True, but most of us aren’t selfish enough to take care of ourselves enough that when we’re pushed to the edge we take drastic measures of desperation.

My cousin killed himself a number of years ago and what I’ll never forget is something my father told me at the time: “We didn’t ask God to be born, and I think we should have some right to decide when we want to leave.” (My parents are not surpisingly pro-assisted suicide.)

Having been low myself, I understand what it’s like to feel as if things are never going to get better, that this life is unbearable. Strangely, I sometimes see my cousin as much braver than myself because I did in fact worry about everyone else’s reaction rather than my own relief and my cousin had the courage to do what he needed to do for himself.

Then again, I’m glad I’m a coward because now I know that life has it’s ups and downs.