Who made a difference!
POSTED THIS HERE ALSO SO BOTH SIDES COULD ADD

Thinking about the need to remember the good people in our lives I starting this post. Please tell us about Those who made a difference in your life.

Haven’t thought about Mickey for over 30 years but the memories all came back the other night when I was repelling to Leosha post.
In 1972 when 22yo I meet a beautiful lady and we dated for a long time [7 months]. She helped me feel whole and good. We would spend hours just hugging each other talking about everything. She understood that I needed to go slow, I was scared to take the next steep, and We where in love with out even having SEX. She showed me how to get close to women without fear. College ended for summer break and we never saw each other again.

Thank you Mickey for being there, for understanding & showing me so much about life. I learned that I was able to love a women and that changed my life. Muldoon TOM

My first shrink in University was great - opened my eyes to the effects of addictions and abuse in a child's life (I was 18 at the time and had no idea I had problems except for the fact that I had a wicked case of clinical depression).

Also another shrink I had a few years later - she was tough - didn't give my whiny victim mentality ONE INCH. Although I walked out of her office on numerous occasions in a total rage, she helped me move from the mentality of a VICTIM to one of a SURVIVOR.

PAS

My unlikely candidate has to be one of my old bosses.

I was notorious at work for being mouthy and difficult, I just received my gold watch for 25years service this week - somehow ! :rolleyes:
But I've changed some recently.

About 6 or 7 years ago a new top manager started - a woman ! "what the hell would she know about the job ?"
And I went into my usual tactic of being even more arsey than normal.

Every month the maintenance section had a meeting with our boss, and I'd give him hell - he desrved it honestly. And for a couple of meeting this "woman" sat in and listened without saying anything important.

Then I was summoned to her office. Big surprise...

"Sit down David, tea or coffee ?" she asked with a smile.
I was confused by now, but stayed around - I had to, she was the big boss.
She then told me that she was impressed with what I said at the meetings, maybe not so impressed with HOW I said it but...
She said that everything I said I had at least thought about and, more importantly, believed in. And she respected that.
She then 'volunteered' me to sit on a couple of projects that she was chairing in the head office.
Now I'm a guy who gets his spanners out and repairs sewage pumps, I ain't used to this stuff and damn near turned her down flat. And said so !

I attended the projects and worked alongside directors and senior managers for about 9 months, part time.
And after the first few meetings I started to tell these people my views as well, a bit more politely by now though. And I interacted with them as I would with any other person, and they did with me.
Those I still know are now friends.
And I learned a very important lesson.

I wasn't as stupid as I thought I was.

Shortly after I started therapy.

Thanks Joe'

Dave