Opinion & Entertainment

Director of Behavioral Health - Hamilton Hospital Heritage Senior Adult P rogram, Olney, Texas Have you ever woke up in life and asked yourself this question: “Who am I?” This is the hardest question anyone can answer in their lifetime. We are influenced by social media, public expectations, and constant comparison; many people find themselves wondering who they truly are beneath the roles they play. Yes, everyone plays roles and is an actor to some degree.

Suicide remains one of the most misunderstood and difficult conversations in our society. Despite increasing awareness of mental health, many myths and misconceptions surround suicide. These myths create barriers that prevent people from seeking help and keep communities from responding effectively. Understanding the difference between myths and reality is an important step toward reducing stigma, increasing compassion, and saving lives.

Fourth of July has come and gone, and it had me reminiscing about the past Fourth of July celebrations, some fun and some not so fun. The correlation between the fun ones seems to always be associated with when I had someone or a community to celebrate with. There was a time when I used to let my introverted nature dictate much of what I chose to do. For many years I was happy to be sitting home in my pj’s, watching festivities on the TV instead of at a party, the lake or a celebratory event.