"HAVING HEALTHY OUTLETS" A series on dealing with anxiety... #yourstorymatters
"BELIEVING THAT YOUR BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH" A series on dealing with anxiety... #yourstorymatters
*A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER*
“For most of my life, I chose to believe that there was no hope. That there was no escape from my mental illness. Life got so hard that every single day I was literally fighting for my life. Trying desperately to suppress thoughts of suicide. Eventually, I decided that I couldn’t try anymore. I had given the last bit of strength I had left. I grabbed my pill bottle, got in the shower, and began to cry. The absolute last thing I wanted to do was take my own life. I thought, “You have a beautiful wife and daughter who you love and they will be devastated. An amazing family and group of friends who will miss you. You have so many hopes and dreams to live for, plans and goals to still be accomplished. You have so much more to offer this world!” But still, somehow these thoughts weren’t loud enough to drown out the pain. So finally, I opened my pill bottle and poured every last one into my mouth. I swallowed them using the water coming from the shower head. At that moment, my entire life flashed before my eyes. I can’t even begin to describe the overwhelming feeling of regret I was experiencing. I was paralyzed with fear. Thinking that I would never get to kiss or hug my wife ever again. I would never get to watch my daughter grow up, tell her I loved her, and how proud I was of her, walk her to the bus stop for the first time, or walk her down the isle. I would never get to see my family again or spend time with my friends. I’d never get to go for a run, play the piano, sing, or worship again. I’d never get to accomplish my dream of starting a clothing company or accomplish any of the goals I had set forth for my future. This was it. This was the end... I frantically ran out of the shower, picked up my phone and called 911. The ambulance rushed me to the hospital where they pumped my stomach. I remember a nurse coming in afterward and saying, “Son, you are lucky that you called when you did. Consider this a second chance.” Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have gotten a second chance...so I’ll take advantage of every second I have on this Earth to tell you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE, your life is SO worth living for and YOUR STORY MATTERS!
We had a blast shooting for the upcoming Statement Collection! Huge thanks to our photographer Ivan Huang, our models, and to Shangrila Studios for letting us use their space. We can’t wait to share this collection with you guys!!!
Shot at @shangrilastudios by @H.H.Ivan