CHERISH THOSE POSITIVE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

Well Saud! I totally agree with your statement: I have been amazed by the least expected and been disappointed and let down by the most unexpected.
I’m not one that’s comfortable asking for help, but I’ve had to change that about myself and can rely on a few good friends to come through. Even some acquaintances who weren’t that close have offered to stop by or to help in any way they can. That keeps my positivity up!

This is a wonderful post, thank you so much, and I am right there with you. You have reminded me how important it is to focus our energy, our insights and our communication time with those who, sometimes surprisingly, offer more support, encouragement and appreciation that those we would have expected to. Sometimes it's even people we have never met in person.

You are so right about being fed up with negativity, it will eat us alive and drain us of life's pleasures.

Astounding isn’t it how so called friends can abandon you at your very lowest. I too have never felt so alone sad and abandoned dealing with my DHs diagnosis. I would spend so much of my day silently crying and wondering how to cope, what to do, who to talk to, not even doctors wanted to spend time talking to us I suddenly found we had no friends, no one to turn to and nowhere to go. Then I tripped over alzconnected. I was so relieved to have such a wonderful site real people coping with the same challenges who were so happy to share and had kind positive and caring responses to questions and thoughts. I have started to build a new group of positive people around us that we can count on. I don’t feel any bitterness towards our old group it’s just that they don’t need us anymore and we certainly don’t need them. I hope that doesn’t sound too bad. I cherish with open eyes and an open heart the new acquaintances we are now making. My values and priorities have changed and I hope I am a kinder more aware person myself.

Over the years our once large and supportive circle of friends has dwindled to the point I feel isolated. We live in a very rural area and as friends have aged many have moved away, to be closer to family, to less rural areas, and some have passed away. I’m still able to take a few hours every Tuesday to get together with a few female friends. A few weeks ago one reached out and gave me the longest tightest hug. To me it said that she sees and hears me, that I matter, I’m not alone. I tear up now just thinking about it. A small but huge gesture that I cherish. That experience will guide my own actions going forward.