Re: new here, just testing the water

[Guest guest]

Well hello! We welcome you to our wonderful group. You are amongst people who

know and understand all that you go through.

I think that doctor gave you wonderful advice. I know it is possible to be

happy no matter what our physical limitations may be. I also think that the

constant pain makes it very difficult to focus on being happy. Want to share

your secret? If it's something religious, you can email me privately, as we try

not to let too much religious stuff on the list.

I very much understand and empathize with your loneliness. I am 44, married

with 2 teen girls, but my hubby and girls have their own lives outside the

house. I am almost home-bound due to low energy levels. And I desperately miss

having girlfriends to talk to. So participating in groups like these helps a

lot. I hope you enjoy the companionship as well.

Jeanne in WI

P.S. What would you like us to call you?

Hi I'm from Ca. sierra mountains. I've had the Fibro disease for 21 years.

I've dealt with it on my own for the last 19 years. After 3 years of it,

every-one I loved started to disappear, except my children. It was too hard for

them. I have trouble making new friends

because I can't commit to anything. I don't know from day to day how I will

feel. I tried joining a couple of dating services for the disabled but everyone

I liked was on the other side of the country. Then I found you, and thought it

would be nice if for the first time

in 21 years I was surrounded by people that are living with the same monster

as me. So here I am, hi. The one thing I can give you is something a doctor gave

me 11 years ago. I hated him for it and even stopped seeing doctors for a while

because his advice made me so

angry. He said that I needed to separate my pain from my emotions. What a

crock, right, wrong. Over 3 years of trying, it just happened. My body and all

it's pain and fatigue became nothing more than a package I was limited by, but

my emotions became freed. I can, for

the past 8 years, be happy to hold a new born chick or watch the sun go down,

no matter how messed up my body is that day. My spirit is finally free from the

emotional roller coast that my body use to

dictate to my spirit. I know that you are most likely thinking what a crock,

and that's okay, but I am hoping that at least one of you will find your

happiness again, at least 80% of the time. As for me I am mostly struggling with

the loneliness that comes with our society and

their view of a person with an imperfect body, forgetting that there is a

person inside. I wish to have some-one special in my life but can not seem to

find him, because he can not get past my limitations. To be honest if I do find

some-one special, I will most likely devote

all of my energy to him and my family, but for now I would like to just have

some non-prejudice friends around to chat with and maybe build a couple of

lifelong friendships.