“This mission is very near to my heart, due to the fact that I attempted to take my own life. Not once but on two separate occasions. A few years after I got out of the Marine Corps, I found myself somewhat on my own and alone. I had an amazing wife who loves me and at the time a 6 month old daughter. I was so afraid to talk about my feelings or what I was going through that the easiest way out of that state of mind was to just end myself. I never stopped to consider the consequences of my actions or the fact that I would never have the opportunity to watch my daughter grow up. As I had my 1911 in my mouth ready to pull the trigger, I heard my baby girl cry out and snapped out of the careless moment and realized I was not ready to go. For years I told myself that I was okay and didn’t need anyone to help me talk or try to understand me. Until last year when I drove to my property in Lampasas and had a gun to my head. That particular incident happened due to my inability to open up and admit that I am not okay, the fear of being judged and being labeled as a unstable man was overwhelming enough for me to not ask for help or be honest with anyone who would ask me if I was okay. I don’t know what exactly happened but I pulled the trigger on my handgun and missed my own head by inches. Something moved my head to the left and the weapon to the right allowing me a opportunity to be hear and share my story. Through all of this and everything else that I have endured the biggest takeaway is that we need to remind our fellow veterans that they are not alone. It is okay to hurt, it is okay to have emotions, but it is never okay to give up. There are so many people who will listen to your story rather than having to hear about another veteran who lost their battle with mental illness.”

-Rahul Sharma