Charlotte Dawson, an Australian model, commits suicide after struggling with depression for over a decade. She was divorced and had an abortion earlier in life so as not to interfere with her ex-husband’s gold medal ambitions for swimming in the Olympics.
If you google her name, you will be met with nothing but smiling photos of a beautiful woman.
I realize no one goes out into public with their dirty laundry on display. But one of the things I detest about Facebook is the steady stream of “perfect life” photos.
I wish this woman had a bigger vision of what life could be.
Sad, all around. May she rest in peace.
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Saddened to read this story and see someone who was so strongly seeking praise from others for a ‘career’ that was failing. From age 16 onward she seemed to be caught up in the world of ‘skin deep’ with no concern for her true well being. She saw her pregnancy would ‘distract’ her husband who was preparing for the Olympics and so had an abortion. She said; ”Who needed a developing fetus when a gold medal was on offer?’. Haunting words. There seems to be nothing truly strong or good or meaningful had ever been part of her life. Reads like a tragedy. I suppose it should be no surprise that such a life exists and goes the way it does. The Olympics includes prostitutes, condom distribution and depression/suicide counselors. I love sport and competition but maybe things are a bit off track. When one juxtaposes the true meaning of competition with the present day expression .we see a possible explanation of sad outcomes and a hopeful remedy, The etymology of ‘competition’ shows its’ roots are in the latin, ‘com, meaning ‘with’, and ‘petere’, meaning ‘to look for’. Thus compete is ‘to seek together’. Generations have come and gone who believed this and left us with phrases like; ‘It’s not whether you win or lose but …’ Though this a really a far cry from today’s ‘winning is the only thing’ one can reorient oneself to a meaningful constructive way that makes sport, or even supporting one’s husband, or even having a career in modeling, edifying and not soul destroying..