My sweet friend, Dream Living, put me back on the right planet. I'm not going to share her story with you, unless she gives me permission, but her comment about what I'm enduring?

Nope- I'm enduring nothing compared to what she's been through.

I also had an experience last night on the train that I've been meaning to write about. I hate it when I get whiny. I want to smack myself around. Especially when I see that *I* am the one who puts myself in these situations.

Anyhoo....

After work, I walked to the train with someone who works at the same company. We were having a conversation about losing weight, just normal stuff, and she 'slipped' in there that she lost her 23 year old daughter last year, and losing weight was just not a priority for her over the past few months.

Knowing that it's OK to talk about this stuff..

Side note: Lots of people are afraid to continue a conversation like this, but I know how IMPORTANT it is to give someone the opportunity to talk about it...

I asked her, "Do you mind if I ask how she died?"

Sudden cardiac arrest in her sleep. Her daughter lived all the way across the country.

Wow, huh? I can't begin to imagine....

We continued to talk about her daughter for the next hour. The connection we had was just incredible and I could see that she loved the opportunity to just say everything she was feeling.

Sure, she teared up a few times, but that's OK. I know that this was a good thing for her, and it was a true honor that she felt that she could share with me on this level.

After our conversation, I got to thinking that I'd like to start a support group at my company. I'd also like to do some workshops for managers on how to treat employees who have a death of a loved one. Sensitivity training, if you will. It's amazing the experiences that people have at work.

Not in a good way.....

After I get through the next month, I'm going to approach our H.R. department and see if I can start something up. Maybe a once a week lunchtime drop-in group- come if you want, don't come if you're not up for it. I'd also like to start a SECURED site at work, where people can share their experiences and feelings. I'd also like to be someone that is available for staff meetings when a department has a loss. I think a lot of people just don't know what to say, so they avoid. If they have someone there to help them with what to say (even if it's "I don't know what the right words are, but I'm sorry"), it would be awfully beneficial.

It was a MAJOR gut feeling for me- something I know that I have to act on.

Really, I do know that in the grand scheme of things- what I'm experiencing at work is NOTHING. Sometimes I just get caught up in the stress and have a hard time letting go of it until I write it all out. (thanks for listening, by the way).

I have always felt that being a 'listener' has been my calling, if you will. I've been told too many times that I have a comforting presence, to ignore this.

I've slacked on my volunteer work at Hospice because I've felt guilty spending time away from work and/or my home responsibilities. I think this is a way to do both.

Thanks, sweet friend, for bringing me back to earth.