RIP icaio - you will be missed! 💚🤍🧡
icaio would disappear from SG for periods of time. Sometimes, this was due to dealing with his physical health issues. Other times, it seems, were more for mental health.
Several times he told me he was about to delete his SG account and disappear, but the kindness of people on this site would bring him back around. There would always be something, some unexpected comment or see an old name, that would reignite his love for this site and for you.
I know too well the struggles of depression, feelings of hopelessness. I think most of us have probably experienced that at some point in our lives. Maybe it was due to a tragic event, or just brain chemistry working against us. I joined SteamGifts during perhaps the darkest point of my life, and this community and the space cat really gave me something to distract myself from my negative thoughts. Being able to interact with all of you has been the best gift I've received from this site! Thank you.
And thank you, in particular. Yes, you.
To anyone else struggling with these thoughts right now -- you are not alone. I know that sounds like a meaningless platitude. I thought the same thing when people would say that to me. It took time, many years, for me to realize that I had a choice. I had to work to be optimistic. I had to choose to ignore the negative thoughts in my mind, the "worst case scenario" framing, the black and white thinking (either I am perfect or I am worthless).
Everyone, even the happiest, richest, most beautiful people you know, are struggling with something in private. The older I get, the more I realize that.
Those bad thoughts still pop up for me sometimes, and of course I have bad days that test me like everyone else. But for the most part, I am focusing on the good things and not the bad things. I do not necessarily think I deserve to be happy -- but I don't think I deserve to be unhappy, either. I try to remain neutral and let myself be unbothered by whatever life throws at me. I used to lie awake all night imagining ways my life would end, or ways to end my life, or imagining how sad it will be when my loved ones die. I don't do that anymore, and that alone is huge!
You cannot change the things that happen to you, but you can control how you choose to respond to them. This is not a solution to problems, of course, but a way to cope with them. Do not let your circumstances define who you are!
I love your saying, "you cannot change the things that happen to you, but you can control how you choose to respond to them"
I live with those words too, they keep me upright every day, struggling with chronic illness and pain, it's not always easy, but kindness and hope don't cost a thing, but a little sprinkle goes a long way! :)
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💙 very true. I try to be kind to everyone, you never know when they might be struggling and need a little positivity in their life. I know I do from time to time.
Added your GA as next!
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Happy cake day! I had this GA bookmarked and thought of reading through the newer comments. And came across ur Cake Day ^ ^
Love your message behind hope, as someone with issues with self belief and then some. A part of me hides a little amount of hope in me for the future. I also hope you are able to bear your pains and can utilize whatever helps in you in any way!!💖
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Thank you CultofPersonalitea! ^^ It snuck up on me this time.
Yeah not my message alone though. Hope is very important, and it's always there. Just sometimes it's a bit far away, but never out of reach. :) I'm sure that hope in you will keep growing, just like the love for yourself will. We need to be our own best friend, always. Good luck! And thank you, I will do just that! :)
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Here's another onebeat me to itComment has been collapsed.
As long as you don't beat yourself, it's all good. :)
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Well..well put.. given the circumstances et al. :)
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Beautiful words. I am moved. Thanks for writing it.
I would put you in my whitelist if you weren't already there.
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Isn't it funny how that happens! Throughout the thread, I kept finding long-time members of my whitelist, too. 🧡
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Thanks for these words, needed to read them today.
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🧡
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Wise words. I also recently finally internalized the notion that we have no control or power over most of the things that happen to us - we only control how we react to them afterwards. Changing the world is hard, changing our perspective of (or reaction to) it is easier/healthier.
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I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self not to worry about things so much... :)
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Thank you ❤️
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Wonderful words, stlpaul. 🧡
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This. All of this.
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Let those words sink in and they will hopefully move people to think differently. I hope you are doing ok as well Paul!💖🤍💙
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Thank you! All things considered, I am doing better than I have in a very long time. I hope you are well, too!
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<3
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Thank you for those words, Paul
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I'm definitely in that "take it as it comes, find small happiness where you can" area. There's enough going on that you sometimes just need to take small joys or else feel overwhelmed by it all.
Love the way you worded everything so eloquently. Icaio was just so good at inserting random moments or silliness and happiness where you weren't expecting it.
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During the early days of Covid-19 shutdowns, being at home I started to really notice the birds outside my window... I became able to recognize their songs and sometimes would whistle to them and they would sing back in response... it was a little moment of joy during an otherwise horrible time! :)
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( ｢'Θ') 😸🎃👻🧟♂🧛🙀
Leave a good footprint.🐾
That's all.🍵💞🐈
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💙
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You are also one of the bright lights here at SG, Paul. Thank you for sharing your story.
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Right back at ya. You are always one of the most supportive and friendly people around SG. I hope all is going well in your life! 🧡
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Thank you for writing this! ❤️
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Thank you for this. I still believe he will come back but your words are really deep and touching. You are amazing person!
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I was also hoping the same. He probably would have been embarrassed by all the attention... but it would have been the best outcome! 🧡
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❤️❤️
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Paul, thank you very much for opening up and giving us an insight into your life. That alone requires huge amounts of strength and bravery and I hope you can see that, too.
People who ask for help are strong people, because they realize that they can't do it alone but want to get better and want to change their life. You are strong and brave and a valued human being on this earth. Please try to internalize this.
All the best.
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Thank you for your kindness!
The worst years of my life were spent putting up a shield around myself. I did not want to let anyone in and didn't want anyone to know me. At the time, i thought I was doing this to protect myself, to feel safer. But the very things I thought were protecting me were just making me sad and preventing me from experiencing life. Once I started to drop my shield and allow myself to be vulnerable, to allow others to help me, and to say "yes" more often, my life started to improve!
🧡
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Beautiful words. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
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💚🤍❤️
Lovely words, thank you.
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💕
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"You cannot change the things that happen to you, but you can control how you choose to respond to them."
Beautiful words.
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Kindness in the face of pain, depression or any kind of struggle makes someone the biggest hero in my eyes! Sharing how you feel and being authentically yourself also takes immense bravery!
Honesty and being able to be freely vulnerable is a beautiful thing, it's how we truly connect with each other and get the support we need...
To me, it's important to find calm moments and appreciate all the little things you can find every day that bring joy and meaning! Helping someone else in any way can also help heal you! The world wouldn't work without the kindness and collaboration of others
Thank you ❤
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Robin Williams, what a legend. And he was a gamer, too!
Thank you for your kind words. 💙
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💜
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If I could give you a hug I would.
You're so right. Every day is a gift we too often take for granted. And sometimes when darkness seems to be all around us, a simple interaction with strangers through a tiny virtual window can be a ray of sunshine that makes things more bearable.
Icaio always had a good word or a laugh to give but that doesn't mean he wasn't suffering physically or mentally. Yet he chose to give and to spread positivity when he was here, and I'm sure many other places, and tht was his way of dealing with the dark.
I will always be grateful for that.
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🧡
Icaio and people like him are setting an example for the rest of us to follow. It does not cost anything to say something nice, to give someone a compliment, to encourage someone, to spend 5 minutes asking someone about themself and actually listening to the answer. We should all try to be more like that!
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