Let's celebrate our DIVERSITY

I hope everyone is having a Great Tuesday. Several months ago, I was going through a rough time emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually and a wise person suggested to me that I start keeping a "Gratitude Journal" which I did. It has been a tremendous source of freedom for me, even though some days all I could think of was to be grateful for was the fact that I woke up. Today, I wrote in my journal that I am grateful to have found a support system that I feel in my deepest parts will be free from hate, discrimination and petty BS but that will embrace the Diversity that makes us all individuals. I'm not naive enough to think that we will never have "issues" or conflicts here but I do have faith enough to believe that God, Buddha, Higher Power, or whoever is YOUR Supreme Being brought us all here for a reason. I for one promise to always respect that Gift. I don't have a lot of friends in the 'real world' and am struggling to overcome my tendancy to "hermit" myself and hold everyone at arm's length. So today, I am grateful to have found you all! Hugs and Much Love, Kim

Bravo! Well said. I love the fact that the world is full of diversity and so many interesting people. I don't have many friends in the real world either. There are very few people who can be my friend without trying to "fix" me. I do have a few long-term friends who love me no matter what. Two of them will not allow me to mention anything to do with my religion, but are good friends in other ways. Well, I take that back. One of these friends was in Florida and every time I mentioned anything that related to my religion, she would snippily say, "Well, I'm not going to judge you, but you know it's wrong, so I'm praying for you. I know you know what is right and will come around some day." It ticked me off, but she was a good friend in some other ways, although we did go through a long time where we didn't speak because I had an affair with a married man, so she was just sure I was going to go after her boyfriend, even though he was the most repulsive man I could ever have imagined. But we always ended up being friends again. However, when I left Florida, she owed me $140 and she still owes me $140 and will not return my calls. So I guess my friendship is not worth $140 to her. Another friend just will not talk about anything that is not Christian. I was listening to a non-Christian tape one time and she called me out of the blue and asked me what I was doing and I told her I was listening to a tape. She asked me which tape and I told her and she just about shrieked, "I will not talk about such things!" and slammed the phone down and wouldn't talk to me for about a month. So I try to watch my mouth. Of course, it's okay for her to send me all those "forwards" on email about how God will save everyone who will repent. I just delete them. If I sent her ONE email about Wicca, she would completely lose it and never speak to me again. She gave me a cross necklace not long ago, but I'm sure if I gave her a pentacle necklace, that would not go over well. It's sad that there are very few places or people I can be around where I can be who I am. And I hate having to pretend to be something I'm not just to keep from being ostracized. But there are very few places where you can be anything that is different. I have had friends who say well I'm okay with the fact that you are Wiccan, but _I_ am a Christian! Emphasis on remember that my religion is superior, but you are entitled to yours. I don't think my religion is superior to anyone elses. I just know it works for me. And I'm glad we live in a country where we are...supposed to have...freedom of religion. Of course, most people think we have freedom of religion as long as it's their religion. I remember a politician I won't name who said on Good Morning American that Wicca is NOT a religion and laughed like who would even think something that stupid. Even though legally it IS a religion. But there's no sense in going on and on about it. What I really mean to say is that I am glad we have this group where we love each other no matter what. I want friends who love me unconditionally who will support me in WLS issues, among others. And my religion has nothing to do with my need for WLS. I love ya'll, Joni