A special note of thanks to all of you!!

[JMCKUSICK]

One of the gifts that you all have given me is the opportunity to be seen as worthwhile and beautiful. Believe me when I tell you that it's a struggle but as I've mentioned many times, I've come to believe I'm worth being seen.
What makes me cry like a baby is that you've awakened the flip side of that coin inside me. I've always been very sensitive and intuitive and I used it mostly for self defense and protection.
What moves me so much is that I recognize you now in whatever form your humanity takes. I see hurt souls and try to comfort them. I see happy childlike souls and try to encourage them. I see peoples strength and share its effect on me, I see your name and I'm curious about you. I feel your spirit and let you know you're performing miracles.
I see your smile and see your inner joy. I have to say the biggest thank you because you've given me back my soul, my gifts and my spirit and ultimately, my need to be of service to be truly happy.
Each of you is a brick through your service, your spirit, your joy, your recognition, your safe space, and your gifts.
I don't know how long it will take before I can orally speak of these things without intense emotions reducing me to tears every time, but I have to try.
In some way, this is my purpose and mission, that I now know
Love, John

[Karadeniz]

1. Damn, were good....thanks!!!!

[SheltieLover]

2. Lovely sentiment.

[JMCKUSICK]

13. SheltieLover, you are

One of many who have specifically impacted me in this way. You were amongst those who led me out of my initial dark space with your kindness, support and yes, trust.
You've filled my vessel with kindness and the type of love I couldn't even visualize before. You taught me, you helped me, you held my hand and kept encouraging me.
You helped bring me here.

[JMCKUSICK]

11. Yes you are

[wordstroken]

3. Beautifully written, John.

I get exactly what you’re saying, and your deep love, compassion and support are truly heartwarming. I think you speak for the way most of us DUers feel when we’re going through a vulnerable time (like now) and to have our DU family there for support — especially for those of us who have no other family support.

Thank you so much for sharing where you’re coming from.

[JMCKUSICK]

15. Thank you wordstroken

I'm so glad you get the deep meaning behind this post. What's transpired here is a spiritual hope that all of us find this circle of life giving friends.
I don't know many of your names, but I know your hearts.
I don't know many of your paths that brought us together, but thanks to your teachers, mentors and your experiences, you were there when I needed you most. You know, that time when you were watering your lawn, and this tumbleweed was only too fortunate to be carried by the wind and able to plant roots in that nourishing water and Blossom.

[Lonestarblue]

4. So glad you're part of the DU family. It's a pretty special family!

[JMCKUSICK]

16. It really is Lonestarblue.

Thank you for choosing to become a member of mine.

[NJCher]

5. I have a book

I think you'd like to read. It's about what you wrote. I have to look it up so I'll either post it or dm it to you later.

This is the only book I've ever read that supports what you said. I've always thought self-worthiness was important, but sort of took it for granted because I don't have issues with it. Through this book, I realized a lot of people do have issues with it. What can happen when one doesn't develop it is critical to the soul's progress.

[Nanuke]

9. If you send me the title and author I will get a copy sent to John.

[NJCher]

12. on its way

[JMCKUSICK]

18. I cried when I read your post to NJCher Nanuke

I was so hoping and breathing your name because you have almost adopted me into your family.
You wrote a DUMail to me and we share our families ups and downs, you embraced me as a fellow Minnesotan and that was just the start.
That you happened on this post at this time is how you've been there like a guardian angel in so many ways.
Please know I've been blessed by your miracles and will be growing in them in ways I yet cannot see.
I love you!

[JMCKUSICK]

17. I look forward to reading it

Thank you for all the times you've thought of me, for giving me room and comfort in the deepest parts of your souls love.
I think this is a perfect example of CP's reference to the pebble dropping into the pond and the ripples finding you specifically and so many of you through its natural course.
The very first time I read Siddhartha as a teenager, it stuck to me because of the reference to water and in paraphrasing, we are all in the same drop, we are the whole ocean.
I sort of get it now...a little.
Thank you for that

[Clouds Passing]

6. You are experiencing the heightened jewels of love, grace, beauty, humility and connection.

Many people’s compassion and care have opened your sense of true self. You are a gift awakened with the gifts which form your physical reality, connect with your emotional and spiritual being, uplift your thoughts. You are so fortunate to be in this space. Honor this with much gratitude. Allow your tears of happiness to flow letting those tears carry away all of your past traumas. You have earned this JM
CP☁️

Now you've got me crying

[JMCKUSICK]

19. Hi CP. This may be the most emotional

Post I ever write.
I knew you the very first time you wrote. I knew you were my North Star as I'm sure you recall.
Clouds Passing represented all that was good, all that was possible, it represented in my initial interpretation the purest form of Native American spirituality and I expressed that to you.
I placed a tremendous burden on you by identifying you as my spiritual guide and you've embraced me with wonderful suggestions, explanations, the warmest gentle nudges and affirmations that will only make my journey safer, more incredible, more inspired, more love driven and more soul searching and most gratefully, more rewarding.
I love you, I thank you, I need you and I hold you up to the universe as such a beautiful example of one who reached out with a pure heart and helped change the world.
John, and my spiritual name for years now, Youngdumbson

[Clouds Passing]

26. Thank you so much for your kind words. JM

I am humbled. I try to heal myself. I try to help others heal themselves. I understand hard lessons of trauma and how hard it is to heal from the deepest cuts by mother, father, sister, brothers, family, society.. I can only pass on that which I’ve learned from experience. And gather intuition from a place of the deepest fear and the highest grace. I love passing on what I know to those willing to hear, feel and see.

You are open to learning. Stay open to learning from many sources. Get back into drumming circles. That creates community and connection at the most profound levels.

I am glad to be here for you to help you through this difficult time. Be well 💚

Compassion, CP 💚

[deRien]

7. A book I've been reading

has a chapter on names and how important they are to each individual. She wanted to be known by her full first name not the nickname for her name and the struggle she had to get to a place where she achieved her goal of being called by the name she wanted. The author also talks about we many times use a single-story to define a person or a group when we are many faceted... The other concept is "seeing a person" which is what I think you are describing... congratulations on discovering all these concepts without a book but with life experience....

[JMCKUSICK]

20. Thank you for bringing up such an important

Facet of our lives. Our names.

To the names I know here, I'm grateful you shared them with me.
Out of respect I won't name them with one or two exceptions as every reader knows them.
Omaha Steve of course is one of the bricks in the foundation of the very purpose that DU strives for.
Your very first comment that I recall is that you made a post that shared my story and that you for one believed me. I cried that day Steven, because those words were so foreign to me in my lonely isolated world, the were the first to crack my armor . Such a powerful thing for one person to say to another, and it gets more rare by the day. I believe you. I will never forget that and please know the immense power you unleashed that day. The power of DU herself.
Debbie, you embraced me from the beginning and offered your support and acceptance in the way that I've never experienced. It was motherly, friendly, school counselor, and most accurately as
some_of_us_are_sane so perfectly captured
71. If the DU Lounge has a center, like a hearth to a home...
it's most assuredly Debm55.

[JMCKUSICK]

8. Kick

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. Thank you for this beautiful post

I hope you are doing well.

[JMCKUSICK]

21. Some names have their own aura

Names that evoke a certain respect, names that by themselves evoke a warm and open heart and therefore receptiveness, like MustLoveBeagles, SheltieLover, Siswan, usonian, XanaDUer2, Skittles, and on. Each have offered a hand in my time of need, and far more importantly, a unique ingredient that allowed for my walls to keep crumbling down, creating the beginnings of an us, not a me him her separation anymore.
All these pebbles crossing paths, taking bits of ourselves into new directions, new ideas and new realities.
My very first mentor in my life, a man named Tom Redmond said some of the most profound words I've ever embraced and here I am 40 years later world famous as the worst punster and dad joker on earth.
His words were these "John, you can think anything you want. Many problems get solved by thinking outside the box. It's called free association".
I'm so grateful for all of you and the help you gave me in opening my soul by so freely sharing yours.
I love you

[Dorothy V]

22. I feel I should thank You,

for sharing your blessings, your strength, your empathy, your experiences, your hope, your light with us all.
Knowing you is a grace.
This community here at DU is indeed like a city shining on a hilltop. It cannot be a coincidence that so many loving spirits have come together here. It is humbling to to me to be a little part of it.

[JMCKUSICK]

23. Kick

[10 Turtle Day]

24. The most beautiful sentiment I've ever read on here

Thank you for articulating your feelings so well that I am crying with love and feeling your humanity. I wish you continued recovery and more joys in your life. Thank you for enriching mine!

[debm55]

25. Thank you John for the beautiful post

[JMCKUSICK]

28. Thank you Debbie

It was your letter that I've referred to a couple of times that implied this was a safe place. It was your care and concern that allowed my spirit to rest. It was your beautiful voice and your silly lighter that that allowed laughter and joy to begin seeping in to fill so many dark spaces.
You and your gifts, along with everyone else have made this journey possible.
Thank you!

[debm55]

29. You are very welcome.

[Clouds Passing]

27. PS. Thank you for sharing what true communication of self sounds like. We can all learn from your wisdom, John.