Thanks for the support, advice, and the laughter. It means a lot and, no, I will not be calling you Donkey. :) It's nice to hear from you. Come by more often. m.
BT65:
Mitch, I think we all try to put on a hard persona because that's what has gotten us through all these years of a lot of misery, bad health, death etc. It's hard to let it down in front of a whole forum. Pm's are great, as is Skype. And the phone.
All I know is, IF I WASN'T DIABETIC I WOULD BE SMASHED RIGHT NOW! Lol.
mitch777:
--- Quote from: BT65 on August 03, 2013, 05:27:33 pm ---Mitch, I think we all try to put on a hard persona because that's what has gotten us through all these years of a lot of misery, bad health, death etc. It's hard to let it down in front of a whole forum. Pm's are great, as is Skype. And the phone.
All I know is, IF I WASN'T DIABETIC I WOULD BE SMASHED RIGHT NOW! Lol.
--- End quote --- Thanks Betty, I guess every once in awhile I just feel the need to be more open with everyone here. I really never did develop a hard persona. Granted, living this long with the "bug" has put some things in perspective but I refuse to let it keep me from being who I am. These forums in some ways are about hearing honest emotions without fear of being judged. The posts that touch me the most are those that get to the raw truth we are all facing. I don't have anything against pm's, or phone contact. I just look at them as an extension of the forums. I wish you could have a cocktail or two now and then too. :) You and I have had SUCH different life experiences but your presence here warms my heart and others in a BIG way. You certainly never shy away talking about your past drug use. Honesty! That's why I adore you. :)
BT65:
--- Quote from: mitch777 on August 03, 2013, 06:16:45 pm ---I wish you could have a cocktail or two now and then too. :) You and I have had SUCH different life experiences but your presence here warms my heart and others in a BIG way. You certainly never shy away talking about your past drug use. Honesty! That's why I adore you. :)
--- End quote ---
Trust me, I was just googling earlier, on drinking while diabetic lol.
We do have different experiences. I could go on about it for eons. Having worked in so many different professions (including the oldest in the world lol) has given me the fortunate experience of not being judgmental with others' lifestyles, drug use, or whatever it is others do. It helps with being a case manager at the ASO. And also helped when I worked with the homeless.
I've had a mostly fun past I believe (other than when I was abducted and raped, and held against my will when 15). My different lines of work have included being a nurse's aide, stripper, hooker, bartender for a biker gang, security at AM General (where they make the hummers), traveling with carnies, fast food, medical transcriptionist, just to name a few. So I've been around lots of different people, with the carnies probably being the toughest group of people. But, it's enabled me to see the world through all different lenses, which I hold dear.
I don't hold back in talking about my drug use, because it keeps me honest. So, if I were ever to come on here and talk about a night of drugging, someone may say, "hey, WTF? You're an addict!" Lol. I don't, however, judge others for their drug use, and a few of my clients are drug addicts. And I treat them the same as any other client, only use a little different language.
Sometimes I don't feel I can bare all here, because of fear of being judged, or whatever. I've read your initial post several times, wondering how exactly I felt about it. It's a good topic, good to bring up, to maybe bond us closer. Thanks for posting it. I love you too.
mitch777:
Betty,
After reading your last post I admire you even more. Crazy world (in a good way) that people with a common circumstance who have led completely different lives can develop a bond, online no less. We humans can be pretty peculiar animals.
Wow! What a varied list of work experiences! We DO have ONE past job in common. Fast food. (I worked a week as cleanup boy in a KFC in high school) :P My list of work is short. Retail. Period. (opened my own store in 1987, 5 years post diagnosis)
Abducted and raped at 15? :'(
Judgment doesn't seem to be prevalent here. If it were, the forums would cease to exist. HIV has a tendency to make most of us more compassionate. I am proud of this community and in some ways actually feel lucky to be a small part of it.
Do I bare all? No, but I tend to bare as much as I think others can bare listening to me going on about my latest "crisis" of the moment. (I'll spare everyone from my latest hang nail story. tee hee) Thinking about someone shudder after reading my posts makes me a bit nervous. It does make it more difficult. Just have to keep in mind what Jeff said:
--- Quote from: Jeff G on July 28, 2013, 10:29:05 pm --- I have to remind myself sometime that its OK to seek support on a support forum .
--- End quote ---
Thanks again Jeff. :-* Thanks again Betty. :-*
This has turned out to be an interesting topic due to such wonderful input from everyone.