It's very hard. Thank you for being so sweet.
You always brighten up the place with your kindness and heart.
I truely believe you are a beautiful, inside and out.

PC spazz out. Sorry all.

Aww thanks but I am just stating the truth about you. I may not have met you personally but I can tell what kind of person you are by how you express yourself on the forums.

You are right,navy.

Machug is really a very good person.

It is tough I think to feel good about oneself after a divorce...it takes awhile...I still feel like I'm wasting mt time on here sometimes

your kids are lucky to have you.

I make sure I have time for things I enjoy doing, whether it be spending time with friends, photography, trivia nights, traveling, or anything else that makes me happy.

I also try to help out others. We have the Special Olympics coming up soon in Annapolis and a group I work with is running it. It's a great event and makes me feel good to volunteer.

I have been actively working on becoming a better friend. I was always impressed with the type of person who could be there for others. I have been working on things I should have learned in kindergarten. In trying to improve the quality of life where I work I have found that I never have to be alone if I don't want to. All the things that a person should have on the ball before one gets into a serious relationship I have picked up on by just working with others.

Self awareness is good. We had a class on it when I worked at Handicapped Services in college. As Socrates said, "The unexamined life isn't worth living." The counselors in rehab helped me so much by letting me know that I can't really change others and to try isn't as important as trying to improve the self. I think my sponsor says it best when he says, "You work your program and I will work mine." It is like saying if I have a problem with you then that is mine problem and not yours. Once when I was in rehab a counselor said to me after I noticed how everyone around me seemed to be getting better that it is not them getting better but me. They were the same. Programming has been wonderful for me.

Yes,by giving back...I started a Single Fathers Group to help them in any way I can...

I'm learning to say NO.

The fact that you recognize the need for a greater self awareness is huge. Many people do not even get that far.

I myself am becoming more aware of the faults of others. I figured I'd start there first since that's where most of the blame lies.

I TRY,,to live everyday knowing ALL that is GOOD around me.
ALL that beomes MORE, all that is allowed to GROW.
I know I will make mistakes, and pass-up dates, and Hesitate.
Yet I know who I am fully inside this BEING, and always seeing.
Life was made for us ALL, to embrace it, hold-it, feel-it, live-it.
I love life and myself, with every flaw I have that makes me.
I always look for the good to help shape and form, this man you see.
Nobody can, or is perfect in this life, WE all share our own strife.
To be open to see, and be reviewed by others. Thats just ME.
The way God made me, Knowing I will NEVER be truly COMPLETE.
Yet also knowing that with each new day, I become more, of Me.
Never can I close my eyes to sorrow and pain in someone's life.
Even strangers to me, I will try to know their hearts, their strife.
The people that stay closed hearted, and closed minded.
Fail to know the true Beauty of this Earth and ALL its people.
WE were made to be as one with each other, not above, or below.
IF everyone felt THIS, we would ALL love each other, love would grow.
IF YOU, had the chance to save someone from being hurt emotionally.
WOULD YOU, or WOULD YOU NOT TRY TO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN?
IF you paused with reasons, to question, before giving your answer, to reply.
Then you shall always question yourself and this life, as to why?
I can't HELP,,from NOT HELPING....My family, my friends, a stranger.
WE both grow to become more through that, verses the negitives of thoughts if we didn't TRY... Its that LOVE, we all have inside

This has long-range implications.

For instance, the first question
that popped into my mind having
read this, was, "does soufie have
children, or any pregnanies
under her belt??" (She is well
enowed with over-the-belt
pregnancies, such as her
mind is oft pregnant with
brilliant and funny ideas.")

This can be the hardest part of one's life: making changes i.e. I've been working on quite some few. It's pretty hard. I can proudly say i've successfully dropped that part where i snub like anybody though... I'm like the most friendly and nicest girl on earth now and i'm loving it. It feels good to be good!

thank you. It actually started some time ago after my divorce my sister told me that it seemed like I had lost who I was - am

just a passing comment in sympathy really but it got me thinking 0 I have always been the one to set aside who I am to please others - to the point that for years I never even had hobbies of my own

that has turned into a need to become more aware....not just accommodating to others

there are times when it is very important to put yourself first - learning to set priorities - choose priorities and allow time for oneself is important!

After so many years of worrying about my ex and my sons, I am learning that it is OK to put myself first. My boys are men now and I feel I did a good job raising them but in the process I forgot to think about myself. It may sound strange to some but to anyone who has raised a family and always put their wants and needs first it takes time to rediscover the person you are. I'm getting there.