The holidays are a great time of the year for many. But they can also be a very hard time for others.
Around this time, many consider taking their lives. In fact, for our generation, suicide is on the rise. It is now the second leading cause of death, accounting for 17% of all deaths in young adults. With the pressures of life and unexpected situations, it can be challenging for some of us – especially during this time of year – to think of reasons why it’s great to be alive.
To inspire and help those who may be feeling down, we wanted to put together a list of 71 reasons to choose to live. You never have to take your life, there is always a rainbow through the clouds.
- The people who you love
- Netflix
- Saturday morning cartoons
- Clean sheets
- Forehead kisses
- Getting your first ever paycheck
- Coming home after a long trip
- Watching old sitcoms
- Listening to your favorite song on repeat
- Having a long conversation with you best friend
- Bonfires
- Satisfying a cookie craving
- Lazy Sunday afternoons
- Visiting family for the holidays
- Great books
- Getting an email from someone you haven’t heard from in a while
- Silly Snapchats
- Great novels
- Fuzzy socks
- New opportunities
- Waking up and realizing you can still sleep in
- Loosening your belt after Thanksgiving dinner
- Finding your significant other
- Laughing until tears come out of your eyes
- Good hair days
- Traveling
- Cuddling
- Fitting everything you need for a trip in one suitcase
- Graduating from school
- Trying new foods
- Parties
- Looking at the sky at night and finding constellations
- Holding hands with someone you have a crush on
- Getting an instant reply to your text message
- Being hired at your dream job
- Going out for breakfast after a great night with friends
- Taking exciting risks
- Birthdays
- Stopping to pet a friendly dog
- Clean laundry
- Date nights
- Hearing “thank you” when you did someone a favor
- Finding money in your pocket
- Taking time to pamper yourself
- Road trips
- Candy
- Moving to a new city
- The perfect handshake
- Finding jeans that look like they were made for you
- Hearing your mom say she’s proud
- Looking back on who you were a year ago and realizing how far you’ve come in just a year
- Seeing someone smile
- Hearing someone laugh
- Feeling the sun on your face
- Seeing the sunrise and sunset
- Being there as your loved ones age
- Being there to see new life
- Getting butterflies as you fall in love
- Warm hugs and kisses from people you love
- Seeing how one kind word can change someone’s life
- Seeing how a small gesture can inspire someone
- Watching hilarious comedians on TV when you’re bored
- Driving fast on the highway when it’s allowed
- Knowing that you can change your life at any moment
- Do what many say is impossible because you believed you could
- The big hug you give to an old friend you haven’t seen
- Going to all the places on your bucket list
- Anticipating each new chapter of your life
- Trusting and seeing how everything happens for a reason
- Stuffing yourself with delicious food because it tastes too good not to
- Fulfilling uncompleted dreams
What are your reasons for choosing to live? We’re sure you can add even more to this list.
(Note: If you or anyone who you know is considering taking their life, then please read this information: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. No matter what problems you are dealing with, they want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7. You can also visit You Matter, which promotes the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to young adults who may be personally or may be supporting another who feels like they don’t matter or that they’re alone. It was created to show and help young adults throughout the world know that suicide is preventable. No one never, ever has to take your life.)
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