Life is so precious

Last weekend we lost a young cousin to suicide.  It breaks my heart that someone barely out of his teens found himself in such a low moment to choose death over the many possibilities that life has to offer.  I just read an article last week about the rise in active duty military personnel suicides. We are averaging 1/day so far this year which is a considerable rise.  What is it that leads a young man or women to feel that the only remaining answer is to end it all?  Are we holding ourselves to higher standards than ever?  Are the pressures too much?  Or is it simply not a life worth living anymore?  It seems no matter what there is always an alternative.  My thoughts and prayers go out to young Doug and the family.  He will be remembered and hopefully the rest of us will take a moment and tell those that we love and care about that we are thinking of them.