One of my classmates got his hands on a gun during our sophomore year in high school. He didn’t turn it on us, though. He turned it on himself one morning in his bathroom, and never came out for carpool.

The news filtered into school a couple of hours later, and kids who wouldn’t give him the time of day when he was alive consoled each other by the lockers, talking about what a great guy he was.

Which made me wonder. Maybe people wouldn’t kill themselves as often if we treated them like they’d just died, while they’re still here.

Maybe they wouldn’t kill other people as often, either.

So let’s try being proactive, instead of reactive.

For something, instead of against something.

Let’s be for communication. Mental health support. Other viewpoints. The forgotten. Open spaces. The margins. Good food. Clean water. Decency. Respect.

Being for something instead of against something isn’t some new, revolutionary idea.

But it’s worth a shot.

Because what we’re doing now doesn’t seem to be working.