Well, on my hand, anyway.
Yesterday actually meant a lot to me. As many of you might already know, I used to cut myself a lot... For various reasons. I'm not going to elaborate on that, but I will say that some of those reasons are probably somewhat unique.
The truth is, it was love that got me to stop. Many of you have also heard of S. My friends helped me along the way with the whole cutting thing a little bit, but he's the one that really got me to quit doing it altogether. He showed me that I didn't need to, because I had his love and and appreciation... and his shoulder to cry on or his helping hand if I ever needed them.
I think the whole "To Write Love On Her Arms" day is a good idea, honestly. I don't know if it really raises awareness about the issue - maybe it does. But I don't think it's really about raising awareness to other people who don't harm themselves. I hated getting attention for any of my scars (and I still do).
This is more about raising awareness for those who do harm themselves. It's about reminding these people that they are loved, and that they don't need to hurt themselves, and that if they need someone to be there for them, there will be someone there. That's pretty important.
Anyway. It's good stuff. I will definitely continue doing this every year.
Thoughts?
True 
Lifetime
Comments (31)
Great post. I wrote about it too http://kristenmomof3.xanga.com/716451874/i-do-not-shave-because-i-find-razors-to-be-triggering/ The silence and shame needs to be broken
I wrote love on my arms as well. I've dealt with both anorexia and overweightness in the past so I felt a need to partake on the day as well. :)
I wrote Love on my arm also.
I cut myself for about 7 years so it only seemed fitting that I should help spread the awareness.
Good post.
Sometimes people don't realized that they are loved and others will just have to put a little more effort to remind them each and every day.
I've known a few people who have gone through this, unfortunately. This is a great idea.
I saw the video on YouTube about people who have written love on their arms for the TWLOHA day- it literally made me bawl. I agree- it definitely is to remind people that have done this that they are, indeed, loved.
Great post :]
I participated in that day also.
I cut for 6 years, and I really wished there would have been something like this back in the day.
Great post. I'm glad you had S to help you through your difficult times.
I participated.
I took a bunch of coloured markers out with me. If anyone asked about why I had 'LOVE' on my arm, I told them about the movement, and offered them the opportunity to join in.
When I spoke to people about it, I tried to cover the angle of trying to reduce stigma and reminding people that they are loved. And to love others, even when they might be going through something you find a bit hard to understand.
So, yeah, that was my take on the whole thing.
That's nice.
I did too. :)
Both the organization and that day are great ideas. :)
Ugh. I wrote it on my arm. But I couldn't show anyone, if that makes sense.
I got love tattooed on my arm.
After I met jamie (the creator) i knew that my decision to have it tattooed on me would not be one i regret.I had a really bad addiction to cutting and without this organization and good friends I would have never been able to over come it, It is still a battle I fight everyday.
People always say having a best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend shouldn't affect your happiness, but they're wrong because it does.
I have these huge red scars on my arm. I think I used a knife, it `aint no razor blade marking. Not sure though. But, yeah. Good post. Scars on the skin fade. Scars on the heart are there for life.
I wrote "love" on my arm, this year and years before. I heard about it once I started college and totally embraced the cause. Then last summer a friend of mine committed suicide, and this organization really did help me and my other friends through it. There was also a suicide prevention walk that was in Portland last year that I participated in, and it was really moving to see all these people come together over an important issue.
I wrote "love" on my arm, along with my friend's name. :)
Great post, had a close friend who used to cut herself and it used to tear me up that I couldn't seem to help. This issue definately needs to be made aware of to people.
i wrote love on my arms
and i had someone come up to me and write love on my arms.
i thought it was such a simple and great thing to do.
i've had my troubles and this definitely hit home.
A friend of mine killed himself on TWLOHA day in 2007. It was a day I was remembering the struggles I went through, and then that happened. TWLOHA means so much to a lot of people.
I've never experienced anything such as cutting myself personally but I do admire the notion of 'To Write Love On Her Arms', its a great concept and definitely encouraging.
i have had plenty of friends cut themselves and i helped introduce them to "to write love on her arms" it help them greatly :) i admire your post
I want to thank you for posting this, I never knew about it until now. I think is great. If someone would have done this and showed me there was someone out there who did care I may have stopped sooner. Thank you
People who cut for attention, want people to see their scars. They do very little to hide them and usually don't avoid talking about them if someone brings them up. They even brag that they got upset and cut themselves last night. That kinda thing... the people with the real problem don't wanna tell a soul. Needless to say, cutting is just bad altogether - it's not like I'm condoning it or anything.
But you can't just rely on this guy to stop you from cutting. What if, unfortunately, something happens between the two of you and you split up? It's all about being healthy and depending on yourself to stop. I'm just sayin... you shouldn't be dependent on other people to stop you from doing things.
@AphoticxIllusion@xanga - Sounds like you are bragging, way to go!! *sarcasm*
I have "Love" tattooed on my left wrist for a reason- I still write it on TWLOHA Day, but I also have it there everyday, serving as a reminder to myself everything that I've been through. People still look at my scars, but I'm not so self-conscious about them anymore.