Had trouble deciding whether to use the big grin icon or the heart. It could have been either.

When I first joined here, I had just come from being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. It was a good experience for me but having been "turned lose" was scary. I was afraid I'd slip back into the same loneliness and depression. Not so. Having PC helped me turn lose of bad company that had been sapping all the life out of me. PC also saw me through reuniting with my estranged husband and eventually separating again.

Being here has also helped me learn to communicate better, to find more of my own boundaries and respect other's boundaries as well. There was no such thing while I was growing up and going through my first marriage.

Most important of all, PC is "home and family" for me. There is definetely magic here that keeps me coming back even when I think I don't ever want to hear "Psych Central" ever again!

Here, I have received the validation, nurture and appreciation I haven't received in 3D. When my 3D friends and family let me down or I feel unloved, uncared about and worthless, all I have to do is come here and all of that vanishes. I find love, respect and faith in me, here.

There is one so-called best friend in 3D, but I have one special friend here that I trust more, respect more and although I've heard that it's not healthy, I need her more in my every day life than I need my friend in 3D.

One thing I take exception to when someone says "in real life." This IS real life, too! No matter whether an experience is good, bad or otherwise, it leaves a mark on us just the same. The only difference is that you can't see friends here face to face. Sometimes, that's a big plus!

As for the negativity, it's human nature, I think. The whole world, right now, is spinning in a negative whirlpool. Speaking strictly about PC, I've found that more people will gravitate to the negative than to the positive. We probably all wish it wasn't so, but it is. Regardless, here on PC, if you dig deep enough, you can find positivity and beauty. I know I do! Just look at this thread!

As for the phrase "can't we all just get along?" No... this many people just can't always get along. There's just too much diversity. If we all, always got along, how boring it would be! Just like a marriage where there's never a difference of opinion; if it wasn't for the arguments, there would be no "making up." LOL How boring!! You just have to have the lows to appreciate the highs. Without problems, we wouldn't learn to solve them or learn respect for other's opinions.

Here on PC, I've learned a healthy way to accept authority and experience. I've learned that my way isn't always the best or the healthiest. I don't know all there is to know about everything! I've learned to accept and respect differing opinions and that there's a broader picture than the one I see. This I owe in a large part to Doc John. I've accused him of not having "heart" and have found out how wrong I was. I have crossed boundaries and have been given a caring second chance. So if I jump up and loudly come to Doc John's defence, I hope ya'll will understand and forgive my rudeness. Just chalk it up to me being a crotchety old lady. But on the flip side of the same coin, I can be the silly little kid I wasn't allowed to be when I WAS a silly little kid.

Even with the faults PC has, it's STILL the best place to be! I wouldn't trade it for any other place on earth... err... cyber-space.