lot
easy to be around
to talk to

friend killed himself
deal with the news
hadn't seen it coming
coincidences add up
callings
quietly wrestling
stuff happened

revealed himself flawed, struggling
isn't afraid to be seen
written all over him
live like that
to be bold
vulnerabilities freshly unchained
fueled by the power of faith

ceaseless empathy is exhausting
there are failures

she was alone
wanted to die
needed help
security
straightened out again
again

real recovery
relapses, pitfalls
changing

to pursue
to write
help
to create
live
to go
love with patience and plan


i was really hurting
i was living lonely
confesses
realized his own pain
is greater than he thought
love
smile
a small failure

life must be awesome
i want life