Life is beautiful with #nofilter

"What filter should I add to this photo?"

That's the question I was asking myself as I started this post.

The stats say filters make these types of pictures better, but the more I looked at the image, the more I couldn't get past the "accidental" beauty of it. (I say "accidental" because that's what it was. I can't even call myself an amateur photographer.)

I decided to post it with #nofilter and then it hit me. Our lives are the same way.

Most of the time we want to place a filter on our life for public consumption. It's not changing the truth, it's just making it "prettier." It's ever so slightly adjusting the details so we look picture perfect all the time. The thing is, I believe there is more beauty in a #nofilter life. People need to see us without the filters because that type of truth can be the exact motivation someone else needs to keep going.

With that in mind, I'll start the conversation...

I found my mother a few short hours after she had committed suicide.

Four days later I went to her funeral in the morning, followed by Senior Prom in the evening. I was determined to push through and experience the last few celebrations of Senior year.  

Most people saw a strong and determined individual that could walk through anything. However, what nobody saw was a hurting kid who was thinking about taking his own life. Nobody heard the thoughts going through my mind as I looked at the police officer's gun thinking, I could take my life too. 

I made it through, but it wasn't pretty. That's one #nofilter story from my life.

Do you have any #nofilter stories you're hesitant to share? There just might be someone out there who desperately needs to hear it.