I love my forum!

[ccraig42]

So, when I first started (not that long ago) I said I was here to help and be helped. Soon after, I started enduring all types of things that put stress on my life and had me in a bit of a slump. I wanted to create a post and thank you guys for your kind and encouraging words. It's hard to find support like that out here. And now I am ready to live by the "to help" part of that statement.

That being said, what do you love most about the forum family? What kinds of hardships have you been helped through?

[Texinator]

I love that they put up with my humor

[Mes T]

I've complained about pretty much the SAME personal thing while I've been here and people have been very understanding and patient. Instead of telling me to shut my yap already. Hehe.

[ccraig42]

I'll be keeping my eye out for you then!

[Texinator]

Mes and I are nuttier than a squirrel's farts

[SidneyAlive]

OOoo, when i first got here i was just lost and was losing myself, then some wonderful people here took me in and showed me the light and which direction i should take, i never knew how much i loved this place til after i left for a while, nothing could keep me from coming back...

[Hopeless Dork]

Man, this place has really given me an outlet to put my thoughts into perspective and see things from different angles I hadn't considered. I still sometimes jump the gun and tell my boyfriend the first stupid thought to enter my head when I am upset... but I'd say this forum saved me (and him) from so many unecessary arguments... by me being able to come here and say... I'm hurt, about this, about that... and just release it from my emotions without bringing him into something that likely had nothing to do with him, just me.

I find I learn so much about myself when I respond to someone elses problem, it forces you to put yourself in someone elses shoes and sometimes you can see yourself, and sometimes you can't... but either way you learn... you know the person you'd never want to be... or the person you stirve to be when you read some posters words.

As far as the fam, nothings sugar coated-- when i have been hurt by words, I've expressed that to them, I've never had to fear being true myself here. Whether or not people agree with you, they will respect what you have to say as long as you deliver your message respectfully. I think thats a beautiful thing.

[WildChild]

Have to agree with HD about how much you can learn by delving into people's concerns and troubles. I originally came here in a lot pain and frustration over a difficult relationship situation. I eventually came to accept that no matter how deeply I loved the man, it was better to do so as a friend. I've had some difficult and ugly experiences in my life and it is very healing to be able to share what I learned in healing my own life to help others hopefully do the same. This gives a positive meaning to some otherwise negative things.

I absolutely delight in seeing some of the change and growth that people here go through. So many of you really do delight me. Sidney for example, came here trying to connect, sending out feelers about what she was living with and trying to make it positive. Many of us saw through that and saw that she was in an abusive relationship. She was encouraged to get out and own her life for herself. I know she may not feel that she has moved forward as much as she wants to but I see such a big change in her attitude toward herself and she has given others some great advice. She is now taking her experiences and using them to help others find the strength to make a change. That is a huge thing to do. There are so many people here that is true of.

Its also great to have so many good men here. They came looking for their own answers and have stayed and made this a more balanced site. A bunch of women sharing their ideas about men can be helpful but men see other men differently than we do and we need that perspective. We in our turn can offer men a chance to get feedback and input on things that they may not be able to express or explore elsewhere.

Sometimes there are things we need to hear that are too difficult to hear from someone we are involved with. We can be honest here because there is no penalty for it, we won't end up sleeping on the sofa so to speak.

[jns]

I love that people go out of their way to help others. As far as this forum, I love that it has dedicated moderators that keep things focused and are a shoulder to cry on for those who are hurting. I also love that people here come from all around the world and come with different views of things from those other places.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Just today two people stopped by to say hi on my Vistors Page, both I met here in 2008. Both haven't posted in over a year...

It's the genuine friendships and those whom call me Mom, even a guy I befriended on face-book through here, recently told me he is getting married, he came here seeking help in dating, congrats guys, we got through to him...

And like all friendships, the true ones can come and go and drop in once in a blue moon and say hi, the fact they do, means it's a place that is real.

It's the connecting, helping, loving and giving I love the most, as well as spitting my coffee out laughing at people's one liners..It's the intelligence the regular members have and their honest deep concern and lenghty posts and not giving up on someone that I admire.

Then there is the Private Investigator still in me that loves knowing who's a troll but letting them get it all out, tripping up and then sorry, calling it...Bad azz side of me


Then there is Tex

Only joking Tex, just had to add that in for your comment here.....