AKB

Hi and Welcome @LovelyBee! Just so you know I split your comment (per Mary's request) into your very own post so the NST can give you their warmest welcome to AS. I'm so very sorry for what brings you to us here yet I'm happy to have you here amongst our lovely, supportive community. Sending you so much strength as you walk your healing journey. 💜

Ah the joys of passive-aggressive messages from Oompa. Ugh. Sitting with you, friend. And sending you lots of hugs.

I think for a lot of us this year is an exercise in grief. Grief over what we've lost, at what remains, and feeling like this pandemic is never ending. It's gotten hard to see what the ending looks like. Know that we are all here with you and grieving in our own ways for ourselves, for those suffering, for those that have died, and for "normality". Sending you the safest of hugs! You are not alone in this.

Wahoo! So glad to see that you've come back @Poppy_!

I think often that we never actually learned about healthy boundaries. Being a people pleaser does not help make boundaries any easier either. And being raised by two varying levels of narcissists just adds to the fun. Know that you have a right to set boundaries to feel safe and that it may take some practice to do so. You're not imposing them upon others more so you are keeping yourself safe and healthy. Sitting with you very carefully with each of us in our safe bubbles.

Awww that's so funny! Are they all vocal like I've heard siamese are? I swear my girl has some siamese (all black 17 year old Diva) as she is always talking to the point of meyowling at times! So great for your new furbaby to have you and catsibs.

I'm with you on being ready for 2019 to be over. I was so OVER it months ago and yet it just kept lingering on. So, I too am slamming the door on the sh!t year that was 2019 and heading into 2020 with hope.

One year ago I was driving across country alone with Miss Sasha. We had just left the East Coast on a Saturday with M driving and on Sunday I dropped him off in Kansas City to fly on so he could start work the next day. Sasha and I would continue onwards from Kansas City, Missouri into Hays, Kansas where we stopped for the night. So, that day I ended up driving 4.5 more hours after dropping off M at 2:00 p.m. This would be my first night of staying by myself and having to unload all of the stuff from the car and then reload it the next morning. All went fine and after a quick dinner Sasha and

Totally get it and you re: your mom. The past 1.5 years I haven't been "talking" to my parents have been a godsend for my healing. Not having to pretend that everything's A-Ok with my mom especially has been so freeing. She too wants it all to be about her & I played that game for 40 some years. No more. Yes there's guilt and yes many people don't understand. Just showing up and putting on a show for everyone else doesn't mean that there wasn't abuse happening, whether emotional or physical. I've always been called "too sensitive" also and it's a really heavy burden. Good on you for doing

The way I like to think of it is as a transformation after a period of cocooning - like a butterfly. The caterpillar goes into their pupa and all of this miraculous stuff happens where they are no longer a caterpillar but they transform into a butterfly. And maybe some pieces of the caterpillar are still there they're just different now as the wings emerge and after time spent in the sun drying and curing their wings the butterfly is truly ready to fly. Sending you big hugs, friend! And a swift punch to the throat for Oompa that she won't see coming because no one thinks someone that look

Sitting with you as you wait to hear. I'm sorry that this is happening to you (again). The waiting for results is never an easy thing. Since there has been a holiday earlier this week perhaps that has delayed the results? Have you contacted the Dr's office to follow-up? It often amazes me how truly thoughtless the medical establishment can be here sometimes when there is a question of further ailments. Sending you healing and positive thoughts for a healthy outcome.

I heard James Hollis speak at the Conference I went to recently and this quote exemplifies what he was talking about to us. “How different the world would be if each parent could say to the child: “Who you are is terrific, all you are meant to be. And who you are, as you are, is loved by all of us. You have a source within, which is the soul, and it will express itself to you through what we call desire. Always respect the well-being of the other, but live your own journey, serve that desire, risk being that which wishes to enter the world through you, and you will always have our love, e