The thread of hope.

[My pseudonym is Ix]

Thanks Deedles. I needed that

[Deedles]

It's my pleasure

[empath]

...you made me use up all my tissues.

...and you're destroying my protective shell of jaded "we're all selfish, worthless, evil creatures that aren't worth caring about" cynicism.

...even though I've seen about half of these before, and two or three of them I posted in this thread myself!



...

Thank you.

[empath]

So my mom and I have been working the same waitress job for 5-6 years now. She had been waitressing years before, but this is recently. Anyway, about… 15 minutes ago this guy she waited on left and told her to take care. Just that. Prior to this she had talked to him about Italy. Her people are from Florence, this and that, and she said she’s never been. She’s got 8 years of art education and she’s working a waitress job. It’s pretty… Sad and disappointing, I guess. Her and my father divorced 6 years ago and she hasn’t had a real job ever. Just been stuck in a small town she’s not from.

This man who we have never seen before tipped her 1000 dollars for a trip to Italy. Walked out, not another word.

…you know. Just when I start to lose faith in humanity….Hm.

[Drecon]

Wow, that's epic.

[My pseudonym is Ix]

It says something about my brain that the reaction of 'that dude is awesome' entered my brain immediately behind the thought that 'he's forgotten to add the 42 cents'

[empath]

...I was hoping I was the only person to be so nit-picky as to notice that.

[JustAName]

I went to Comicpalooza this weekend and I was full of nervous energy as I was standing in line to ask Sir Patrick Stewart a question at his panel. I first had to thank him for a speech he had given at amnesty international about domestic violence towards women . I had only seen it a few months ago but I was still dealing with my own personal experience with a similar issue, and I didn’t know what to call it. After seeing Patrick talk so personally about it I finally was able to correctly call it abuse, in my case sexual abuse that was going to quickly turn into physical abuse as well. I didn’t feel guilty or disgusting anymore. I finally didn’t feel responsible for the abuse that was put upon me. I was finally able to start my healing process and to put that part of my life behind me.

After thanking him I asked him “Besides acting, what are you most proud of that you have done in you life (that you are willing to share with us)?”. Sir Patrick told us about how he couldn’t protect his mother from abuse in his household growing up and so in her name works with an organization called Refuge for safe houses for women and children to escape from abusive house holds. Sir Patrick Stewart learned only last year that his father had actually been suffering from PTSD after he returned from the military and was never properly treated. In his father’s name he works with an organization called Combat Stress to help those soldiers who are suffering from PTSD.

They were about to move onto the next question when Sir Patrick looked at me and asked me “My Dear, are you okay?” I said yes, and that I was finally able to move on from that part of my life. He then passionately said that it is never the woman’s fault in domestic violence, and how wrong to think that it ever is. That it is in the power of men to stop violence towards women. The moderator then asked “Do you want a hug?”

Sir Patrick didn’t even hesitate, he smiled, hopped off the stage and came over to embrace me in a hug. Which he held me there for a long while. He told me “You never have to go through that again, you’re safe now.” I couldn’t stop thanking him. His embrace was so warm and genuine. It was two people, two strangers, supporting and giving love. And when we pulled away he looked strait in my eyes, like he was promising that. He told me to take care. And I will.

Sir Patrick Stewart is an absolute role model for men. He is an amazing man and was so kind and full of heart. I want to let everyone know to please find help if you are in a violent or abusive house hold or relationship. There are organizations and people ready to help. I had countless people after the panel thanking me for sharing the story and asking him those questions. Many said they went through similar things. You are not alone.

Video here.

[Deedles]

That turned on my water works...

[Sieg Reyu]

Chris O'Brien, a hilarious writer, came home today to find his apartment building on fire. Rather than freaking out or panicking, he live tweeted the whole thing. When he might lose everything he had, he kept entertaining. A couple of them had me laugh out loud, like this one: https://twitter.com/microbrien/status/340572087980785665/photo/1

And despite all of this destruction, at the end of the day, he uploaded this to his blog.

Good things come to those who never give up hope.

[tamaness]

Thank goodness for people who can take humor out of extreme personal tragedy.

[Sieg Reyu]

bbcode is not agreeing with me tonight.

[empath]

Teach them while they still listen; break that flawed programming.

[empath]

And...

The fact that you’re struggling doesn’t make you a burden. It doesn’t make you unloveable or undesirable or undeserving of care. It doesn’t make you too much or too sensitive or too needy. It makes you human. Everyone struggles. Everyone has a difficult time coping, and at times, we all fall apart. During these times, we aren’t always easy to be around — and that’s okay. No one is easy to be around one hundred percent of the time. Yes, you may sometimes be unpleasant or difficult. And yes, you may sometimes do or say things that make the people around you feel helpless or sad. But those things aren’t all of who you are and they certainly don’t discount your worth as a human being. The truth is that you can be struggling and still be loved. You can be difficult and still be cared for. You can be less than perfect, and still be deserving of compassion and kindness.

[Deedles]

That is a very motivating quote. <3

This was posted on DeviantArt Secret today.

[Deedles]

[King Kool]

http://youtu.be/QaqpoeVgr8U

[empath]

Thank you for sharing that, King.

I'll repeat what I said on tumblr when I reblogged the vid:

The best - ABSO-fucking-LUTELY BEST public statement from a general I’ve ever seen; I really hope Lt.-Gen. Morrison takes up politics after his military career reaches its inevitable end, because that field of human interaction also needs people like him.

He might be an amazing actor to speak with such determined passion about something he doesn’t personally believe in, but Occam’s Razor says that’s unlikely.

MORE likely, he is really speaking from his heart, and has taken one of Sun-Tzu’s most important lessons to the core of his leadership:

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.”

…and if SOME of your children start harassing or bullying other children? You discipline them.


Thank you, sir.

[empath]

Thank you, Cmdr. Hadfield, (ret.)



(I'm ashamed to say that I heard he was retiring, and forgot to mention it here at the time, at least I remembered to make up for that omission)

[Geoff_B]

And I have to follow that with Cmdr Hadfield's rendition of Space Oddity.

Maybe you can't cry in space, but down here on Earth it's very possible to.

[empath]

Progress might be slow, but it's still noticeable...

[empath]

Everyone deserves to have someone that will say that to them. Oh, and mean it, too.

[Lord Hosk]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2366651/Care-homes-Facebook-pleas-leads-scores-strangers-turning-veterans-funeral.html#comments

[Geoff_B]

Maybe some of these have been seen before

[Deedles]

That made me so happy to read. <3