Hello Alex
I read your post yesterday and all the wonderful, caring and supportive replies to you and didn't feel I could add to what had already been offered to you. Then this morning I remembered perhaps I could.
Your eloquence touched me greatly and reminded me of someone I knew and loved a few years ago. Someone like you - an articulate, deep, intelligent man with an illness that he thought prevented him from working. We met after each of our marriages ended and I knew about his depression and wasn't bothered by it. I saw all his other wonderful qualities, kindness, generosity, tenderness, compassion, his acceptance of my children, one of whom is severely physically disabled who still lives at home with me.
Of the many things I loved about him, was his ability to communicate. In the written word, like you, and the spoken word. His gift awakened something in me which I didn't know I had and although we couldn't make our relationship work after three good years, he left a footprint on my heart, and no-one since has ever been able to meet the standards he set in a partner.
Did I say he was a postman? He left school with no qualifications as even as a 6'4" rugby player he was bullied to the point that he left school early without completing his exams.
Yet he had the wonderful ability to touch lives in a way that few people are able to. He found an outlet for his despair by writing. He writes songs and beautiful poetry. I occasionally read his blogs (though he doesn't know it ) and he has an enormous following on Twitter and his website. He writes passionately and with great understanding, humanity and empathy and with a wisdom beyond his years – just as you do.
He has found his place in society. It’s not a conventional one, but it is one where he is valued and respected. He has even become a spokesman and respected authority for some medical organisations, and campaigns for changes in legislation all from the safety and comfort of his home.
I don’t know how his health is. I sense he is still battling with it, but what has changed is his sense of self-worth.
I hope just from the replies here in the last 24 hours, you can see how valued you are. Whatever motivated your initial post took courage, thought, care and eloquence.
Channel those qualities and perhaps you could be a voice for others too.
I wish you well and I applaud your courage in posting yesterday. I await your next one, and look forward to hearing your progress