So after being back From Tokyo for a week now and going through the nuances of getting acclimated to the time change and the American hustle and bustle; in moments where I could not sleep while most were slumbering, I turned to my original Netflix content viewing. This time I fell into a deep appreciation for a TV series entitled, Th1rteen R3asons Why, which is based on the 2007 novel “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher and adapted by Brian Yorker for Netflix.

This show brilliantly dives into the mind of a high school student who decides to take her own life after experiencing the battle between self-love and the desire of the acceptance of others that are not worthy of her own acceptance coupled with the mental and emotional repercussions of the organic stresses and failures of life during the fragile years of high school. And her, Hannah (played by Katherine Langford (that is), really endures some atrocities such as bullying, slander, losing friends left and right, demoralizations and total emotional violations, which leave her feeling numb and alone to the point that she stopped feeling anything inside.

As depressing as the aforementioned reads, what was even more incredibly sad was the compounded aftermath of her decision to take her own life: the tapes that she left for those who contributed to her decision are left with the horror of not being able to reverse the lack of humanity they personally demonstrated to Hannah when they had every opportunity to.

The unforgivable truth in all of this is the reality that when it comes to respecting all humans, loving unconditionally and avoiding the ignorant tendency of judging someone and conveniently highlighting made-up character flaws because you are not courageous enough to deal with your own real insecurities; this world can be a tough and hurtful wake-up call. Why? Well, because so many of us do not honor and love ourselves – flaws and all; thereby leaving it barely impossible to freely and abundantly love and respect others. So, knowing this, no matter what happens to us, we have to make the final decision to grow and learn and love and respect ourselves along the way; even if we fail. Yes, we must forgive ourselves every time we come up short in any department and heal ourselves for this is no one else’s responsibility but our own. And although simple, to do this is not easy in a complexed, paradoxical society.

Courageously heart-wrenching and undeniably powerful, Th1rteen R3asons Why, does an impeccable job at examining a myriad of vantage points when suicide happens in a community and dares to present opportunities where love conquers all and could have very well saved Hannah’s life if she and those around her tapped into it not just for Hannah, but for themselves as well.

Please be sure to check out the trailer and series. And, for more general information, please read below:

💜Co-showrunners: Diana Son & Brian Yorkey

💚Episodes: 13

❤️Main Actors: Katherine (Hannah) Langford & Dylan Minatte (Clay)

💙Produced By: July Moon Productions, Kicked To The Curb Productions, Anonymous Content and Paramount Television

💛Executive Producer: Selena Gomez, Diana Son, Tom McCarthy, Joy Gorman Wettels, Steve Golin, Michael Sugar, Mandy Teefey, Kristel Laiblin

❤️Released: March 31, 2017

💜Love & Light☀️,
CRISTEN M. MILLS