Every day I wake up and have a handful of choices to make (post-coffee, of course!)
One is, “who can I intentionally add value to today?” This is deeply important to me because its opposite, “who can I devalue today?” prods at my soul-scars and has profound consequences on others. There’s one essential caveat, and that is to add value with no strings attached. By the law of diminishing returns, adding value to someone and overtly or subconsciously expecting something back only decreases the value given in the first place, i.e. devaluing them. At age eight, I started struggling with suicide. This September I will turn 52 years old, that’s 43 years of battling something (we all battle something). As I ponder close-calls and peruse 43-years-worth of journals, the common denominator was believing a lie: I will not be missed, or I can be replaced. When I add value to someone today, I am a conduit for shining light on such dark lies. Conclusively, when we choose to add value to someone, dare I say we are value first-responders, value superheroes?! But right now, someone’s thinking: I don’t have a person around to add value to me. I’ve walked in your shoes, I understand. But are you a person? Then by that logic, you can add value to yourself. Tell yourself, “I’m the man!” “I’m the woman!” Because there’s no backup of you in the cards so you have secured an irrevocable, valuable place in humanity’s deck. All of us can choose to add value to someone today. Whether it’s ourselves or others. I hope this adds value too! ~Heather
Hope With Heather reflects my personal experiences and insights and should not be taken as a substitute for professional guidance in any field.
Bio:
Heather is married to Raul Palacios, one of the pastors at Church by The Glades. Together they are raising two sons in Coral Springs, Florida. She is a graduate of Judson University with a degree in Business Management. Heather is a multiple suicide-attempt survivor who believes if you wake up breathing, that’s your proof to keep going.