I thought about putting this in the "what made you happy" thread. I decided it should stand alone. It's the oddest thing that here I am creating another new topic in the same week that I shut myself out, but I digress.
I mentioned in my other topic about a rite of passage to Victoria's Secret with a work friend. I just got home from there and it was an very enjoyable outing. She is very upbeat and expressive and bouncy and, well, you get the idea. She had mentioned wanting to purchase something for me. I brushed it off, I can't allow that. She insisted while there and went right to the counter to pay for a few items. At some point you have to be gracious and accept or it becomes insult.
When we were outside the store and saying our goodbyes, she looked at me and said, "I have to tell you something. I have to tell you why I wanted to get you something". (I'm paraphrasing a bit, I have CRS). Not being able to say it her way, I'll be brief.
She told me that I inspired her. She said that when she first met me I was grumpy, sour, unfriendly. She didn't like me. Fast-forward a few years to last year when my light-bulb came on. As I worked out who I was and let her out it changed how I interacted with people, she noticed, she paid attention. When I first started dressing at work she was the first to compliment me and give me a hug and kiss. She treated me as a woman from day one with no hesitation. Always with a smile and wave, very friendly.
To continue, she said that I am an inspiration to her, I couldn't see how. She then told me that despite appearances she suffers from severe depression, bad enough to be hospitalized. She said that she got real bad and was Baker Acted (Florida law that allows for emergency, involuntary institutionalization). She then said that it all shifted when she thought of me and what I was going through and how I changed over time to the point that I am now. It inspired her to pull herself out of it and rejoin us.
She said that she had to do something to thank me for all the help and support that I gave her - all without me knowing that I was doing it.
I guess the moral is, no matter what you are going through you don't really know how you might touch someone else indirectly in a positive manner. Sometimes, like tonight for me, it comes around and surprises you.
Like I said, I had a very enjoyable evening.
And with that, it's bed time. G'night
Faith
ps.
I wish I were better at writing and expressing, this really deserved a good telling.
