Even
The Worst Letter of Encouragement
is Still Encouraging
Dear
Harlan,
I've
got a useful tip for those teens contemplating suicide.
Stop
dwelling on your own self-absorbed personal world of victimhood
and find somebody else who is in need of help. A little-known
fact in today's world of psychobabble is that when you help
others with their problems, you get a bonus release of endorphins
in your brain - what is referred to as a "helper's high"!
Who's got it worse than you? Try the returning soldier who
is crippled beyond belief. How about volunteering at your
local hospital's rehab wing, where long-term amputees, paraplegic
and quadriplegic patients abound? How about the burn ward?
Or you could join a church that helps feed seniors, or help
at a homeless shelter. The problem with many teens today is
that they have too much time on their hands and spend too
much of it dwelling on themselves, their feelings and their
problems as they perceive them to be. They need a sense of
purpose in life that serving others will give.
Walt
Dear
Walt,
This
is one of the worst letters of encouragement I've ever received.
I took three things away from reading your note. First, not
everyone who cares is good at communicating it. (You're awful
at it, but if you didn't care then you wouldn't have written.)
Second, you have had a rough life. Why else would anyone be
so angry? Third - and the reason I included your note - we
need a sense of purpose. It can be finding purpose in helping
others, helping animals, helping nature, helping ourselves
or helping people to be more understanding, compassionate
and articulate. A sense of purpose is something to live for.
Thank you for caring enough to write.
