Warning: The Following, Are Dreaded Things That Most People Hate To Hear

Mental Case; Mentally ill nut bar; Crazy; Not All There; Druggie; Addict; Alkie; Impaired; Disabled; Incompetent; Psychiatrist; Psychologist; Focus; Pull Yourself Together; Don't Let It Bother You; Just Stop It. And the list goes on and on.

Picture this: Someone you know endures a horrifying ordeal. They board a plane, and there just happens to be a terrorist on board. The terrorist has taken all the people on the plane hostage. Wouldn't you know, the person that the terrorist chooses to hold at gun point, and chooses to use as an example of what will happen to others if they should refuse to cooperate with his wishes, is your closest and most precious friend. You are probably thinking that this scenario could not get any worse.

WRONG! The pilot announces that the plane engine has been tampered with before take-off, less than twenty minutes ago.

Uh oh!! Is that an understatement? I should think so. What would you suggest your friend do in this situation?

Would you say, "You are disabled right now” or "I am finding you very incompetent." Would you say, "Just focus, and you will be able to sort this out" Would you say, "Oh, just pull yourself together!" or "Oh, come on, just don't let the terrorists bother you"? If your friend started to cry, would you tell her, "Just stop it"?

And if this wise piece of advice should fail, would you call her a nut bar, or mental case, or crazy, or not all there, or mentally ill?

Furthermore, if they were to survive the ordeal, and as a result, they started to drink, drug, over-eat, or become addicted to sex, in order to escape the stress of the horrifying experience, would you than call them a druggie, alkie, fat, or a pervert? I should think not!

When you realize that your friend may need some professional help, would you than think less of them as a result? Or, if you had control over the Province’s finances would you say, "I'll give my friend and people like her as little as possible,” while speaking negatively of them to the public?

And would you cut back on their government subsidies, even if it means that they will not have enough bus fare to get to their appointments, and group therapy meetings?

Fortunately, they wouldn’t need to worry about that because cutbacks to the health care system would make the issue moot. And if they become homeless as a result of your drastic cutbacks to subsidized housing, then you probably won’t take responsibility for the aftermath (more homeless living on the streets) of your actions.

So the answer: " NO! "

You would not treat your friend that way. First, you would try to understand what they are going through, and if you did not understand, you would ask questions. You would then try to figure out the best way to help them to get through whatever they are going through. You would be patient, compassionate, understanding, and lastly, and most importantly, loving, to your friend. You would treat them with love, not malice.

My point: Just because people don't act like the average Joe Blow doesn't mean they are less, or worth less than anyone else. They need to be treated with more love, compassion, and patience than the average citizen. No one but God and that person know the nightmare they have been through. If your friend was being treated that poorly by the government, you would not sit there and do nothing, assuming you truly loved and respected that friend. For those who are reading this who have experienced hard times, treat yourself the way you would treat a friend who you love. Remember, you deserve the same love and compassion that your friend deserves.

Find out what you can do to make a difference to obtain the support that you need to get through your ordeals.

YOU ARE WORTH IT!