Taking a few days off

I've been going nonstop this year, except for when my brother passed away in October. I posted the other day that I'm burnt out. You really have to top that one off with bummed out as well. This has been a very hard year and I'm very happy to see it end. Between losing my job in January and trying to figure out how to get from one day to the next without a paycheck, somehow we survived. Donations didn't even cover what it cost me to operate this year, never mind traveling and becoming a Chaplain. It's just stuff I have to deal with. Don't feel sorry for me at all. It was my choice to go into this as many hours as I have been. It was my choice because as bad as my own problems are, there are far too many with bigger problems.

In all of this, just a reminder, I do what I do because I remember what it was like to have no one understanding what PTSD was like for my husband or our family. I remember searching for help and answers, as well as some kind of support for me. What I do, is because I fell in love with a Vietnam veteran 26 years ago and I know I would want someone to do the same for him if I wasn't there.

I'm very hopeful that with the new president along with the New Year, hope will be restored to our veterans, along with the rest of us. Too many conversations about President Elect Obama and having to address the disinformation out there about what he plans to do have left too many apprehensive about his administration. First and foremost, he understands the needs of veterans. He proved that when he had the choice to serve on any committee he wanted to but against advice from some of his colleagues, he said his heart was called to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He also understands PTSD. He made a trip to the Montana National Guard to find out what they were doing. He also promised to replicated it across the nation. Their program is fantastic. It began because of the suicide of Chris Dana.

There is a lot to be hopeful for in the coming year. We just have to keep fighting to make sure that what can be done, is done. For now the fight has gone out of me and I really need a break.

While I've received far more support this year than I ever expected from service groups, there are many more that never responded. To them I have a message.

If you really want to address the problem of PTSD and really take care of the veterans, then understand that you are not doing them any good by acting as if you are competing against others who have been doing this work a lot longer than you have. There is much you have to learn especially if you don't want to waste time doing what's already been done. All you are doing is making the mistakes that have already been made, but the veteran pay the price because ego has gotten in the way. Stop ignoring the people that can get your group to where it should be so that you can really serve the veterans instead of your own ego! Join forces, not with me, but with other groups. No group will really be a success as long as we still have veterans falling thru the cracks.

I've contacted groups over the last five years, maybe their intentions were good in the beginning, but for whatever reason, they didn't want help from me and that's a real shame. They know who they are and as far as I'm concerned they will really not be successful. They are playing games, trying to make a name for themselves instead of doing the work they claim came first. I've been doing this since before most of these "genius" wannabe's were born. It isn't just me they are ignoring. There were a lot of us ignored instead of appreciated and most of them gave up. Tragic shame considering some of them were doing this even before I was.

So here's to next year. I wish all of you a Blessed New Year filled with love, hope and compassion in your hearts. I'll be back online on January 3rd.