What the Chat Room can do-Reprise

Having been here for six and a half years now, I've borne witness to seeing our site grow tremendously, as well as the addition of many features. Some are mainly involved only in the forums, others in groups, and still others in chat. We each receive and give different things at different times in our journey. I joined before chat even existed on CDH, and I wrote many forum posts and articles when many, if not most of our current active members hadn't yet joined—this place we (or at least I) simply call "home.!" When chat DID begin, it was a lifeboat for those of us adrift on a sea of uncertainty, those of us who felt alone in the world. I cannot emphasize enough the difference this place and you folks have made in my life and in my journey of discovery. I previously wrote the poem below, almost exactly six years ago, and recently shared it with some folks in chat, including Billiejay. She requested I repost it as an article. I hope it means something to some newer folks—I know it does for me.

The day had started gloomy in the early early morn-
It matched the mood inside my head –my mind was truly torn.
Did I truly know what path to take-and how was I to know
As looking in the mirror, all my wrinkles start to show!

There are days when I feel perfect-where I'm pretty and petite!
On others I'm an ogre with gray hair and monstrous feet.
Today I feel so horrible-and fear I've lost my way.
I stare and think of all the things that she would have me say.

A rough and male exterior is all that I can see!
The girl I feel indwells my soul is faint as she can be.
Her voice-as quiet as a mouse-says "Don't forget I'm here!"
But doubt and worry flood my mind-my heart is filled with fear.

Dare I believe that I could ever be the girl inside?
So many years behind the shell, her soul's been forced to hide.
Too many times denied the chance to stretch her wings and fly
Could there be any hope left or is she simply going to die?

But just as she resigns herself to years of lonely gloom,
She finds herself online and strays inside a lively room!
Amazed she stares upon her screen-this surely can't be true!
A dozen girls are chatting and her wonder grew and grew.

And as she listened to them talk she thought "I'm NOT alone!"
She felt more joy and happiness than she had ever known !
"These girls are just like me" she thought and then one turned and said,
"So glad you joined our chat today!" and then she looked ahead.

The fears that had tormented her were suddenly abated
While hope that had seemed dead and gone she found was reinstated.
The power of friendship can't be measured easily it's true-
But if it's offered freely there's so much that it can do!

So when you're feeling lonely or just need a friendly ear-
You'll find support and loving friends each time you come by here.
'Cause CDH is where you go-it's certainly all that!
WE hope that you'll come join us soon in this- our evening CHAT!