How has the world changed for you?

[HeffsRah]

Wow - great answers - and really neat because it's stories like these that remind us how much to be grateful for in life!! Sometimes it's easy to forget the good things, but when you face a hard time in life - its easy to distinguish between the good and bad and we look to the good things to get us through.

Although some of these "bad" memories can be painful to recall, it is helpful in putting life back into perspective!


Shelley -- your story is truly inspirational!! My family has been raising money at our business for the past year for a woman we are acquainted with who was in a terrible car accident and has recovered from a four month coma -- I know exactly what you mean about how those little advances are so remarkable and inspiring and that those kinds of stories DO teach us how uncertain life is.

Amanda -- That sounds so scary!! I'm glad you were ok in the end!! Like you said, those kinds of experiences make you step back and appreciate life -- and your legs too!!!

Hokus -- I'm so sorry to hear your story -- thats so great that you've stuck it through and you sound so supportive for your husband! I'll send prayers your way for that donor and for continued healing of his knee!

Emily -- I agree so much about how things are different these days for children and it scares me so much to think about having kids and feeling like I couldn't protect them from everything bad in this world.

The sexual predator thing is scary! Has anyone visited that site? I found that there are quite a few of them in my neighborhood and it gives me a weird feeling inside. It's scary how many people there are out there like that -- but then you have to remember how many good people there are in between

I'm a big worry wart too but I'm trying to get over that.

Thank you all for your responses It really put a better perspective on my day!!!

[elfygp]

a year ago this month, i lost a good friend of mine. he was a volunteer firefighter in a nearby town, and died from injuries from when he was looking for hot spots after a garage fire. his name was mike, and he was 19 years old. he was making his way to being a full-time police officer, and told me once he'd love to fly helicopters if he ever got the chance.

the accident really put things into perspective, especially when worrying about material things. i would rather my house burn to the ground than someone risk their life for it. i still think of him almost every day, and sometimes it hurts, but really i love the little things that remind me of him and the lesson he paid the highest price for.

it's tough reading things like this thread and not getting depressed what with all the awfulness in the world, but sarah you put it perfectly:

Originally Posted by HeffsRah

you have to remember how many good people there are in between

[Imachickadee75]

Originally Posted by HeffsRah

The sexual predator thing is scary! Has anyone visited that site? I found that there are quite a few of them in my neighborhood and it gives me a weird feeling inside. It's scary how many people there are out there like that -- but then you have to remember how many good people there are in between

I'm a big worry wart too but I'm trying to get over that.

Thank you all for your responses It really put a better perspective on my day!!!

Actually the REGISTERED sex offenders are not what worry me. Its the unidentified ones that scare me. I get so frustrated when there is a news story about halfway houses or a sex offender moving into a neighborhood. At least you know who to look out for and guard against.

Jackie

[Roxswood]

totally agree, if you can see the danger you can take steps to protect against it.

Anyone read Protecting the Gift by Gavin de Becker?

[HeffsRah]

True -- we found out that this certain beauty salon in our neighborhood had been running as a brothel for the last ten years and the cops finally got it shut down -- I always knew it was a kind of shady place cause I never saw people going in or out but never paid much attention to it. What a surprise when we heard that news story!! eeK!

[HeffsRah]

Originally Posted by Roxswood

totally agree, if you can see the danger you can take steps to protect against it.

Anyone read Protecting the Gift by Gavin de Becker?

Haven't heard of it...should I go get it?

[Roxswood]

Its specifically aimed at parents though he's written a book for women about protecting themselves too. Protecting the Gift is about how to evaluate risks of violence and abuse against your children and protect them and teach them to protect themselves.

[elfygp]

oh yeah i've read The Gift of Fear, and it makes you notice a lot of things around you and made me more aware of body language and things, and more in tune with my instincts. it's a really good book i'd recommend it to anyone.

one cool example i remember he gave was that you know if you're walking your dog and walk past someone that you might not find particularly shady but your dog has a bad reaction to the person, like growls or goes tense or something? he said that the dog's reaction was actually based off of yours, but you didn't even realize that you were putting your guard up, but the dog can read you so sensitively that he'll pick up on something really small like that. there are a bunch of little tidbits like that that are really interesting.

[FilleBelle]

I would say going away to college has had the biggest impact on my life so far.

I have always been a bit type-A. A planner, a little bit of a worrier. But I spent most of my childhood and certainly my high school years as a very decisive person with strong leadership skills. Then I went to Massachusetts for college.

My grandfather died the week before I left. The week I arrived, 9/11 occurred. Ground zero was close enough to my university that we were breathing smoke for weeks and I had to worry about my then-boyfriend, who was in the Navy. Toward the end of my first year at college, I made the difficult decision to break up with said boyfriend, who had meant a great deal to me at one time. He attempted suicide and then blamed me for it. I stopped eating, couldn't sleep, couldn't do my schoolwork. It got to the point where I had to have Kevin choose my dinner off the menu for me when we went out to eat because I was so paralyzed by indecision.

I ended up going home halfway through my second year. I felt like a failure, like I should have stuck it out. I went into therapy and briefly took medication for depression and anxiety.

I somehow thought that I was going to be "fixed," but as it turns out I am a different person now than I was before I left. I'm not always sure I like this person...she is not confident in her ability to make decisions, she is scared of being too far from home and family, she is constantly afraid she will be a disappointment to someone, and she sometimes cries for no discernible reason. Still...I can walk into a roomful of strangers and no longer have a panic attack. I eat well, sleep well, socialize, and even choose my own dinner off the menu!

Was that too much information?

[SeatClutcher]

Originally Posted by Imachickadee75

Actually the REGISTERED sex offenders are not what worry me. Its the unidentified ones that scare me. I get so frustrated when there is a news story about halfway houses or a sex offender moving into a neighborhood. At least you know who to look out for and guard against.

Jackie

does the sex offender registry only track those who have an affinity for children, or does it also track people who assault and/or rape grown women?