It gave me an outlet to express myself when my husband left. When I felt sad, I would read the posts and actually smile. When I had the courage to post myself, it gave me new friends. People I could share my feelings with. It helped me slowly move on and heal.

Wow! Good question. That’s a lot to think about. I don’t think I really could express everything I’ve gained from this site. All I can do is offer some things that come to mind that will never adequately cover my experience here however hard I try.

First, Mingle has killed hours upon hours of time that would otherwise be spent in boredom. Some of these hours were spent here while I should have been doing other stuff. But for the most part, it has kept me very entertained on completely boring or rainy days. I find this site to be my favorite place on the entire worldwide web. The owners and moderators do a most excellent job of making sure that this remains an enticing place to keep returning to. To them, I extend a most gracious thank you.

It has caused me lots of sadness, stress, and anxiety, but provided even more humor, comfort, and advice when needed. It’s consoling to read through peoples’ posts that are having the same or similar problems and see that I’m not the only person going through some of these things. And when I can’t find somebody to relate to some of my issues, there are plenty of other things to read here to make me smile when needed, give me a place to rant, or in some other way take my mind off things.

It has humbled me, and at times even humiliated me. But outweighing that, are the times it has placed me upon a pedestal of self-worth and being worth something to others when I’m given the opportunity to help someone out with a problem, humor others, or at least offer words of consolation. Here, I have received words of advice, encouragement, gratitude, and consolation that gives me knowledge I can’t find elsewhere, self-respect I won’t give myself, and words to live by in times of need.

It has given me a place to express myself in writing, how I do it best. It has improved my writing and expression in ways I never could say before. My rants are not often payed any attention, but when they have been, it’s nice to know at least somebody listens, and I am not usually negatively judged for the things I’ve done, the ways I feel, or what I have to say. One or two of these rants have inadvertently helped a couple others to see things from a different perspective, and in a couple cases, helped them to regain parts of their lives. That was never my intention, but I’m glad for these other people that my babbling could help them out. It gives me a sense of purpose when I can’t find one elsewhere.

In contrast, Mingle has helped me to see things from multiple perspectives. This includes perspective people in the same boat as me, people in completely different situations but with similar ways of thinking, and people who are nothing like me, but have been before where I might be at a given point in time. These different views have provided me a priceless education, different stance, or opened my mind on some of my most critical issues.

This site has exposed me to multiple people, cultures, and lives, state and worldwide, that I would not see, or have not yet seen, from the isolation of my apartment or my city or the places I’ve been so far. A few of these people have become friends, associates, or confidants I am grateful to have since I really don’t have very many in my real life.

And lastly, but above all else, it has introduced me to you, the woman I truly, deeply love and cherish having in my life, who has brought out the best in me, who makes me feel like I actually have some meaning and worth, who gives me someone to strive to make happy, who I can talk to about anything or nothing and enjoy it all equally, who can confide in me all the same, who keeps me entertained like no other in doing so, and who my life just would not be the same without. I love you dearly, more than words can say, and I can’t thank you enough for what you have inspired within me and brought out of me.

Also, I would like to say I am so happy for you that you found this thing to make you happy in times of distress. A positive turn in events in a world so negative can bring fantastic, invaluable, and unrivaled rewards and satisfaction which can trump anything existing against a person’s happiness and well being. You so deserve it. You and your talents are nothing shy of amazing no matter what your mother says. I would like to extend my thanks as well to the people and forces that be that brought forth this realization. I wish you the absolute best in your endeavours and hope you and the ones who brought these feelings out of you can make this experience most beneficial and prosperous (I hope that makes sense) in all aspects of your life.

Emory .....a truly beautiful post, and she is now knowing how much she is truly loved.....so really loved by many, or at least, us, lol. she really deserves to know this, and that her dream in life is revealed, and what her mother says, does not amount to a hill of beans, and she IS, i repeat, IS successful in what she wants to do, whether she knows it or not..... for nobody can put a price on it, although sometimes there may be.

what she's doing is filling her precious soul back up, that everyone has vampirically emptied around her, for they try desperately try to extinguish her light, for they are extremely jealous, and must prove her wrong at every turn. well, they almost succeeded....till she met all of us! she's got a hard restart coming up, but once she gets rolling on the pavement, it'll pick up, she'll be rolling so fast, and she'll shine so bright they can't touch her.....ever again!


she is sooo loved.

we love you Lori!

Even old things feel young again when inspired.

Helped you be a better debater