Mental Illness, & Labels

[Glow]

I have to say the same as Plenum.  Thank you for this Plenum by the way.

When I read Mangus and Wolf I am both heartbroken at times, and always awed.  

There was something I wanted to say about something from my childhood and I was not sure where to post it. I think  I will do it here, if its ok.

I was twelve and one day I said something pretty bitter about life to my dad.
He sat next to me and looked at me and said, very gently,  you know flo, you can be pessimistic if you wish. It is often much easier than to be an optimist  But in fact you should be always an optimist it is hard at first but then you do it and you keep doing it, and the one day you are going to realize that you are happy to do  it and that it has become easy. And then one day you will find that it is really the one way to be.

At the time I couldn't quite fathom what he meant and how that could really work. Then I tried and I kept thinking about him saying just dont stop.  Today it's impossible for me to be pessimistic and I am sure it sounds perhaps false or like putting your head in the sand and yet it is how it feels right.

I am sure that I have had mental distorsions but in the end something of what he said really worked.

I also find optimism in Wolf and Mangus often.  

Thanks for this flofrog. I raised myself and this is the kind of advice I needed, and still need so thank you for sharing.
I will take you and your fathers advice.