{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Tomi}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I tried to reply to this yesterday, but my computer wouldn't let me.

I don't think that you are like your mother. You don't look down on people - you are warm and accepting, and compassionate.

One thing about depressed people is that we tend to give and give and give, but are not willing to accept anything for ourselves, or give anything to ourselves. You absolutely have to take care of your own needs, because if you don't, you will burn out and will have nothing left for anyone. But when we start to acknowledge our own needs and help ourselves, we perceive that as selfish. It isn't. It's survival, and putting ourselves in a position to be available for those who need us.

You are very intelligent, a good writer, creative, many other things as well, and also compassionate. You help people all the time. It's okay to get your own needs met too. If your heart were hardening, you wouldn't be stopping to wonder if your heart was hardening. Just the fact that you think that way and that you want to have compassion says a lot about you, and how compassionate and giving you are.

I'm glad that you are here, my friend.


<font color=red>"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." -Harriet Braiker</font color=red>