Upfront, I'm going to say that this post is neither about retiring early nor financial independence. But it's really short and really important, so I hope you'll spare 60 seconds to read it.
Just over a year ago, Lee MacMillan took her life. She was 28, and from the outside had what looked like the perfect life. I didn't know her, but I followed her vanlife adventures on YouTube, and was at least a little inspired and envious of her adventures. Her passing had a bigger impact on me than I would have imagined, and it made me more aware of the importance of mental health.
Recently, two of my close friends have faced challenges and, over the past few days, one told me of thoughts of suicide. Help is available, so if you are in a similar situation, or are concerned about someone else, please reach out and talk to somebody, a friend, a loved one, or a specialist helpline.
On a personal level, I have a simple message today. Be kind to people, always. Look out for your friends, your relatives and your colleagues. Take time to check in with them, give them a call, pay them a visit. Ask if they're okay. Be there for them, and make sure they know that you're there for them.
There's another YouTube channel that I follow, and they often end their videos with the message "go tell someone you love them." Sage advice.