Today I gave a young lady a gift.

She didn't refuse it.
She didn't question it.
She didn't make stipulations on acceptance.
She didn't accuse me of nefarious motives.

She just accepted it for what it was: a gift from one friend to another.

Perhaps there are some who understand the nature of friendship.

My President Will....

Just a quick FYI. I'm about to slip into "Turtle Mode"; I'm going to pull my self inside my shell and deal with internal matters for a little while.

Nothing's wrong. It's just that I've spread myself somewhat thin lately, and all the extraneous issues have caused me to become distracted. Those distractions have caused me to make more mistakes than I'm comfortable with. And some of those mistakes have had a negative affect on people I care about. That, more than anything, is what bothers me.

So I'm just going to pull my focus back to myself so I can deal with the issues I want and need to deal with. I'm just taking some time to get myself refocused and back on course.

I'll still be around. I'm not hiding or running away. Feel free to get a hold of me through any of the normal media. I'm always happy to hear from friends, and I'll reply as promptly as I can. I really haven't been posting much online lately (been too busy with other stuff), so this won't be much of a change for the blog/LJ crowd. For those I talk to offline, this might have more relevance.

Hopefully, when I'm back to my normal, verbose self, I'll have some important and interesting things to share.

See ya later.

I'm tired of offering help and being rejected.
I'm tired of talking and hearing only silence.
I'm tired of telling the truth and being told that I'm lying.
I'm tired of giving compliments that get twisted into insults.
I'm tired of offering love and receiving only apathy and hatred.

I am patient, but I am not infinite.
I am tolerant, but I am not without limits.
I am understanding, but I am not stupid.
I am forgiving, but I am not a fool.

Look in the mirror and understand:
If I am distant, it is because you have kept your distance.
If I am insulting, it is because you have been insulting.
If I am cruel, it is because you have been cruel.
If I do not reply it is because you have not replied.
If I am not here, it is because you have not been here.

I am neither your scape goat nor your excuse.
I am neither your whipping boy, nor your garbage heap.

I have fought more demons than you can name.
I have suffered more wounds than I can remember.
I have more scars than you have memories.

No matter how important you are to me, my life will go on without you.

If you will not accept the help I offer, do not cry that no one offered help.
If you will not accept the friendship I offer, do not cry that no one is your friend.
If you will not accept the love I give, do not cry that no one gives you love.

This is who I am.
This is what I am.
This is where I am.

If you will not accept this, you will get nothing.

The fault for your deficiencies lies not upon me.