I just wanted to say thank you to the board.

[GaYellowDawg]

A couple of months ago, I posted about how torn up I was about an ex-girlfriend getting married. Things have slowly gotten better, just as so many of you said they would. I have thrown myself into working out and into my job. Really bad days have become the exception rather than the rule. I made the decision that I was going to get over her without resenting her or having anything bad to say about her, and I think it's made it harder in the short term, but will be much better for me in the long term. In the meantime, I have lost more than 10% of my body fat in the last 6 weeks, have had to change out my work wardrobe completely because all the shirts and pants got too big, have gotten a lot of productive work done for my job, and I feel a lot better about myself. Turns out finding things I could improve about myself and attacking them as hard as I can has been great for my self-esteem. Not so much about the results (although I like them), but knowing that I care enough about myself to take action, and having the discipline to keep it up.

Anyhow, when I posted that, there were a lot of replies to me that were really nice to a complete stranger, and I really appreciated them. Thank you.

[elleng]

1. Good to hear, Dawg!

[sprinkleeninow]

2. This place is 'family' of sisters and brothers in humanity.

[Control-Z]

3. Strangers? Who are these strangers you speak of?

This is DU. We are your friends and family. And I'm talking the "good side" of the family - at your service! So knock this "strangers" baloney off.

I learned very quickly, when I found DU, that if you ask for help or advice you will get it in spades.

So be careful what you ask for. Hahahaha!

[dawg day]

4. Working out was a great idea!

You're smart to use that to get over emotional pain. You end up feeling stronger.

[alwaysinasnit]

5. You've done a heck of job keeping your head on straight (with excellent results). Kudos to you.

[Phoenix61]

6. It's hard to shut a door all the way but

it sounds like you’ve done a really great job of it. Keep focusing on the positive.

[democrank]

7. Glad to hear you're feeling better and moving on.

Take good care~

[DFW]

8. Way back when, a LOOOOOONG time ago

I was 20, and my then-girlfriend was 18. Almost 50 years ago!!

She went to Yale (I was at a different college), and was jumped by dozens of guys there who had the same (high) opinion of her that I did. She told me we were through, and I was devastated. Now, it seems ridiculous thinking life was over at age 20, bu when it's happening, there IS no future, the pain is so great.

Two years after that, I met the woman I am still with now. I grew to realize what an immense favor that first girl did me. The pain at the time faded completely. The recovery and the healing are slow processes, but they can leave you better off.

Sing the lyrics to "Pamela Brown" a few times.

[canetoad]

9. Wow, blast from the past

Almost forgot what a guitar god Leo Kotke is. Thanks

[Fla Dem]

10. You've taken the right road.

Who knows what or who may be waiting for you as you continue your travels down life's road.