If You Could Thank Someone Who Changed Your Life

[bryan farley]

Often eCommunity members use our site to share our struggles. I relate since many of us struggle in isolation and we have found a place to connect with others. Unfortunately, we might overlook those moments in our life when someone helped us. We might forget the people who have helped us.

In this post, I want to encourage people to thank someone who helped them become less isolated

One year ago today, I met Tony Coelho. Meeting Tony was memorable. I never been more nervous before meeting someone. I had to remind myself that he was just a person. At the same time, meeting Tony felt normal. We shared a similar history, except he shaped world events and I felt awkward.
Tony-Coelho-National-Walk - Images by bryan farley

I saw Tony at the National Walk for Epilepsy where I photographed him before the walk. We spoke again and this time I was not as nervous. He seemed like an old friend.

In the few years since I have started revealing that I am a person living with epilepsy, others have helped me too. I still remember connecting with my local Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California. (I was afraid to talk.) When I visited the national headquarters of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, I was often dizzy, because I forgot to breathe. Today, however, I wanted to thank Tony. He seemed to understood his role as a leader. He knew that there are times when someone must stand on the stage in front of thousands of people ... and there are other times when a leader must spend a couple quiet hours grooming future leaders.

[bryan farley]

Thanks LaQuida for commenting and reminding me about this post again. 

Look at all this sharing from our group! We are really helping each other. We are not quite one-third of the way through the year yet...

[LaQuida Monea' Jackson]

I would also like to thank my aunt mary for helping me through too!

[Kelly Rummel]

LOL.. No problem!! haha.. Have NO idea what, but hey! that's cool.. ;)
Let me know when your done!! :) 

[bryan farley]

Mandy and Kelly,

from both of your post, I just thought of something really cool. THANKS!

bf

[Kelly Rummel]

And Mandy,

I couldn't agree more! 

[Kelly Rummel]

Brian,

Your welcome will do just fine. ;) Just KEEP ON DOING what you do..you never know how many ppl you reach with your blogs...just know, that I am one of them. =)
~Kelly,mom2Wesley 

[Tony Murray]

With the help of another person I visited my former boss in Harvard square today. I haven't worked there for over two years due to uncontrolled seizures. Thanks to working there for such a long time, I made close friends that I still enjoy visiting. Even though I had seizures while working there, I was always treated equal. At one time I knew him as my boss. I now know him as a very close friend. Thank you Michael.

[EpilepsyBlogger (Mandy)]

I too consider everyone on this site a part of a big family. As we talked in today's conference, it's a matter of people realizing that they have a voice. Epilepsy seems to be something that people want to keep a secret. They keep it out of their public lives... making it only personal. It really should be something people share - leading to advocacy. We are all here for each other, and when more people realize that, that will be THE DAY!

[bryan farley]

Kelly,

Thank you so much Kelly. I kept this reply window open for a few hours trying to figure out how to say, "you are welcome." Maybe that is the best response.

I suspect that EFA is trying to figure out their role at a time when a lot is changing. Something strange has happened. EFA tried for decades to have epilepsy become more acceptable. Finally, more people are talking about it, but now that more people are talking about it AND there are more ways to do so, EFA probably does not know what to do. In some ways, EFA's success has caused problems for the organization. 

Thanks again. I am touched that I connect with readers. Having people in my life is incredibly meaningful. As you wrote, "We are HERE FOR EACH OTHER."

[Kelly Rummel]

Bryan,
I completely agree. If more people KNEW about the site's activity, then I too think A LOT more people would stay, and become a "Part of the Family"...Because I DO consider each person on this site, a member of a rather large, but AMAZING Family. We are HERE FOR EACH OTHER, and we help each other out, when we need to vent, or have a problem we aren't sure how to deal with, and someone else who's BEEN THERE, knows what you need to do to get things done. I have gotten some amazing advice on how to proceed when I was at my wits end, and just did NOT know what to do. But then I'd get on here and someone would talk me down from my fear and help me to feel like I WAS NOT ALONE. And help me out by telling me just what needed to be done. 
I have to say also, that alot of the people I have met on THIS site, are my friends on facebook, and that, in my opinion, this site loses alot of member to the facebook site. Some find it hard to keep up with two sites, or what have you. But BOTH are so amazing! I could NEVER give up on this site, bc THIS is where I first reached out, to talk to someone who was going through what I was going through. And that first conversation I had on here, I KNEW I had found my home. I no longer felt isolated, and alone, nor as scared of EVERYTHING. I had actual FRIENDS that knew EXACTLY what I was going through! And that feeling, quite honestly, was a miracle from God to me. 
~Kelly,mom2Wesley

PS: Bryan, I too thoroughly enjoy reading your blog. They are VERY insightful, and some move me very deeply. Others make me laugh, or cry...but  ALL of them make me THINK. And that is something that not just ANYONE can do. So  I thank YOU Bryan. =)