Re: Thanks, , Kay and everyone!

[Guest guest]

Very well put!!

> >

> > > Hello everyone:

> > >

> > > It's me Francisco. For those of you who don't know me, I had

open

> > > RNY at Kaiser Richmond on June 3, 2003. As a result, I lost

153

> lbs,

> > > and my life has been forever transformed.

> > >

> > > Through this journey, I have parted ways with several friends,

but

> > > the new ones in my life have more than made up for the loss. I

> also

> > > took some time away from this group over a controversy

regarding

> my

> > > sexual orientation. Let me just put it out there. I'm a gay

man,

> > > and I attempt to live my life openly and honestly. Honesty with

> > > myself and others is a KEY aspect of my recovery from morbid

> > > obesity. As such, I talk about dating and love in terms that

are

> > > relevant to me; I don't switch genders referring to " she/her "

> when I

> > > mean " he/him. " I have always discussed these relationship

issues

> > > with respectful and sensitive language. I have deep respect

for

> all

> > > who belong to this group. I would hope that that same respect

> would

> > > be returned to me. If not, I have no place here.

> > >

> > > I also belong to a church that ministers to primarily gay,

> lesbian,

> > > bisexual, and transgendered people, but also some straight

people

> > > too. This beloved community influences me in a deeply spiritual

> > > way. I have found a spiritual home there where I am loved,

> accepted

> > > for who I am, and soulfully nourished by a good-hearted people

who

> > > work for social justice. We provide meals for the homeless, we

> > > partner with schools to provide materials for kids who don't

> always

> > > have enough, we do a shower project for the homeless so that

they

> can

> > > bathe in a safe environment, get fresh clothing and toiletries,

> and

> > > have access to social services. This Christmas, my church is

> > > partnering with the Homeless Children's Network to provide

gifts

> to

> > > kids who have been sheltered from abusive situations. The

> gratitude

> > > we experience and the connection we feel to God has called us to

> > > action to make positive changes, however grand or slight, to

make

> the

> > > world a better place, even if it just one person at a time. So

> from

> > > time to time, I will mention God, the Divine or a Higher Power.

> > > However, I am respectful of all paths to spirituality, whatever

> they

> > > be, even if it is no belief in a higher power at all.

> > >

> > > There is so much loss and sorrow that surrounds this process,

but

> the

> > > joy I have experienced has far outweighed the sadness. I have

> > > experience joy and beauty that I never knew existed. My soul

> used to

> > > have this constant yearning, a deep hunger. Food could never

fill

> > > that void the way love has. The deepest desire of my heart, my

> most

> > > passionate prayer was to have this burden of morbid obesity

> removed

> > > from me. God heard my cries of desperation and took away my

> pain.

> > > For that gift, I will be eternally grateful.

> > >

> > > So I find myself, once again reflecting on my life, and I feel

the

> > > need to come home to a place that was so instrumental to my

> ongoing

> > > success. I hope that you all are well. And I hope that I can

> feel

> > > safe here once again.

> > >

> > > Francisco

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Very well put!!

> >

> > > Hello everyone:

> > >

> > > It's me Francisco. For those of you who don't know me, I had

open

> > > RNY at Kaiser Richmond on June 3, 2003. As a result, I lost

153

> lbs,

> > > and my life has been forever transformed.

> > >

> > > Through this journey, I have parted ways with several friends,

but

> > > the new ones in my life have more than made up for the loss. I

> also

> > > took some time away from this group over a controversy

regarding

> my

> > > sexual orientation. Let me just put it out there. I'm a gay

man,

> > > and I attempt to live my life openly and honestly. Honesty with

> > > myself and others is a KEY aspect of my recovery from morbid

> > > obesity. As such, I talk about dating and love in terms that

are

> > > relevant to me; I don't switch genders referring to " she/her "

> when I

> > > mean " he/him. " I have always discussed these relationship

issues

> > > with respectful and sensitive language. I have deep respect

for

> all

> > > who belong to this group. I would hope that that same respect

> would

> > > be returned to me. If not, I have no place here.

> > >

> > > I also belong to a church that ministers to primarily gay,

> lesbian,

> > > bisexual, and transgendered people, but also some straight

people

> > > too. This beloved community influences me in a deeply spiritual

> > > way. I have found a spiritual home there where I am loved,

> accepted

> > > for who I am, and soulfully nourished by a good-hearted people

who

> > > work for social justice. We provide meals for the homeless, we

> > > partner with schools to provide materials for kids who don't

> always

> > > have enough, we do a shower project for the homeless so that

they

> can

> > > bathe in a safe environment, get fresh clothing and toiletries,

> and

> > > have access to social services. This Christmas, my church is

> > > partnering with the Homeless Children's Network to provide

gifts

> to

> > > kids who have been sheltered from abusive situations. The

> gratitude

> > > we experience and the connection we feel to God has called us to

> > > action to make positive changes, however grand or slight, to

make

> the

> > > world a better place, even if it just one person at a time. So

> from

> > > time to time, I will mention God, the Divine or a Higher Power.

> > > However, I am respectful of all paths to spirituality, whatever

> they

> > > be, even if it is no belief in a higher power at all.

> > >

> > > There is so much loss and sorrow that surrounds this process,

but

> the

> > > joy I have experienced has far outweighed the sadness. I have

> > > experience joy and beauty that I never knew existed. My soul

> used to

> > > have this constant yearning, a deep hunger. Food could never

fill

> > > that void the way love has. The deepest desire of my heart, my

> most

> > > passionate prayer was to have this burden of morbid obesity

> removed

> > > from me. God heard my cries of desperation and took away my

> pain.

> > > For that gift, I will be eternally grateful.

> > >

> > > So I find myself, once again reflecting on my life, and I feel

the

> > > need to come home to a place that was so instrumental to my

> ongoing

> > > success. I hope that you all are well. And I hope that I can

> feel

> > > safe here once again.

> > >

> > > Francisco

> >

>