To Write Love on Her Arms

"We have the choice to choose."

Aug. 12, 2010 at 1:06pm

Cory Chiasson, a former TWLOHA intern, recently joined Chad Moses from our team on a trip to Australia. The two participated in a tour of secondary schools in and around Melbourne, bringing our message and mission to young people there. Below, Cory shares a bit about his experience. We hope you enjoy his words.

---

As I write this, I realize the opportunity I have. I could slide open the translucent blinds to my left, and stare into the wonder that is Los Angeles. Mind you, it’s only Century Boulevard, representing major hotels, airport shuttles and an excessive amount of advertising for car parks. But this is beside the point. The point is, I have the ability to choose. I can choose to go explore or I can stay inside this decorated (and well air-conditioned) hotel room.

I just returned from the beautiful state of Victoria, Australia where Chad and I joined up with my friend Joel and a diligent crew from Gravity Tour. We had the honor of adventuring across Australia, bringing a message of hope and a reminder of the importance of one’s own personal journey to schools in Melbourne and the surrounding areas.

It was quite the experience, going to these different schools, both private and public, bringing up the taboo issues that TWLOHA deals with on a daily basis. The beautiful thing about it all was how well we were received by the teachers and the students who attended our workshops and presentations. Topics of addiction, depression, self-injury and suicide are definitely not in the list of Top Ten things spoken about in campus halls. And you certainly won’t find them linked in the trending topics on your Twitter homepage. You’d be lucky if you heard them discussed on the evening news or Wake Up America. (Do you guys have that? Sorry. I live in an igloo up in Canada.)

At each stop on this tour, Chad asked the students to close their eyes and raise their hands if they knew someone or if they themselves had struggled with at least one of these issues. And at every stop nearly everyone raised their hand to acknowledge that they did indeed know someone. When they opened their eyes, they realized how strikingly similar we all are. Chad then asked them to raise their hands if they had conversed with someone within the last week about one of these issues. It was heartbreaking to see the few hands that went up for that question. It proved how quiet we find ourselves when these issues come up.

This past week I started reading this Italian author named Dante’s book, The Divine Comedy. Well, I say that loosely. I’ve gotten about four pages into the intro, which was written by a fellow named John Ciardi. He said something that caught my eye, and I’d like to quote him here:

“The true mark of any writer is in the choices he makes. Having written three words, he must choose a fourth. Having written four, he must choose a fifth. Nothing happens into a good poem; everything must be chosen into it.”

We are the writers, the authors, and the poets of our own story. We have the choice to choose. We can be a people who wish for better things, who hope that our story will be written only by the stars, or we can wake up, dream awake and live out what we deserve to be.

We have to choose to live.

We have to choose to ask for help when we reach the end of ourselves.

You deserve to write that fifth word, even the sixth. Once you write the first six, maybe the following words, the words that define your life and who you will become, may not be so hard to write.

You deserve to be given the chance to choose.

You deserve the chance to share. When you choose to share, you may just find something magical start to happen in your heart.

Much love to all of you,

Cory

Posted in General by Kaitlyn Suveg

Comments (16)

Cory, I loved your reflections bro - simply amazing.

It really is heartbreaking, the pain that many endure on a daily basis...
However, to have the opportunity to break down walls of pride and fear of these taboo subjects is incredible!
to open up doors of freedom and hope and pour out love and healing - especially in schools. I really respect that man.

I love the bit about choice. That we choose to live, to take that step and live out what we're made for. To choose restoration and life, to choose love. Awesome.

Keep it up Cory - you're amazing!

Now - I have to get my guitar from your house! haha, Love you bro.

Sam

1 | Left by Sam Churney | Aug. 12, 2010 at 2:05pm

This is my school!! I'm on TWLOHA. Famous.

2 | Left by Justin | Aug. 12, 2010 at 2:41pm

Cory, this is so awesome. The subject you're addressing really touched me. Thank you.

3 | Left by Kendra | Aug. 12, 2010 at 3:23pm

Cory, thanks so much for your insights and reflections. The pain is heartbreaking to see, but the conversations that are now possible can help mend the heartbreak.
Thanks for choosing to share!

4 | Left by Amy | Aug. 12, 2010 at 8:40pm

This is stunning.

Simply stunning.

I can't find anything else to say about it

5 | Left by Ellen | Aug. 13, 2010 at 9:24am

I love reading articles about this, that are truely worth the time. Nothing is better than saving a person from commiting suicide. They need to know that they are loved. And TWLOHA are the ones that are there for them, helping them every way possible. Teens are so fragile, so weak. I remember myself being depressed and there was actually one time I wanted to die rather to live. But I couldn't, I had God in my heart. He was the one there for me. Continue reaching those kids and teens. They are so vulnerable to anything. Blessings!! ;)

6 | Left by Claudia Siller | Aug. 13, 2010 at 11:55am

This was my favorite part.

"We have to choose to live. We have to choose to ask for help when we reach the end of ourselves"

So beautiful.

7 | Left by Erin Hotchkiss | Aug. 13, 2010 at 8:24pm

This is beautifully written. For people to realize how much in common everyone has on these subjects. For them to stop being a joke to students and be seen as a reality that they can help to change is just amazing.

"You deserve to be given the chance to choose."

I loved reading this, as I do with everything posted here. The words posted here mean so much. Thank you.

8 | Left by Anon | Aug. 14, 2010 at 10:16am

That's awesome :) Wish you had come to my school but my principal wouldn't organize something like that, he only likes speakers who tell us to ignore our issues and "get over it". It would've been awesome though and I envy the schools you did go to :) You guys bring something to the world that not many others have, I don't think the wider population realizes how important conversation is in these fast-paced times where a majority of the time, money is more important than anything else. ... Yeah :P haha Hope you liked it here :)

9 | Left by Emily | Aug. 17, 2010 at 4:46am

I love this post. And I love

10 | Left by Leah Pfaff | Aug. 23, 2010 at 4:43pm

I wish i could have gone to something like that earlier in my life. Before the drugs, cutting, and alcohol hit me in the face. I feel stupid now that i fell for it. They said it would help the pain. But I have learned and I have been clean for 2 years and still counting :)

Thanks you guys

11 | Left by Angela | Sep. 7, 2010 at 8:20am

I support twloha a lot its a good cause helping prevent suicide I get so excited when i see others that support it.
I like the part that says "we are the authors of our own storys and the words that define your life and who you become may not be so hard to write"

12 | Left by brooklyn | Sep. 8, 2010 at 12:17am

Great words Cory... so true and so full of hope. It was a pleasure having you guys here.

13 | Left by BK | Sep. 15, 2010 at 5:08am

I am in dire need of help man... i love drugs!

14 | Left by Michaela | Sep. 24, 2010 at 7:07am

I'm love this story and I'm so glad that things like this are being done. A boy in Ohio- Joe Masello- recently took his life, and our whole community has been affected. This is has become a learning oppourtunity and a uniting experience- I just wish it could've come in a different form. He was a great kid, and very young. It really hurts to see somebody make the choice to end it all, before we were ready to see him go. He is missed deeply. RIP Joe we love you.

15 | Left by Britt | Sep. 27, 2010 at 1:52pm

joey my best friend like a brother he left me and i feel like i could have fixed it i love him and talk to him every night i love you brother see you soon

16 | Left by tyler otte | Oct. 29, 2010 at 4:55am

Name:

Email:

URL:

Comment: * No HTML, http:// will auto-link
* required

Please type in the security code you see below.