Are You OK?

It never ceases to amaze me how a person’s public persona can hide their private anguish.  I do not know how many times I have heard it said when someone takes their own life “If only I had known.”
Yet so often it seems a person’s goal is to ensure I don’t know.  Often it seems it is an inverted sort of care.  Often a person who has failed in ending it all, says things like, “I didn’t want to bother you” or “you have your life to lead, you don’t need my troubles.”
I have a secret though, I want to be bothered and you are a part of my life.  I want to listen.  I want to help if I can.  I reckon the “Are you OK?” campaign is great.  Everyone needs to know they are not alone.
I remember someone saying “you don’t know what those people are going through.”  Many of the people I see in everyday life, are going through their own private battles. I personally am glad most adhere to a standard form of behaviour in public.  But the truth is, I would rather know about an issue, than find out about it after it is too late.
It can be messy and time consuming but I ask myself, “what can be more important than another human life?”  I have things to do and I will do them, but where I can, I will get alongside someone who indicates they could do with assistance.  I will never pretend to be the answer, but I am happy if I can be a part of the answer.
I said before how I thought the “Are you OK?” campaign is great and I honestly think it is.  Even though I think it is totally worthwhile and I would not want to see it stopped for quids, I do have a problem.
I was thinking this morning about staying in a hotel where it was known in hindsight that a plane was going to destroy it.  A person there might be upgraded from economy to first class accommodation.  That is great and I personally would take it every time.  But I ask myself, “in the long run what difference does it make?”  Would it not be better to stop the plane hitting the building in the first place?
I see the “Are you  OK?” campaign as great in as far as it goes.  To me, any improvement in someone’s lot in life is a good thing, where it does not hurt anyone else.  But I guess I am a bit of an absolutist.  I prefer to help for always.