((((fuzzybear))))

My dear friend. I cannot take away what others say and do to you, but I can counter their words with words that are true and encouraging. You are a wonderful person who is supportive, encouraging, thoughtful, caring, loving, and is always there for all of us even when you are hurting so much.

So many people say things out of ignorance and out of not having any clue to what they are saying. It is NOT okay for them to do that, but we also cannot stop them. They are going to say things many times that we are not prepared for.

And can we ever really prepare for such words that cut and hurt us?? I think all we can do is something that I learned a long time ago. I set up a chain link fence in my mind. When people threw their hooks (or harmful and hurtful words) at me----they got caught in the fence and it stopped the sting of them hitting me.

I know that probably sounds pretty stupid, but with time, I began to see the fence when I would come around certain people. I also created a funny character that represented the person. When they started in----I just remembered that.

(For example, I made one half donkey/half man. And I made him have an elephant truck, and when he started in----all I could see was that image and the words sounded like a donkey and did not hit me). And actually, I almost laughed thinking about it. And I actually drew the character out so I could see it and the fence.

So, my friend----I do understand what you are saying. I know that you are not what they say. Our fuzzy could not be such. We do hear you and are here for you. Know that we love you always. And send you many gentle hugs and loving thoughts.

dps