JOFA

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3469498
• October 18, 2012 at 4:38 pm
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sigh... Sorry to see another leave... : ( Thanks for letting us know Alan!

• By alan41241
• Reply 3469544
• October 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm
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Sure thing, Mare.

• By KDF6952
• Reply 3469608
• October 18, 2012 at 5:23 pm
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Well if its ok with everybody I'm staying. I am almost 4 weeks post reversal and only had a pouch for 8 weeks but have grown attached to you fine people. You got me through some rough times and I am grateful. Team Inspire does e-mail new activity but I just delete it and go to website to follow the posts I'm interested in. Alot of people who post often are at home recovering from surgery and this is their lifeline. When I was new here not one question went unanswered. There's a big difference between having the time and taking the time to reply. Alot of you are well past the recovery phase. Alan,who always has a kind word, Mare(you wear me out just reading about your day) Marge is just a hoot, to name a few, but you make time to welcome newbies and make them feel right at home. Don't ever change!
Lisa

• By alan41241
• Reply 3469898
• October 18, 2012 at 7:41 pm
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Thanks so much, Lisa. I'm glad you're staying.
I have a lot of time because I'm retired and am home most days. I'm constantly going to my computer to see if there is anything new. Usually, there is.
I have no plans to change. As long as I have something to write, I'll write. People have written that I have helped in many ways which make me feel awfully good and makes me want to try even harder.
Blessings,
Alan

• By jazss
• Reply 3470131
• October 18, 2012 at 9:20 pm
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I agree with you Lisa...I don't write very often but I really enjoy this site. My surgery was almost 3 years ago and I've never really connected with anybody in my situation. When I see the topics that some people write about , I realize what a wimp I am. I've been in a shell without even realizing it.

Like you Alan...I'm recently retired .
I really appreciated you friending me when I was new to this forum.
It gave me the courage to post a photo and actually feel welcome. Thanks!
Jan

• By tjane
• Reply 3470287
• October 18, 2012 at 10:26 pm
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I imagine we will see alot of people come and go. So we must not take it personaly. For my self I look forward to my e-mails from team inspire. I figured if you dont want to read them you can just delete. Jofa sounded a little bitter or jealous to me that some people have the time to respond. Like Alan I am retired and have some time on my hands. It is a personal choice to respond to a post or not. But so far I think we have some pretty awsome people on this site and enjoy hearing from everybody. xox terri

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3470314
• October 18, 2012 at 10:37 pm
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Hi Lisa.. glad you will hang out with us from time to time!!! : ) Yes.. some days I cram a bit more into a day than I should.. lol..

Jan, Happy that you joined us and hope to see more posts from you in the future!

Alan..always.. always.. there with a smile and open arms, welcoming all!! So happy you are here to stay!!

I am out of work on disability.. and will return..eventually... but I will still make time to pop in here.. Friends.. are important.. and even though this is "virtual".. it is very real.. human connection... and I'm thankful the internet has made this forum possible!
I'm not sure what they will be doing with my shoulder.. it may need surgery.. If that's the case.. You may see less of me.. and more typing mistakes..lol.. but I will keep you posted on that.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3470368
• October 18, 2012 at 11:05 pm
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Mare, I would hate to see less of you. I enjoy your posts. They are so warm and sincere.
Jan, you are welcome. I wanted to welcome you to our little ostomy family.
Terri, I agree. And I didn't take it personally when jofa or HappyS chose to leave.
I am just glad that I can hopefully help somebody with my posts.
Blessings to you all,
Alan

• By scooby74
• Reply 3470631
• October 19, 2012 at 2:02 am
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This is the first email I check and read. Even I rarely post but there is some much great info here and its nice to no I'm not the only one that has troubles. I like to read on how everyone else deals with them and if I have the same problem ill try what ever that is working for them.lot of the time it will work for me or give me a idea to try.

• By Balloonatic
• Reply 3470770
• October 19, 2012 at 6:00 am
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Hi Alan,

Another member of our club backing away makes me concerned. A day or two ago it was mentioned that someone was going "inactive" because of some religious conflict of opinion. I was off ballooning I think and had missed whatever occurred. Now this gentleman has gone with the quote "I'm amazed that this site has turned into a spiritual direction site. When I first learned of it as sharing thoughts about caring for ostomies, etc., I thought it would be helpful". Please let me pose the question, is there a problem beginning to take us away from the intent of "Inspire"? I remember reading Alcoholics Anonymous had this problem in the thirties and choose to stop preaching and continue healing, those are my words and not a quote. Some people who are going through very tough times because of illness may be angry at many things including God. Inspire is a site to come and share the troubles and often fears with people who share the same. If the site is starting down a path that drives away those it is meant to serve then perhaps we need to make corrections?

• By alan41241
• Reply 3470978
• October 19, 2012 at 8:12 am
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Scooby, that's the whole purpose of this site, to help each other.

Balloon, the other person was HappyS.

There has been one discussion on this site about God and prayer. I started the discussion because I was curious about everybody's views on the subject since I had been reading so many posts where God or prayer were mentioned. I had noticed that ever since I joined back in March. One discussion....one. That's it. Everybody has the option to answer or not to answer, read or not read. The purpose of the discussion was to discover feelings not begin a religious direction for this forum.

As for HappyS, I think a lot more than displeasure with the discussion topic was going on in his life. As for jofa, that person seemed to be put out because the Inspire team sent an email every day. My discussion topic was an afterthought.

I think at this point, we have beatten this subject to death. Can we just move on? Had I known that my discussion topic was going to cause this much controversy I never would have posted it in the first place.

Blessings,
Alan

• By Hunt
• Reply 3471009
• October 19, 2012 at 8:24 am
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When you look back at history, wars have been started over religion and beliefs that differ between individuals and groups of peoples. I hold God very dear to my heart, but I would hate to see this site lost when so many look to it for help.

• By Chriswife
• Reply 3471048
• October 19, 2012 at 8:37 am
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I too plan on staying...I dont always post daily, as I am going through chemo and many days I just dont feel like getting on the computer. The wonderful people on this site have gotten me through some very rough times. I am not confident with my ostomy due to the people on this site. Yes we have nurses, etc but alot of times the best advice comes from the people who have been where I am and I will be forever grateful. Alan, if someone gets upset over one post, then maybe they should take a break! I did not find your post at all offensive and when my email box gets filled, I just delete all of the messages! I hope people do not feel as though they have to reply to every one, as that is not the case.

Kerri

• By BigDaddy-Rosebud
• Reply 3471157
• October 19, 2012 at 9:18 am
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"and will keep you in my prayers"

• By jazjjmado4
• Reply 3471180
• October 19, 2012 at 9:26 am
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well I plan on staying I am so grateful for this site it has helped me to figure things out for myself I have had so many problems in the last 3 years that I thought OMG why me then after getting on this site I found out it was just not me. I don't think that anyone ever intentionally meant to hurt someone or try to "push" their beliefs so please please please lets keep this site going I look forward to it everyday.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3471293
• October 19, 2012 at 10:08 am
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I don't believe this site is going anywhere. It will be ongoing long after we are all dead. It is a wonderful site where we can ask questions, get support, hear from others who are either where we are or where we've been. We are one big happy family of ostomates who depend on each other.
Blessings,
Alan

• By Hamma
• Reply 3471421
• October 19, 2012 at 10:52 am
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I'm definitely staying. I have only posted when I felt I could add something, but have learned a lot from this group of wonderful people, feel as tho I know many of you personally thru your posts, and am grateful to know you all. I wish I had found this site 3 years ago. Keep up the good work. Alan said it all in the previous post. Thank you all.

Hamma

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3471687
• October 19, 2012 at 12:12 pm
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I am happy that Inspire is here for all of us.. and without each of us.. and our beliefs.. we would be nowhere.. .Even if someone does not "believe".. it's still their belief.. and we should value and respect that in one another... Doesn't mean the rest of us have to change!
Also... when we are in here..if we see a conversation which we don't want to be a part of.. we can choose..up at the very top.. to "stop following"... If we click on that.. a notice that there has been another post to it.. will not be sent.
and... on our profile/member page.. we have the option of changing our status and not get notifications at all. It's an easy fix..if someone doesn't want to be bothered by all the updated notices.

I for one... like to see others praying for other people.. and I want others to know, that I think of them..and do include them in my prayers.. and will continue to do so. That's part of the support I give and like to receive as well. So please.. If anyone is offended when prayers are offered and you don't want them.. just let us know.. and we'll leave it at that. Simple... Then we can all play in the same sandbox together..and happy.

Sounds simple.. and I know it's not but it COULD be!!!... Honesty and respect... that's all it takes. I've not seen controlling by anyone in this site... That's when trouble will start...and would need to change. I think Inspire is doing just fine..and will continue to do so.. just as we have been right along!!

Prayers and blessings,
Mare

• By tomo3240
• Reply 3471759
• October 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm
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I notice 5 posts by Alan and 3 by Marie. Perhaps there is a feeling the site is being taken over. by a small group speaking only to each other.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3471877
• October 19, 2012 at 1:07 pm
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I don't think that at all. Everybody can post whenever they want. It's a choice not to post. it's also a choice to post. Nobody has ever complained about how often I post. Most people here have complimented me highly for my "warm and caring" posts.
You are right. There seems to be just a few of us who post all the time. Whose fault is that? Not mine. Not theirs. Post anytime you please. There are about 1500 members on this site and only a few ever post.
Blessings,
Alan