The Day the World Stopped Turning: A Tribute to LA
June 19, 2018.
That was the day the world stopped turning.
I got the news that my dear friend LA was gone…taken by suicide. I remember where I was, what I was doing, and the way the air seemed to leave the room. Everything slowed down, and yet everything hurt all at once.
LA wasn’t just my friend. She was a light. LA could walk into a room and instantly make it warmer. She had a laugh that felt like home and a way of making people feel seen. LA was the kind of person who could talk to anyone, who made you feel like you mattered.
And yet, beneath her smile and her strength, she was hurting in ways most people never knew.
What We Don’t See
That’s the thing about mental illness. Mental illness doesn’t always look like what we expect.
LA loved deeply. She gave generously. She encouraged others endlessly. But she was carrying pain she didn’t feel safe enough to fully share.
Too often, we assume the strong ones are fine. We assume the ones who make us laugh the hardest are okay. But the truth is, sometimes they’re the ones hurting the most.
Why This Tribute Matters
Talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable, but silence only strengthens stigma. And stigma keeps people from speaking up when they need help most.
By telling LA’s story, I’m not trying to define her by how she died. Honestly, I want to remember her for how she lived. But I also want to remind us all that mental illness is not a moral failing, and suicidal thoughts are not a measure of faith, strength, or worth.
How We Honor LA
We honor her by:
- Checking on our strong friends, even when they seem fine
- Asking deeper questions and truly listening
- Making it safe for people to say, “I’m not okay” without fear of judgment
- Refusing to reduce someone’s life to their hardest moment
We honor her by breaking the silence, by speaking truth into the darkness, and by telling anyone who needs to hear it: Your life matters. You matter. There is help.
If You Are Struggling
I wish I could go back and tell LA one more time how loved she was. I wish I could have reminded her that this moment, this pain, would not last forever.
If you are reading this and you are hurting, please hear me…you are not a burden. Your story is not over.
Call or text 988 in the U.S., or for outside the US, call this number.
Final Words
LA’s life was a gift. Her absence is a reminder to keep showing up for each other. To speak life into weary hearts. To never assume that a smile means everything is okay.
The day the world stopped turning for me was the day she left it. But I will keep telling her story and not because of how it ended, but because of the love, laughter, and light she brought into it.
Scripture to Carry:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
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