Oh, yes, muffy. We read words here...which is great, but there are things we can't see...the pain/tears in eyes, the smile that tells us something really is a joke or said with care, the desperation, so much...

Online communication can be difficult and confusing. We take the words literally because that's all we have, right? Well, that's true in part. It's all we have from the other person, but while we're reading we're also interpreting with the feelings from inside ourselves...our own anger, pain, confusion, frustration, fear, etc.

For instance, I don't know how many times someone has said something kind to me and I had to wait a long time to respond because at the time I was feeling really bad and was thinking they can't be sincere because that can't be true.

I guess what I'm saying is not only are we just able to read the literal words off the screen, we're also taking in the reflection from the screen...the reflection of us.

Then we also have the times that people are going through really difficult times and they might be short, snap, be demanding. At those times we need to remember their behavior as a whole and then we can know that they're having it rough or something. We need to pull on fact when things are confusing...if we have the fact, of course.

Take the holidays coming...so many are so much more stressed, depressed, in grief, harried.

Through this holiday season, let's be extra giving of others...others who suffer, or try to maintain, just as we do.

You all mean the world to me. You truly do. I know that I could post, PM, go into chat and I'd have support RIGHT NOW. There are very few places or people in the world that offer that consistently and when that source of support is wavering, I have to know that maybe it's my time to go the extra mile even in my own need.

It's a very difficult time of year...but also a time for pure graciousness to shine. Let's have PC ALIGHT 24/7.

Love and respect,

KD