Jamie Tworkowski is the founder of a company called "To Write Love on Her Arms," otherwise known as TWLOHA. I was at a concert a little under a year ago when I had my first interaction with the company, and I very quickly came to love it.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.
It first began very small. Jamie was selling shirts in order to help one victim of addiction pay for treatment. Jamie wrote a blog entry entitled, "To Write Love on Her Arms" and knew that he had come across a statement that he could not ignore or forget about. He had to speak to those who need the most help.
TWLOHA often reminds people that they are not alone, and that their story is not over. I think reminding people that it is not the end of their story is important because people struggling from depression honestly feel like it would be easier for everyone if they were to end of their story, but everyone needs to remember that people exist who you can reach out to who understand.
In the past nine years, TWLOHA has sent over 180,000 messages of hope to people who need it. They have traveled three million miles to spread their message. They also have posted over 600 blog posts. Through this company, Jamie has made it clear that his goal is spread hope to this world.
In Jamie's story of first person he helped, something I personally loved is that Renee, the one receiving help, said we should write songs, not stories. Everyone knows a story has an ending, but a song leaves you with hope.
“You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips. Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs, but people more than anything else. You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living breathing screaming invitation to believe better things.”
That quote above speaks wonders to me personally. I grew up telling myself that I couldn't lean on other people. I always told myself that I had to do it alone, but this quote is 100% correct. Their are times in your life when you need another person. When even though you are strong and independent you simply cannot do it alone.
It is important to pick wisely who you choose to trust, but trusting others is important. Some people will get scared and leave, but the important ones. The ones who love you and care about you they will stay by your side. They are the ones who will inspire you and challenge you.
To Write Love on Her Arms has become a huge corporation that needs to be spread for all to hear because they are saving lives one at a time. We need more people in this world that are willing to help save a life.
