cassandrastorm

OK! I have waited till (almost) the last minute....The Order of Red Erism it is!

OK! I have waited till (almost) the last minute....The Order of Red Erism it is!

Thanks everyone! I went with Burrow, will see how it works!

Thanks everyone! I went with Burrow, will see how it works!

I am a Mom of 3 wonderful girls, ages 31, 26 & 22. I do understand what it's like to have you child go far away and worry and miss them so much. None of them are in the Army, though and I know that is scary in and of itself. Try to remember, though that he is getting great training & experience. He can have a great career in the services, or have great advantages in finding a job when he comes out. While he is in boot camp, he probably can't communicate much with you. But when he is done with that part, I think he will be able to send you texts, snap chats, skype/face time. Having those technology tools & being able to see & hear my kids when far away made a HUGE difference to me. you seem strong - I know you will come through this even stronger - and so will he!

That is fantastic news - you deserve to be proud AND pat yourself on the back for encouraging him and keeping him positive! He will have a great career as an electrician - we need more people with skills like him AND like you, as a nurse!
Your story reminds me of my youngest daughter. She was extremely shy (I am also remembering the forum discussion about introverts) so in her kindergarten class, she didn't grasp the reading concepts taught the first half of the year because it took all her energy to be in a room with so many other children. The school wanted to hold her back, but I thought that would be worse - she would have to get comfortable with a whole new set of kids, and then be the oldest kid in class. Plus, there wasn't anything wrong with her intelligence, she just needed to adjust socially. We agreed on a reading tutor over the summer, her sisters & I worked with her a lot as well, and she was able to move forward to 1st grade with her class. Three weeks ago she graduated from college with a BA in Studio Art, Graphic Design focus, with a 4.0 GPA.
It goes to show you can accomplish so much if you stay focused & follow your dreams...

Congrats on hitting the million mark! I know it takes a loooong time to get there!
Welcome to the forums - have fun!

Oh No! Sounds like I'm gonna lose already! I signed up for Thieves before reading this topic! Oh well, it's all good - have fun everyone!

I only use my ipad when I am traveling & don't want to lug around my laptop. I can only do limited stuff, though, so I just check some of the essential dailies.

Thanks for the help-I really appreciate it!
 

Hi! My heart goes out to you. I can see that you have been hurt and that you are hurting. I can also see that you have already accomplished a lot already - so good for you! Try to be kind to yourself even when others are not so kind. I think you are brave for reaching out to others. I also think that you have a good deal of insight, and that knowledge can be power for you, your current situation and the choices you make in the future.
You have been exposed to many toxic people, and it is great that you can see that they are toxic. The next step is to work on feeling strong about yourself. I don't know you, will probably never meet you, but I can tell that you are a good person and a wise person. I hope that you can begin to find others around you who are also good and kind, That will help to offset the negativity that the toxic people give you. Perhaps following those other interests you have : writing (see if there is a writing group - online or in person) reading (perhaps a book club that meets at you local library, bookstore or on campus) anthropology class/discussion group. One of my daughters has social anxiety and doing theatre actually helped her deal with it, when she had to give presentations in class, for example.
As for school/grad school/career: there are many paths to the same destination. You don't necessarily need to go right into grad school. It sounds as if you are a little ahead of others your age. Consider a year to work (really at any job) and/or volunteer - at a library, after school program at a community center, at a senior citizen facility, Peace Corps, Teach for America - there are a variety of options if you can open up your search. If your basic desire is to help others, there are many ways to do that, being a medical doctor is not the only option. Perhaps if you find a volunteer position that inspires you to help others, while gaining valuable experience, then your family may begin to see that as a viable alternative. Some volunteer situations involve doing work by yourself (organizing, writing, filing) or in small groups, so being an introvert isn't always a hindrance - it can be an asset, depending on the situation.
As for the political situation right now...yes, it is bad. It is so sad that now some people feel they can be vocal about their prejudices. But I also see more people joining protests and organizations that fight against all aspects of injustice. It may help if you seek out a group that speaks to your specific concerns ( and, no I can't tell which minority you belong to, but I know that too many people are being unjustly treated for too many "reasons").
You have reached out, and that is a wonderful step to take. Keep on going - you can do it, whatever it is!

Oh thank you all so much for the great advice! And also for making me feel better! All of you are so kind!

Thanks, Everyone for the great suggestions! I will try ALL of them!
 
Great News! My formerly depressed pet is now happy. Itried a combination of your ideas and it worked. Thanks again!
 
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