tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post5200849178576142771..comments2023-05-16T17:11:21.511-07:00Comments on Dreams at Stake: In Fifteen YearsLaurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01688914443102913569noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-72534852085384266412010-07-31T00:57:03.353-07:002010-07-31T00:57:03.353-07:00Beautiful beautiful piece, Laurel. Your courage a...Beautiful beautiful piece, Laurel. Your courage and optimism and brightness is so inspiring. I agree that your young spirit shines through in your writing. <br /><br />My birthday was the same week as yours (I turned 36). Your post really resonated with me. I didn't get sick until my early 30s and as of the time I got sick, I had what I always thought I wanted - the graduate degree, successful career, a new relationship, the financial power to make decisions about my future (I thought I had many more years to have children, with the right person) - and it all vanished in front of my eyes within a few months of getting sick. Never did I imagine a disease like ME existed and that I could succumb to it so fully and that it could take away as much as it did.<br /><br />I've been sick for a shorter time but I believe I've made progress in adjusting my world view and feeling happy about the small-but-big sources of happiness that I still have in my life. Though I still struggle to reconcile it with the absurdly charmed life I had up to the moment I got sick....<br /><br />Everything you write is a very big help for me, and obviously for many others too. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-2194033890567141972010-07-28T06:47:22.466-07:002010-07-28T06:47:22.466-07:00I have read this several times and every time, I h...I have read this several times and every time, I have to turn away to stop myself from crying. Beautifully written.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-24432616450334367992010-07-27T07:17:09.820-07:002010-07-27T07:17:09.820-07:00Laurel, Wow. Tears are sliding down my cheeks. Wh...Laurel, Wow. Tears are sliding down my cheeks. What a beautiful image...you,with your fifteen year old self, with such love and compassion. I feel deep sadness for her dreams unfufilled, and such awe for the woman she has become. <br /><br />In spite of what you have endured and continue to, you move us, affirms our feelings and inspires us with your spirit and your words.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece, which I will think of for a long time to come. <br /><br />My fifteen year old self thanks you as well. You've brought me right back to her...Kerryhttp://www.lemon-aideonline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-76252025408572882222010-07-23T09:06:33.837-07:002010-07-23T09:06:33.837-07:00Hey Laurel.
A little present for you:
http://so...Hey Laurel. <br /><br />A little present for you: <br />http://sofaandthecity.blogspot.com/2010/07/one-lovely-blog-award.html<br /><br />I couldn't get your email address to work?<br /><br />xxKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06527701495977302934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-1509678939333256912010-07-22T05:35:50.663-07:002010-07-22T05:35:50.663-07:00You all are the best. :) Thanks for all the lovely...You all are the best. :) Thanks for all the lovely comments.Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01688914443102913569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-38350368768668925082010-07-20T14:04:51.221-07:002010-07-20T14:04:51.221-07:00Laurel - my heart goes out to you. I so understan...Laurel - my heart goes out to you. I so understand the 15 year old girl dreaming of her future while the 38 year old woman hopes for the future she dreamed of years ago.<br /><br />I, too, hope with you a new day for each and everyone of us.<br /><br />Sending you a huge hug and all my love.Dominiquehttp://www.4wallsandaview.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-71671691314041194212010-07-20T11:18:05.801-07:002010-07-20T11:18:05.801-07:00This really tugged at my heart. It can be so hard...This really tugged at my heart. It can be so hard to look at all that we've lost with this illness, and accept the reality of what is. Thank you for the courage of facing your healthy, 15 year old self and acknowledging her losses(and thus the losses of your current self as well). And yes, you are right.. despite things not turning out as you planned, you still have many things to find gratitude in. I hope all your dreams indeed come true, and soon.MFSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-90350069219332811162010-07-18T06:28:52.535-07:002010-07-18T06:28:52.535-07:00Beautiful post, Laurel, speaking a truth many shar...Beautiful post, Laurel, speaking a truth many share. It is hard to face the truth of our circumstances and do so without letting go of our desires to be healthy, but we are all prisoners of hope. There is hope...<br />Sending gentle hugs your way and gratitude for sharing these insights with us.Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07089685282700680525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-65611114353618263982010-07-17T13:05:06.307-07:002010-07-17T13:05:06.307-07:00No don't let go of your dreams one day I hope ...No don't let go of your dreams one day I hope they will be your reality.<br /><br />What a beautifully written post.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12905137222286141548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-65200319963222830862010-07-17T12:21:35.222-07:002010-07-17T12:21:35.222-07:00That is heartbreaking.
A friend of mine recently ...That is heartbreaking.<br /><br />A friend of mine recently passed on an observation made by a friend of his: we grow in layers. The 30-year-old doesn't replace the 15-year-old, she merely adds to the whole person.<br /><br />A lot of people talk about how important acceptance is. I suppose they have a point. If you can't break down the walls by beating your head against them, you might as well not break your head. But I think it's also important to acknowledge the part of yourself that says no, this ISN"T the way life was supposed to be. Nothing ever changes otherwise.cinderkeyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578961959712679966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-12204352571878840352010-07-17T10:55:29.537-07:002010-07-17T10:55:29.537-07:00It's really hard to take stock of our lives wh...It's really hard to take stock of our lives when we see how long we've been sick. I went through (or am going through) a really hard time right now and I've only been sick 8 years!!!! I just turned 40 and I always thought I'd either have or adopt kids so that's hard. I think despite what you've lost it's great that you are able to see the good "pearls" in the life you have had. I think we only learn what we learn by going through stuff. It's good our 15yr. old selves didn't know what was ahead.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing...it helps to know I'm not alone in trying to process this stuff.upnorthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283010424792189579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-12455774305000670812010-07-17T08:33:26.805-07:002010-07-17T08:33:26.805-07:00Dear laurel
You got me at "I want to tell her...Dear laurel<br />You got me at "I want to tell her that I'm sorry". You have nothing to be sorry for & I know u know that but I can totally relate to this post. This wk I turned 35 & 35 was always my cut off date for having children. I imagined at 15 that I would be working successfully, married with children by the time I was 30. Getting ill at 29, changed my goalposts dramatically & yet I've kept thinking by 35 I would have all of those things, 35 has arrived & I am without & I feel your sadness & ur apology to that 15yr old girl who is trapped inside myself also. The grieving for the life we dreamed of, but I still dream laurel & u should too! That 15 yr old laurel has now grown up & should be very proud of what she has achieved despite her illness. I know this 35yr old is proud of you! Xxxxvwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083830023291670510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168792825239178484.post-72309071966543648382010-07-17T07:44:54.033-07:002010-07-17T07:44:54.033-07:00My dear Laurel, it must have cost you a lot of cou...My dear Laurel, it must have cost you a lot of courage and tears to really go through these feelings, and to compare harsh reality to the optimistic and ambitious dreams of the young girl Laurel.<br /><br />I can still see that little girl in you. It shines through every little thing you say and do and the world is a much better place with her. Don't you ever let her go.<br /><br />Love, NinaNinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12758454252683265564noreply@blogger.com