to ask what gives you reason to live?

[letsleepingbabieslie]

Subject line sounds more depressing than it's supposed to - I'm not suicidal, just often wonder 'what the hell is the point of all this [life]?!'. I admit I'm not exactly the most happy go lucky person - if I was constantly laughing my socks off I guess I wouldn't question it. But even though I'm basically happy and very fortunate (no complaints about health, family, work etc) I do struggle to find a logical reason to live.

So I'm wondering, what do other people find gives meaning to life and makes it all worthwhile?

To do good in the world - that’s it, basically.
I do love nature, too.

Is it even possible to turn your inherent nature to a positive one if it has always been a bit negative. I would be really interested in examples of that.

@MyBreadIsEggy your post brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad you're in a better place now.

@FreshlyWashed I've actually made a note of what you wrote so I can remind myself as needed. Thank you

I do, and have always, struggled to see the point to life. Whatever answer I come up with, I can always argue it with a 'why though'. I had my first child 4 months ago and he is my purpose now. I still have no idea why but I could never purposely leave him so I'm kind of stuck 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

My DD.
My dd was murdered 3yrs ago. I was 7mths pregnant with dd2 at the time. Dd2 was a surprise pregnancy I didn't find out till I was nearly 5mths.
If I had not been pregnant I would definitely not be here today. At the time I just wanted to be with Dd1.

This is going to sound extremely weird and corny but I get so much happiness just from being alive. And I mean like when I see the full moon or when the sky is really pretty or i take the dogs to the forest and it’s really quiet and lovely or I go to the store and everyone around me is busy and doing their own thing or I find a dress I really like or I eat a lemon tart or read a great book. I find so much purpose and happiness just in keeping a clean home or seeing my house plants flourish. I find all my happiness in the small things in life and then there is no end to it. Maybe other people would find this challenging but it honestly makes every day just that little bit more special. I feel like my purpose is just to seek these things out and appreciate the world around me as much as I can. I know—super sappy 😂

My nearest and dearest. Plus, I think we possibly have an in built survival mode that keeps the very vast majority of us going even when things get very hard. My heart breaks for those people (and their loved ones) who get to a point where the survival mode doesn’t work for whatever reason.

Family, friends, my job, my cats, books, food, sleeping, travel, exploring, adventure and fun....I love life and its so short I make the most of my time. I am a positive person who skip out of bed with a smile every morning and generally feel happy most days and think how much fun I am having. I feel sad reading some of the posts here

Oh @ParkheadParadise I cannot even begin to imagine your pain. I'm so very sorry for your loss. to you and both your girls.

Sheer bloody mindedness.

Every day I haul myself up and do things, whether it's swear at the cats, bitch about the OH, work, fart, fuck, swear at the bollocks on telly, or just keep breathing is a massive FUCK YOU to anybody who has ever tried to hurt me mentally, physically or emotionally, whether intentionally or by simply not caring.

I'm still here. And I'm still an arsehole. But I'm still fucking here.

ParkheadParadise

@ParkheadParadise so sorry to hear that. I cannot imagine what you have gone through

I have secondary cancer. I’m 37, I have a 1 and 5 year olds. I don’t want to die more than anything in the world. I have so much more I want to do in life, I want to live so much. My children, places I want to go, things in my job I want to achieve, things I want to do with DH once the youngest is older.

You only get 1 chance at life, use it wisely. What more reason than that?

My lovely DD and DGD. I know they would be devastated if something happened to me. There has been a couple of ccassions in my life over the past 10 years when I've felt at rock bottom for one reason or another. But suicide was NEVER an option for me. I just couldn't inflict that on them. On a lighter note,I think my darling cat would miss me too.

My son smiling, dancing round the kitchen, doing his maths homework 😊.
The sun coming up over the field behind the house. Realising I am happy

Knowing that I’m within a few years of retirement and I’m going to try to be a foster mum when I get there.

Life! I have my children to play with, read to and go on adventures with, my husband to talk to. I have people to talk to, books to read, tv to watch, food to eat, church services to attend, so so many things to do. As they say "life is for the living"

Literally my son - I actually wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him.

The books I haven’t had time to read.
The cheeses I haven’t yet tried.
Places I haven’t been to.
My amazing step children and wanting to see the adults they grow into.
My husband, he’s going to be a very handsome old man.
The baby I’m carrying.
My little sister who’s always hated the idea of me not being around.
The Norfolk coastline, it looks different every time.

Those aren’t in order of priority!

My DH, he’s drives me absolutely nuts at times but I love the man. I came very close to loosing him last year and I’ve never been so scared. I don’t want to live without him, we’re starting IVF this year as we don’t have children. I can cope not having children (it would break my heart) but if I didn’t him in my life I don’t think I could cope. We’re not a lovey dovey couple but we are a team. I think my friends would be surprised if they heard me say this!

My children and my husband. My children because I wouldn't want to put them through losing a parent to suicide and my husband because he works so hard at supporting me and I don't want to make it feel like a wasted effort on his part.

I have been suicidal for a long time, severely so for around 3 years now. I have been so very close to it, to the point of making plans and buying my bus ticket to a specific place (well known local suicide area). The thought of the mental and emotional pain I would make my children and husband suffer made me go to my GP. I turned up without an appointment and cried so hard at the receptionist that she got the Dr to see me right there and then.

My DH.

ParkheadParadise and Rodent01 for you. Both your posts were heartbreaking. And for all of you who find life hard. I'm sorry it's so tough.

Ragwort and letsleepingbabieslie that's so tough if you can't get joy from your children. Hang on in there, because things do change and evolve as they do. Is there any support for you?

Spudlet7 I'm shocked you found it helpful, but v pleased.

DS & DH, quite simply.

I suffer from a chronic, debilitating, life changing condition for which there is no cure, just management.

In my darkest hours (and there have been many) when I have considered ending things, the thought of DS & DH always brought me back.

My family, ds most of all, and my pets

My baby and my parents. Yes my DH too but to a lesser extent. He can take care of himself emotionally if I go. I know my parents can too, but the death of a child is devastating and I'm very close to them. My baby is my everything and I am hers. Everything I do now is for her.