Perspective

[rustydog]

I recently quoted this interview with Dan Gottlieb elsewhere on a different subject, but here's something else I found memorable. Dr. Gottlieb is a clinical psychologist who is in a wheelchair, a quadriplegic. The interviewer asked him if his therapy patients ever feel hesitant to share their problems with him because they assume his are worse. He

Comments

[nutmeg3]

Thank you for this. Your timing is impeccable. I found out last night that my friend with the neurological problems (which it has been proven she's making worse by over-medicating herself, which she has now started doing again *is upset*) said to another friend, "Can you believe (Nutmeg's real name) had the nerve to complain to me about her leg? To me?" Which the other friend told her immediately was a totally inappropriate thing to say, etc. But I'm so, so hurt. When I had cancer and people used to tell me things, then say "But I shouldn't complain to you, with what you're going through," I always made a point of saying that everyone's problems were legitimate and real, that one problem doesn't trump another. And I believe that. So for her to say that after I'd made the 40 minute trip to visit her after my excruciating MRI, wrung out and in extra pain - and she could see that I could barely sit down or get up, could barely walk - hurts me more than I can say. And yes, I know she's sick, but she's also always found a way to be the center of attention, so this is not entirely out of character. And she's routinely just as dismissive of everyone else and their feelings (and actual needs) at this point, too. So this piece was reassuring and exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you. (And sorry for rambling on.)

[sunbrae]

*hugs and love to Nutty*

*hugs and love to Rusty*

[nutmeg3]

::clings tight to Sunny::

[rustydog]

Oh, friend. There is so much injustice and unkindness in that story, I hardly know what to say. I just want to hug you hard (but not so it hurts!)

::love::

[nutmeg3]

::adores you::

[rustydog]

(Regarding that reference, I wrote the thing I mentioned to you but it seems did not post it yet. *facepalm* Yesterday was a wash in a lot of ways.)

[rustydog]

Oh, it probably only makes sense if you know that I compose a lot of things in gmail drafts, but don't post them until later (or ever). So... only makes sense to me. I'm sorry! Yesterday, I composed a reply to edhed's comment below, but forgot to post it yesterday because I just... was kind of useless. Your showing up back in this entry, probably looking for the comment, made me realize that I'd not posted it. (Though now I have.)

Um, skip all that, lie down and have something to eat. ::loves::

I want to come cook for you!

[nutmeg3]

::holds you unbelievably tightly::

Thank you so much for being you and for understanding.