And by that I don’t mean friends who reside in low places. I’m talking about the ones who are there when you are in a low place.
I’ve had a rough day. Nothing major happened, just a few disappointments that had me sort of down today. The kind of down where I tend to curl up and watch pointless TV and don’t necessarily feel like interacting with people.
But today was the first meeting of the Triangle Ostomy Association since the summer break, and I’d been wanting to attend for a while, so I didn’t want to miss it. It was a laid back meeting where we got the chance to get to know people in the group and talk about the upcoming year. (By the way, I find it rather sad that WordPress spell check does not recognize the word “ostomy.”)
I had the opportunity to hang out with several girls that I have met through the organization and talk with some new members of the group. I can’t tell you how much better it made me feel to be able to spend some time with these people. They made me feel so comfortable and for the first time today, my spirits lifted. The issues I was dealing with today were not IBD or ostomy related, but being with these people, who I’ve only known a short time, but can understand me in a way that no one else can, made me feel so much better. I found myself forgetting the disappointments of the day and truly enjoying myself.
I know I’ve written this before, but up until my recent surgery, I never sought out people who were dealing with the same things as I had been. Now, I truly understand the importance of being around others who can truly empathize. If you’re dealing with any health issue, I strongly encourage you to find a group of people who can understand. They can make a big difference, even when they’re not trying to.