Nerds Republic

Hyong Yi’s wife Catherine Zanga died last year after a heartbreaking battle with ovarian cancer. Wanting nothing more than to curl up in bed after suffering such a devastating blow, Yi had to stay strong for his family. With two young children at home, he had to be their rock.

That’s when he decided to do something truly amazing. He came up with a way to commemorate the anniversary of Catherine’s death that would help them move on, and also ensure that she would never be forgotten.

Catherine’s death left a huge hole in her family’s hearts. All three of them felt lost after she was gone.

That’s when Yi decided to draft love letters to express the love he’s had bottled up inside since her death.

After writing 100 notes over the course of a month, he and his children walked around Charlotte, North Carolina, on the anniversary of Catherine’s death and handed the notes to strangers.

He based the content of each note on memories and conversations he and his wife shared over the course of their relationship.

“I wanted them to experience how it felt to give this gift, rather than just be spectators,” Yi said of getting his little ones involved.

The event prompted a number of Yi’s friends to create a website where the notes could be published online.

“The most difficult, rewarding part of the past year has been to try and define a life worthy of Catherine. What is a life well lived? My conclusion: a life filled with love. Catherine taught me this,” Yi wrote in a Facebook post.

It was also the culmination of a year-long healing process. “For the last month, I was really looking forward to doing this with my children.”

“People sometimes take loved ones for granted. Be thankful for everyone around you,” Yi’s daughter Anna told the media.

According to Yi, “one of the things my wife was most concerned about was being forgotten. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen now.” We couldn’t agree more. As our hearts go out to Yi and his family, there’s no chance that we’ll forget about Catherine. Something tells me that members of this community will hold her in their hearts forever, too.

If you’d like to learn more about this project, head on over to Yi’s website.

Two years ago, at the age of 19, photographer Edward Honaker was diagnosed with depression. The news came after a frightening and disorienting experience of losing who he used to be. “All I knew is that I became bad at the things I used to be good at, and I didn’t know why,” he explained in an interview with the Huffington Post.

Everyone deals with depression, clinical or otherwise, in a different way, and no two experiences are the same. So when faced with his diagnosis, Honaker did what he loved most: he picked up his camera.

He developed a series of surreal self portraits that attempt to capture his feelings while going through depression.

The images are unsettling in their dreamlike atmosphere. We can relate to his feeling of loss, unease, and worry, because we’ve probably all felt this way at some point.

In many of the images, Honaker’s face is obscured or distorted, reflecting the loss of self he felt while depressed.

“Your mind is who you are, and when it doesn’t work properly, it’s scary,” he says.

The images are uncomfortable, but there’s also a solace in knowing that someone else may be having the same feelings.

Honaker hopes that these images, even though they deal with a dark subject, will help people be more able and willing to talk about mental illness and to be more empathetic and accepting towards those struggling with it.

Honaker even says that through creating this series, he’s become more empathetic himself.

“I’ve still got quite a ways to go, but the whole experience made me a lot more patient and empathetic towards others,” he says.

He also hopes that for those dealing with their own illness, the photos can be a way of letting them know they’re not alone.

“It’s kind of hard to feel any kind of emotion when you’re depressed, and I think good art can definitely move people,” Honaker says.

(via Bored Panda)

Honaker’s focus on depression is also important for men, in particular, as they’re statistically less likely to speak up about or seek help for mental illness issues or suicidal thoughts. Remember, if you or someone you love is struggling, please seek help!

You can see more of Honaker’s work, including some cheerier subjects, on his website, Tumblr, and Instagram.

After a failed relationship and some other issues, 23-year-old Byron Taylor was ready to give up — for good. He fashioned a noose out of an old rope, and wrote a farewell letter to his family and friends. He was ready to end everything due to his crippling depression, even at such a young age.

But what he didn’t realize was that someone was looking out for him, someone who loved him more than he knew, someone who would do anything to keep him safe. That someone? His six-year-old mastiff, Geo. As he went upstairs to end his life, Taylor found Geo, normally a mellow, passive pooch, holding the noose in his mouth…

This is Geo, who is serious about protecting his human, both physically and emotionally.

While a dog chewing on a rope might not seem strange, Taylor believes that Geo knew what was happening. “In a way, I think Geo knew what I was going to do. They have a sixth sense about this kind of thing. He knew something was up,” he told the Daily Mail.

Hear Taylor’s incredible story in his own words.

Taylor got the help he needed, and is happily still with us. However, his lifesaving friend will not be able to protect him for much longer. Veterinarians found an aggressive tumor in Geo’s brain that is spreading quickly. He’s only been given a few weeks to live.

Needless to say, the news was devastating, but Taylor is determined to make Geo’s last days his happiest. He also has a GoFundMe page set up to collect donations for his pooch’s medical bills.

(via DIY Creative, Daily Mail)

Depression and suicidal thoughts are nothing to be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is going through them, please reach out and get help. This site has a list of hotlines in countries all over the world.