YEAH!!! Shauna is back!!!!

[Guest guest]

Welcome home Shauna. It is so good to see your name online.

We all have busy lives and we owe it to ourselves to place our needs

first, If we can't take care of ourselves we can't be there for anyone

else. You have been and continue to be a terrific Moderator. We know

you have a job, school, family and personal life. We have missed you

but also know your plate is very full these days.

Shauna, I don't have any words of wisdom for you. I too tried to " do it

all " and my house of cards came tumbling down. I have accepted my

limitations and do the best I can. I maintain a household in two

cities as well as the myriad of stressors in my family and personal and

professional lives. I have medical issues and good days and bad days

that accompany those maladies.

It was very hard, but I had to stop being the " caregiver. " I also ended

unhealthy relationships with people who were takers and never gave to

me when I needed their time and attention. Friendships should be a two

way street. People who are takers are " Draino " friends. I don't have

the time or energy to fix other peoples lives. I have seen too many

people in our WLS community have surgery to " fix " their broken lives

without wanting to do the work that comes with having a healthy life in

the physical and emotional sense. I am glad to see you are tending to

your needs and creating a foundation for a more successful future. You

are blessed!

An important factor in finding some semblance of peace in my life was

setting BOUNDARIES. When I say NO, I mean NO!!! I don't answer email,

phone calls or faxes after the close of normal business hours. When so

called friends call me for legal advice, I remind them that I don't

call them for FREE professional services unless they want to trade or

barter. One hour of my legal help for a free

haircut/color/highlights....you get the point. Time is money and my

time is limited.

As you can see, I am seldom online these days. My personal priorities

come first. Don't worry about the boards. You take care of you first.

That's what post op life is about. Don't worry about catching up. Just

jump in when and if you have the spare time.

My best to you always.

Robyn