You two (Richard and Rayna) are awesome!

Getting out of that "victim" mode takes power-- especially when it feels as though everything is against you--- and you two have done that! I think that's fantastic!

Your posts are very interesting... about how a person often relates to lyrics and how those lyrics can feed into the self-pity cycle. I do tend to feel happier when I listen to more upbeat music..... hhmmm... and some say humans aren't impressionable??

And Richard.... your question--- "my old friend, what part did you play in that sorry outcome?" --- so true!!!---- we all play a part in our past-- no matter how hard we may try to blame it all on someone else-- we had a part in it too. (excluding when being a child, of course)

Kind of empowering--- realizing that my life, as an adult, is about the choices I've made. I've chosen to stay in a demeaning relationship. I've allowed myself to be emotionally injured again and again by various family members, and so many other situations with painful outcomes that I could have just not played the "victim" and it wouldn't have been so devastating. I had choices, even if just as simple as the way I let things make me feel.... I can have power over my feelings. I don't HAVE to feel hurt or attacked, demeaned or invisible. duh-- why haven't I ever thought of this before???

Thanks for posting -- you two. Much to think about.

mandy