AWWW....SHUCKS!!


I am always a bit embarrassed when someone thanks me for, I guess... being me.

I enjoy helping people because I know what its like to be alone, abused, maligned or made to feel less than. Or to work hard on something and then have it ignored like your contribution was nothing. Believe me I have supported the wrong people sometimes and with others I have led with my heart and not my head, consequently being 'kicked in the teeth' for doing so in both cases.

So I don't do this stuff expecting a thanks, a link back, shameless self-promotion or anything more than... because I want to. I am a non-competitive person and I lost what was left of my ego due to abuse years ago. I do it because I believe they its the right things to do.

My personal belief is that life is much too hard without being helpful and compassionate towards others. Maybe I am stupid but I don't get angry at too many people (Olmert, you are an exception). Sometimes I just feel indifference towards someone if they abused my good nature. More often than not I leave the door open for discussion, reconciliation or (at the very least) cordiality. Life's too short to be hateful or angry.

So when I saw what my friend over at Keli Ata said about me I was... well, stunned and moved:
I've also made some new friends online, including Barbara. Thank you Barbara for including excerpts from my post "Man Denied Conversion" on your blog. I was hesitant about delving into such a hot topic and it's nice to know that others understood what I was trying to convey. Barbara is a wonderful advocate for victim's rights and an excellent writer with a unique and strong voice.
"...is a wonderful advocate for victim's rights..." Being a victim myself for years & years (and sometimes still...) I could either wallow & feel stupid for believing my abusers, or empower others as a way to do teshuva. Guess what I chose?

"and an excellent writer with a unique and strong voice." Moi? Unique & Strong Voice? Excellent Writer? (someone pick Barbara up, she's fainted!)

K.A. your compliment means a lot to me. We have a similar take on our reasons for choosing Judaism and some common history. Your post on "Man Denied Conversion" was masterful. It was a pleasure to promote and clip from it. Sometimes in the face of rules, regulations and clique-ishness, various religions loose sight of their raison d'etre. Your post was a powerful reminder.

(By the way, K.A. - I have been on government disability for 12 years and have been through the annual and endless round of unfeeling doctors, being told it was all in my head or all my fault, independent medical exams by insurance whores... er, doctors and so on. So please, write me if you need any help or just support... and anyone else in that position should feel free to contact me as well. -- barbarany_9@hotmail.com)

Go give Keli Ata a read once in a while, folks. A gutte neshome and my bubbe.

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