Grateful to be here

[MichaelRGaudet]

Greetings to one and all from Michael. I live, work and play at the Resort Village of Manitou Beach in Saskatchewan, Canada. I am very grateful to be here. I have read quite a few of the introductory posts and found them to be very interesting. When I say "grateful to be here", there is a double meaning. 1st, I am grateful to have found this forum. 2nd, I am grateful to BE HERE, as in alive and well in the year 2006. What I mean is this...nearly 27 years ago I came very close to dying of end-stage renal failure in Toronto. But this was not to be. I was pulled back from the brink by 'mysterious forces'. And a lot of really good luck! This experience set me on a life-path that is full of wonder and gratitude. You might say that my early ambitions to be an artist were only reinforced and the urgency increased.

I have documented this event and events spinning out of it on one of my web-pages...but maybe more on that later?

Was there an event in your life that changed the way you look at the world?
How did you respond to the event?

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by MichaelRGaudet

Was there an event in your life that changed the way you look at the world?

How did you respond to the event?

Sorry about your kidney! We're so glad to hear that you're OK! Good job toughing it out!

I don't think I can say there was a specific event in my life that changed the way I looked at the world abruptly, but usual 'life events' like losing my virginity, questioning religion and authority, getting my first real job, mentoring a young autistic child, drinking and choosing not to drink, choosing to cut back on meats and fats in my diet, etc.

It's a steady process for me, but I'm working on rapid improvement now

[geekchic9]

Originally Posted by MichaelRGaudet

Was there an event in your life that changed the way you look at the world?
How did you respond to the event?

When I was diagnosed with depression, it totally changed my perspective on life and society in general. There is such a stigma against "mental" illness which is just as physical as other diseases. Also, so many people with various brain disorders are really stuck and need help. They aren't nearly as lazy or stupid as I thought they once were. So, my diagnosis of depression really changed my perspective on a lot of things.

[Isis Kali]

Wow...that's something else. Hi there.

There are so many things that have changed my life, but the most recent two would have to be seeing my mother die a slow death from breast cancer, and battling depression. Oh, and most of the latter part of last year. Sigh.

You just have to keep on going, you know? Even if you feel numbed out or whatever, you still have to survive. If you're lucky, you have friends who will stick by your side to see things through with you.