Hitting a Change Up

   One of the hardest things to do is to hit a change up. A change up is an off speed pitch that many pitchers throw to get the batter's timing off. Change ups are usually very unexpected and cause the batter a lot of stress. Many of us have change ups in our life. We have something happen to us that is very unexpected and causes a lot of stress in our life. My change up was my friend killling himself. He seemed so happy and like life was going great for him; so obviously I was in complete shock when I found out that he had taken his life.

   At first change ups seem like unbeatable obstacles. When a batter sees a change up coming they think, "Im not going to hit this. There's no way I can get a home run." The same thought passes through our minds when we learn of a sudden death. We believe that we are never going to be happy again; that we will never feel true joy for the rest of our life.

   Hearing that Tom had taken his own life put me in a state of shock. I felt as if I was in a dream and I prayed every day that I would wake up. The change up had been thrown and I was terrified. People kept telling me that everything was going to be ok, but I didn't believe them. I truely believed that I would be in this dark abyss for the rest of my life. To others that have lost someone to suicide, I feel your pain. So many thoughts rush through your head. Was there something you could've said? Why didn't you tell him/her how much they meant to you? Did they really think they mattered that little to the world? You feel as if you will never be able to hit the change up for a home run.

   Im going to tell you right now that you can hit the change up. It takes a lot of patience and prayer but it can happen. When someone you know and love kills themself you can't blame yourself for their choice. I know it feels like it's your fault, but it's not. You can't spend yourslef wondering why they did what they did. You have to trust in God and know that you will see them again someday. Something good can come out of a tragic situation. One thing you can do is to use your experience to help others going through what you're going through. You can also be there for the family of the loved on you've lost. No matter what you do, you can't stop living your life. Wouldn't your loved one be upset if you stop living because of their choice?

You have to wait for the change up, and hit your home run.