Hymn Celestia

True; even sentient types stumble. R I S E S

One thing I have learned in my particular support group is that the only people qualified to discuss the issue at hand are actually those who are experiencing it, not doctors who have never experienced it. A doctor can offer treatment, certainly, and that is what doctors do -- but the doctors will also, invariably, and quite rightly, suggest that the patient join a support group so that the patient does not feel alone on this painful journey. The experts are the people actually living it in real time; they know what to expect, and they know what helps to share with others newly initiated into the cause. Sharing the journey with others helps others along that same journey. Otherwise, life can be a terribly isolating place. Support groups help light the way for others; even if they don't or can't cure what ails them. And again, Second Life is a terrific place to form and maintain support groups with this kind of theory in mind. Lifelong connections and bonds are forged every day.

I do believe they are healing and transformative, for sure. But I am wary of people who make the claim that a participant WILL BE healed or WILL BE transformed; that is simply not a claim one is able to make with any certainty. I think that the healing and transformative powers are possible, and they are the result of good work on the part of the participants, but it is not the goal of a support group to promise such things. In my opinion, a support group should offer support; and from there, a person who feels supported and who feels safe to contribute / receive may well achieve great things on one's healing journey.

Staff Only

So Happy Others Understand Things! S O L I D

Support Groups that are just that -- support groups -- and who do not propose to heal or cure or transform a person, are super valuable. Whenever someone is diagnosed with a new condition or has experienced a traumatic event, doctors recommend support groups. This happens a lot in SL and I personally believe SL is a great platform for that kind of thing. So yes, the potential is being realized; there are support groups for almost anything you can think of in here. That said, critical thinking skills are always a must, online. Revealing too much in any support group -- even in face to face outside of SL -- can backfire terribly. Still, online support groups (and especially SL online support groups) can be life savers.

More water-staring. In the absence of "the real thing," this suffices.

See What Happens

Up End

Let's Eat Eggs! Really Yummy. H E N N Y

Chance Encounter

Motiveless Insensitivity Never Ends Sweetly. S T A R K

Once upon a time, in the mid-to-late oughts, I had a romantic male interest and a platonic female friend; and one day I was chatting with both in IMs at the same time, when unfortunately the female answered a question I had posed to the male. Unambiguously and seamlessly. Today, of course, I would realize, "aha, ugh, yikes, they're the same person, wtf." However, back then I thought, "Oh no, a solar flare has crossed the wires, I wonder what words of mine have been crossed and sent to unintended recipients, oh the shame of it all..." This particular creep-out was a triple-whammy, At first I was creeped out by the wrong thing Some time later, it all dawned on me and I got creeped out by the proper thing Then, finally, I was creeped out by how long it took me to be creeped out by the proper thing. I'm proud to say that my creep-out "ping" has vastly improved.

There's Better Hair

Life Insurance

But Remember, Even Ants Kill. P U L P S

Standing at the water's edge, making (the never-ending 17 year old job of) inventory-sorting go faster, less laggy.

Winged Creature

So, adding lime and dashi? B E A N S

We Ordered Roe, Mussles, Starfish. B R I N E

Good Living

Change Room

Fish Lying On Our Deck! W A T E R

Reading Railroad