To Write Love on Her Arms

Musical Holidays / Coming Together to Break the Silence.

Apr. 16, 2010 at 1:59pm

This Thursday we were at Mr. Small’s in the sleepy town of Millvale, PA (just outside of Pittsburgh) for the Pick Up The Phone tour with Blue October. It was quite a contrast from the night before when we were at the House of Blues in Boston, which is the biggest venue in the franchise. This building used to be a gathering place for religious individuals, coming together as a community to celebrate a common belief. So while the music may be less orthodox, a bit louder, and include words not often said from a pulpit, it is still a room that celebrates community.

It has been a pleasure spending time with the bands and fans on this tour, hearing their stories and watching them sing along with the passion of a favorite hymn from yesteryear. Across the county, we see that every person joining us in these rooms come here for a reason. Many of them planned this night months in advance - their very own musical holiday. They come here because they relate to the music, and thus, to one another.

For this tour, we are united behind the cause of suicide prevention. Ironically, it's a topic rarely discussed in circles of faith. Despite the silence of some communities, there are waves of applause whenever the topic of saving lives is announced from stage. And this is something worth celebrating. While many of you may not be able to make it out to one of the tour dates, we still want to invite you into this celebration. We want to encourage you to continue to have the tough conversations, to help someone struggling.

Also, a key part of this tour is promoting IMAlive. We are still in the process of accepting volunteer applications for this new program and would be honored to have your help as we continue our journey toward the first live, online 100% trained and certified suicide prevention network.

Tickets are still available for most of the remaining dates. Find out more at putp.org. See you on the road.

With hope,
Chad

Posted in General by Chris Youngblood

Comments (9)

This is amazing, you should write more blogs.

1 | Left by Anon | Apr. 16, 2010 at 7:03pm

Chad- this is beautiful. Its awesome that you are willing to listen to people's stories like this and like you have. Keep listening.

2 | Left by Kendra | Apr. 16, 2010 at 7:22pm

I was at the PUTP show in Rochester, NY last night. It was simply amazing: the music, the people, the spirit of the tour. As both a mental health professional and someone who has lived with depression for 25yrs, I am so excited about this movement. It is greatly needed and long overdue.

3 | Left by Kelly | Apr. 17, 2010 at 6:39pm

life with to "write love on her arms" makes everything easier :) i dont feel so alone when i come to this site. i know that i am not alone in my fight agianst depression and cuts and scars. i know that my life is just another journy to a better place and that i shouldnt be in such a rush to end it...thank you. =']

4 | Left by lexi | Apr. 17, 2010 at 10:35pm

This comment is for precious Lexi; you are loved...I may not know you, but I can honestly say I care for you. As a past "cutter", I know what that fight looks and feels like. Keep holding on...your life does matter and you are important. Your story is important. Just wanted you to know someone is thinking of you today.

5 | Left by Emily | Apr. 20, 2010 at 9:40am

i was a cutter for about 3 years. the scars on my arms are a testament to that. i fight depression everyday. i also fight the urge to cut me arm, leg or my stomach every time i pick a sharp object. Sometimes i will find myself drawing my nail against my arm in a slicing motion. Lexi,i may not know you and i may never meet you but i know what you are going through. I love you and i always will. Im not christian so i dont always have the promise of redemption that christians have, but i do have a god. If you ever want to talk im here. We all love you.

6 | Left by Anna | Apr. 20, 2010 at 1:02pm

This is for Lexi, Emily, and Anna:
I know what youre going through. I suffer with depression as well and walk around with the scars of a cutter. While my scars spell out "worthless" on my inner arm, stories and moments like these show me how much this is a lie.
We are not alone. We are loved. We may never meet, but I am so blessed to be able to say to you guys that I love you and I'm praying for you.

7 | Left by Kayla | Apr. 22, 2010 at 2:53pm

I was a cutter for 4 years. Two of my friends at school when I wasn't their told my school counseler cause they were really worried about me nd didn't wanna lose me cause I was like their sister to them. They called my house nd I had to talk to a counseler at the doctors once I didn't go back. It was my choice I didn't want to go back no more. I've cut myself a little more till my friends found out I told them not to tell again I promised I would stop. My guy friend said that if i dont stop then he has no choice to just stop talking to me no more cause he couldn't take it. I thought about suicide many times. One of my ex boyfriends before we went out. He knew about me cutting and he said if I don't stop cutting nd/or give him my last blade I had he would go and tell someone. This happened after my friends already told and I went to go talk to a counseler. I kept saying I lost it or something I forgot it at home I promise I'll give it to you. Nd eventually I gave it to him. He flushed it down the school toliet so I wouldn't go and find it again. Some people who hated me said if I were to die no one would miss me so it made me feel a lot more worthless then. I was soo close in doing it. Everyone please remember that their are many people who love you and are very important in their lifes. I still want to cut myself I get the urge to everyday.

8 | Left by Shawna | Apr. 22, 2010 at 4:57pm

I havent cut myself and i really dont plan to but I have gotten the urge to and to be honest it scares the crap out of me that I actually feel like that at times. Im not saying that I know what any of you are going through but I love you guys even though I may not know you you deserve to know that people love you no matter who you are and dont want to lose you because you feel worthless or like no one cares about you when thats not true. If any one of my friends starts cutting themselves I will try anything to help them stop because if i lost one of them like that it would make me feel like they were right, that i didnt care enough to help them get through whatever made them start cutting and that would kill me. I love you and I will pray for you.

9 | Left by Cali Jane | May. 7, 2010 at 8:40am

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