14 minutes

14 minutes.
In 14 minutes, I went through a roller coaster of feelings across the spectrum of human emotions as I listened to my caller tonight.

I’ve come to learn that life is made up of many moments.
Moments that are
– Significant
– Momentous
– Small
– Deep
– Seemingly insignificant

Moments of an event that may mean one thing to you, and a completely different emotional experience to someone else.

It just takes a single moment, a tipping point event, that causes our callers to pick up the phone and call us. Many are standing on the precipice, and some of them are hoping for a reason not to take that final step from which there is no return.

Tonight, I am urging you to look around and pay attention to the moments that may seem unimportant to you, but perhaps may indicate that someone’s in need of help.

That moment when
– the silence is just a few heartbeats too long before they answer that they are “fine”.
– you hear her voice catch as she answers the call from her mum.

Please pay attention to those moments.
Pause, and hold a safe space for them to share what’s going on in their life with you.
Perhaps it may take more than 14 minutes.
What’s important is that you hold that space for as long as they need you.

You may save a life. 🌹

If you are in the UK, and you’re struggling, you can call #Samaritans freephone on 116 123 to talk to a volunteer. Otherwise, you can email jo@samaritans.org.

#OnThePeiroll
#ActiveListening