1 Year Later.....

[Jennifer5]

As kind of a follow up from the 'Forum Birthday' thread I thought I would state this one...

Although many of us have not been here the whole year, we have all been here at one point or another... and clearly we keep coming back... so I thought that this would be a good chance to say... why do we keep coming back? what brings us here for comfort? why is it that this can feel so much like a family, when most of the people you don't even know in person? how it even possible that this type of group could exist online?

....Think about it, this is completely rare or even unheard of that we could all be here and get along, and have real dicussions about real things, and never break any friendships that have been formed here....... so in a way I supposed this is early Thanksgiving.... what are you thankful for(on the forum).......

[BruceChris]

And on days when I do not get enough other necessary things done in my life, I begin to start looking for a 12 Step group! But I know that if it were online, a Soulforce Anonymous group could itself become addictive(!)

Jennifer, perhaps you need an "Almost can't live without it" category.

I look back, and realize that I've been here 8 months, so I have pretty much grown up with Soulforce, and I have also been to 2 or 3 Equality rider rallies. The leaders of the Equality ride that I have met are amazing people.

I look at my life, and I realize that I am going from someone who is politically active, to an actual serious Activist, beginner/intermediate level. My Yahoo Bookmarks are just littered with Pro and Anti sites, and news sites, too. And I got out of college 23 years ago. Well, I'm starting to babble, so,

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Vanessa White]

although it is a good start! I could have never known that when I was just browsing around for religiously affiliated, gay friendly organizations, that Soulforce would come into my awareness and leave a permanent mark. The way in which this website has assisted in me seeking my true destiny in the last year is almost indescribable. In a way, the forums, and many of my friends here, have helped me to make some of the hardest choices in my life in the last year, by letting me know that it is okay to follow your heart, your true calling. It is so easy to be cynical in today's world, with so many horrible things happening. However, this place helps me to hold onto my HOPE, that there are loving souls left on this earth, and that the power that we can have to create change is immeasurable. I thank Soulforce for bringing the likes of us together, no matter how we got here in the first place. I am not able to get here as often as I would like lately, but I think about it and all of you daily. In 2007, I hope to work with Mia and other local friends to get our own chapter started here. Love to you all, Vanessa

[keltic63]

I find that this place gives me courage to speak up without speaking violently, even if that is what is coming my way. All of you teach me the words I need to speak the truth, combat the lies, and counter the arguments of those who speak against us.

and then there the fun threads that make us a community!