- Dear
Anne,
- Top
It has been interesting to watch the changes your newsletter is going through. I'm just glad it continues to come, what ever the format. The day may yet come when it will be too difficult for you to continue, but in the mean time I'm more grateful for your efforts than you know. Too often those who extend themselves to help others do so in a vacuum. Everyone pulls from them, but they receive little in return except the personal satisfaction of knowing they helped. May life return to you the kindness you give to others.
- I recently began a
counseling relationship with a friend who is a LCSW and who
seems to have few among those he helps who will keep any
"outside" contact with him(after all, who wants to be seen with
a SHRINK!, people would talk!). He's really a very nice man
with a strong desire to help others. I've actually known him
for years but could never bring myself to talk to him about my
situation. One morning, after an extremely harrowing night of
bad dreams and anxiety attacks, I woke up ready to die. I was
nearly hysterical, and litterally could see no other way out.
But a little voice kept telling me to call him. I was shaking
so badly I almost couldn't dial, but finally got through. He
responded immediately, listened without judging, and stayed
with me until he was convinced of my safety. He later confided
that he had come very close more than once to having me
hospitalized. Fortunately, our friendship continues as does the
professional relationship.
I am grateful to all of you who reach out.
I hope I am not being too forward, but I am including a poem I wrote shortly after the events described above.
Silent Cry
by Anne Michele Ponde
We all have our secret,
Some pain that we bear.
Something deep in our souls
We never will share.
We keep it held close,
As we've learned not to speak,
The world is unkind to
those
Seen as different or weak.
An intolerant world
Tells us we must conform
Even when inner vision
Denies outer form.
"Damnation, and hell
Are the wages of sin!"
Shout those who know nothing
Of the battle within.
In arrogance they call us
Sick, and depraved,
"Persist in your vision,
And you cannot be saved."
"God has no bright mansions
For such as you are,"
Claim those who would speak
As the judge of our star.
Disparage, denounce,
Revile, and deny,
They laugh at our pain,
And the tears that we cry.
Many sweet souls
To rough hands have been lost,
Ignorant violence
Exacts a terrible cost.
Others seek death
By their own hand,
Mute testament to hurt
They can no longer stand.
Our pain we will carry
For what's left of our lives
As we suffer in silence
Hoping we can survive
Until the time comes
When as children of light
We join together our souls,
And push back the night.
Thanks again,
Anne Michele
- Top
-
-
- -----------------------------------------*****----------------------------------------------
- Disclaimer: The accuracy of any information
presented herein cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed may
not reflect those of the Editor, Anne Vitale PhD.
- Switching ISP or employer, and need to
change the address on the list?
-
- Sign-off from the old address by sending a
blank message with Subject
- line as "unsubscribe" to
unsubscribe@avitale.com. Sign-up at the new address
- by sending message with Subject line as
"subscribe <Your Name Here ".
-
- When contacting the Editor, please direct
all email messages to editor@avitale.com
-
- Thank you for subscribing to the Vitale
Letter, A free online news service. The primary focus of the
Vitale Letter is to pass on bits and pieces of information about
the legal, cultural and medical aspects of our lives. Most of what
I will be passing on comes to me via the many professional
bulletin boards I subscribe to. I will also post press releases,
Letters to the Editor, conference announcements, and other items
of interest to the transgender and transsexual
community.
- Letters to the Editor and other items of
interest should be sent to editor@avitale.com
- To subscribe, simply send me an email
message at Letter@avitale.com with the words Newsletter Subscribe
in the subject heading. To unsubscribe, place the words Newsletter
Unsubscribe in the subject heading.
- copyright October 6, 2002
-