It's time.
It's time to realise; just how boundless our community truly is.
Most people reading this would know my story, what I've walked through and why I started The Ladybird Movement. But long story short it basically stemmed from wanting to become who I needed when I was younger. This was back in 2012. A few years into my journey with TLM I was hit with 2015. I feel like we all have that year, a year where so much goes right and at the same time, so much goes wrong. We're hit with a tonne of bricks and also growth beyond what we thought we could have ever known. It's a defining year. 2020 may be that year for some of you reading this.
You may have seen we are launching a new merch range, which I've mentioned holds way more meaning than any merch we've done before. This all comes down to the lessons I learnt back in 2015, and what shaped me to who I am and the way I run The Ladybird Movement today.
When we're going through mental battles, it's hard to recognise our community. Even if they're present and helping, it can feel like you're burdening them. But thats the thing, Mental battles can often lead to your thoughts lying to you. And that's an important thing to note, your thoughts aren't 100% truth. I remember hearing that on a podcast one day and I LOVED it! You can find so much comfort in knowing that your thoughts aren't always truth. So when you catch your thoughts going down scary directions, you can remind yourself that its lies.
The word 'Boundless' has become such a powerful word for me since I wrote a huge realisation in my notes one evening. Which I'll be including in here.
Boundless to me describes your community. It has no bounds, it's beyond what you could ever imagine. It's beyond your family, beyond your friends, beyond your coworkers. It even goes as far as that girl you used to walk past in the halls everyday for 10 years but never actually spoke to, and further.
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(I do want to mention here a trigger warning, as this does cover the topic of suicide.)
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When I was suicidal, I never imagined that if I'd left, it would impact the guy I went to primary school with over 10 years prior. Until I read online that one of my old school friends who I hadn't talked to for many years had taken his life.
When I was suicidal, I never imagined that if I'd left it would impact one of the boys who was friends with the group that I used to go skating with. Until I found out that one of the boys had taken his life.
When I was suicidal, I never imagined that if I'd left it would impact one of my old coworkers. Until I found out that one of my old coworkers had died by suicide.
When I was suicidal, I never imagined that if I'd left it would impact one of my internet friends who I'd never actually met. Until I got to know her family over the grief of her life.
You don't realise how many people would truly be affected by you leaving. I didn't even mention the effects this would have on close family and friends. These were all distant relationships, friendships and acquaintances that I've personally lost. But that being said, each time, it destroyed a part of me and woke me up to the struggles people around us face. 5 years on and I can now truly see just how boundless their community was, that their death impacted me. and I think thats certainly truth for everyone. Your death would impact far more than you realise. Your community goes beyond the bounds that you can ever imagine.
It's time we realise.
It's time we realise just how boundless our community truly is.
I want this blog post, this merch run and this movement to be a reminder to you, that your community is boundless. It's beyond any borders that you could imagine. Its easy to say you're not alone, but I know I'm not the only one who knows I'm not alone but has still had moments where I feel incredibly alone.
Your community is boundless.
No matter how you feel right now, I want you to know that you have a community that loves you so much deeper than you realise.
Thank you for taking your time to read this, I want to leave it at that for now, but I want to encourage everyone to keep the conversations going. Share this with anyone you think may need to hear it.
Thank you for all your support on the merch so far! It launches on Monday 02 NOVEMBER 2020, at 6pm! All money goes towards the next stages of The Ladybird Movement and spreading this message that I hold so dearly.
love,
liz x