Recently, I have seen news about many people committing suicide. Besides the few individuals at Tianmen Mountain, there are many others who choose to end their own lives. It's just that the events at Tianmen Mountain are more well-known, while the deaths of those unnoticed individuals are seen as natural, like the blooming and withering of flowers. I believe this is not normal. As a normal, healthy, and good society, these tragedies should not happen again and again, and the passing of these lives should not be ignored.
Tonight, I listened to a podcast episode on Story FM called "Confessions of a Wasted Writer: Why is it so hard to live a normal and dignified life?" The protagonist of the story is surnamed Liu, so I'll refer to him as Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu said he had a friend who had a strong desire to become a director and was particularly fond of rock music, so he wanted to make a film about it. However, his friend had no money and was in debt, so making a rock-themed movie seemed more like his life's dream. Half a year later, when other friends mentioned him again, Xiao Liu learned that he had already committed suicide.
There is currently a suppressed atmosphere in society. Many people are busy with work and have lost their own lives. However, this busy work has not brought them more expectations. Instead, they can only see endless housing and car loans. Slacking off, lying flat, after a while, you will find that such a life doesn't seem very interesting. Games, movies, sleeping in, those things you once thought were cool gradually lose their appeal. And more importantly, you are not an independent individual. The responsibilities and burdens of family will eventually need to be faced. In such a situation, some people choose extreme measures: ending their own lives.
Struggling, fighting, you have to endure the 996 work schedule of a laborer. After a day of exhausting work, you have no time or energy left to enjoy your own life. Even during rare moments of rest, you would choose to sleep in rather than go out because you are simply too tired. After a while, some people may also enter a state of confusion. I work so hard, but I can only barely maintain my own life. I feel very unwilling in my heart, but I am powerless. In that fleeting moment, the psychological defense line collapses, and they choose to end themselves.
I don't want to talk about any inspirational quotes, nor do I want to preach anything, because I feel that every person who chooses to end their own life has experienced too much misfortune, which is beyond my imagination. In the recent suicide cases I have seen, each one of them had made up their mind to die. Some took poison, some left suicide notes, and some quietly left in a secluded corner. I can feel that they have all been devastated by life, and they are already struggling to breathe. They don't know who to seek help from, and they rarely have close friends they can confide in. They silently bear everything on their own.
Perhaps it is at this moment that I understand even more the words of Romain Rolland: "There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is and to love it."
Keep living with effort. I know you may already be trying very hard, but please don't give up. There are always people in this world who are worth caring about and who will always care about you. If someone confides in you about the pressures of life, please encourage them.