I've had a really fascinating few weeks.

harmless_little_f***

I'm now living on my own in a town in which I have no one around me. Not saying this to be melodramatic but it's just how it is. After work I come back to a flat which is quiet as a nun's orgasm, then I sometimes go out to drink on my own to while away an evening, or I get a table for one at Pizza Express. Or I write or draw.

Anyway, the other week I met a guy called Paul. He was getting drunk in a pub and randomly came over and sat at my table and started pouring out his life story. He's bipolar and was on a low. He became a brilliant friend after I spent a couple of hours drinking with him and convincing him that life is, in fact, worth living. He then introduced me to a friend of his, Andy, who is a medicated paranoid schizophrenic. Both these people have ended up being excellent, genuine, amazing people who, in a very short time, have become my best friends. They started introducing me to a bunch of lovely people with mental health difficulties who all used services at a charity called Mind. They invited me to a social event they went to and were proud of. More lovely people there. This has become my chief social group around here, and the amount I'm learning about them and myself is staggering.

The things I've learned can be summed up thusly: Fuck superficiality. It's amazing how a bunch of excellent people suffering mental health difficulties can have so much in common, and such a connection with, yours truly. And yet they're stigmatised by society and shoved into a quiet corner. Why?

I'm no longer lonely because of these people. So this is sort of a tribute to Andy and Paul then. Thanks guys; you won't read this, probably, but my life's made a dramatic turn around because of you guys.

Brain of J.Lo

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I'm now living on my own in a town in which I have no one around me. Not saying this to be melodramatic but it's just how it is. After work I come back to a flat which is quiet as a nun's orgasm, then I sometimes go out to drink on my own to while away an evening, or I get a table for one at Pizza Express. Or I write or draw.

Anyway, the other week I met a guy called Paul. He was getting drunk in a pub and randomly came over and sat at my table and started pouring out his life story. He's bipolar and was on a low. He became a brilliant friend after I spent a couple of hours drinking with him and convincing him that life is, in fact, worth living. He then introduced me to a friend of his, Andy, who is a medicated paranoid schizophrenic. Both these people have ended up being excellent, genuine, amazing people who, in a very short time, have become my best friends. They started introducing me to a bunch of lovely people with mental health difficulties who all used services at a charity called Mind. They invited me to a social event they went to and were proud of. More lovely people there. This has become my chief social group around here, and the amount I'm learning about them and myself is staggering.

The things I've learned can be summed up thusly: Fuck superficiality. It's amazing how a bunch of excellent people suffering mental health difficulties can have so much in common, and such a connection with, yours truly. And yet they're stigmatised by society and shoved into a quiet corner. Why?

I'm no longer lonely because of these people. So this is sort of a tribute to Andy and Paul then. Thanks guys; you won't read this, probably, but my life's made a dramatic turn around because of you guys.

That's fucking great, and inspiring.

Stone Is God

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I'm now living on my own in a town in which I have no one around me. Not saying this to be melodramatic but it's just how it is. After work I come back to a flat which is quiet as a nun's orgasm, then I sometimes go out to drink on my own to while away an evening, or I get a table for one at Pizza Express. Or I write or draw.

Anyway, the other week I met a guy called Paul. He was getting drunk in a pub and randomly came over and sat at my table and started pouring out his life story. He's bipolar and was on a low. He became a brilliant friend after I spent a couple of hours drinking with him and convincing him that life is, in fact, worth living. He then introduced me to a friend of his, Andy, who is a medicated paranoid schizophrenic. Both these people have ended up being excellent, genuine, amazing people who, in a very short time, have become my best friends. They started introducing me to a bunch of lovely people with mental health difficulties who all used services at a charity called Mind. They invited me to a social event they went to and were proud of. More lovely people there. This has become my chief social group around here, and the amount I'm learning about them and myself is staggering.

The things I've learned can be summed up thusly: Fuck superficiality. It's amazing how a bunch of excellent people suffering mental health difficulties can have so much in common, and such a connection with, yours truly. And yet they're stigmatised by society and shoved into a quiet corner. Why?

I'm no longer lonely because of these people. So this is sort of a tribute to Andy and Paul then. Thanks guys; you won't read this, probably, but my life's made a dramatic turn around because of you guys.

The reason why you view them differently is because you actually took the time to get to know these people with no prejudice. Most of society supposedly has a pre-conceived notion of what people with mental health issues are like. Most people think they are fit for a straight jacket.

It speaks volumes about you that you would take the time to get to know these people and not just write them off.

Steve Dunne

hey congrats mark! and btw - if you see my ex-girlfriend over there tell her to buy you a pint!

GreenTeaDisease

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I'm now living on my own in a town in which I have no one around me. Not saying this to be melodramatic but it's just how it is. After work I come back to a flat which is quiet as a nun's orgasm, then I sometimes go out to drink on my own to while away an evening, or I get a table for one at Pizza Express. Or I write or draw.

Anyway, the other week I met a guy called Paul. He was getting drunk in a pub and randomly came over and sat at my table and started pouring out his life story. He's bipolar and was on a low. He became a brilliant friend after I spent a couple of hours drinking with him and convincing him that life is, in fact, worth living. He then introduced me to a friend of his, Andy, who is a medicated paranoid schizophrenic. Both these people have ended up being excellent, genuine, amazing people who, in a very short time, have become my best friends. They started introducing me to a bunch of lovely people with mental health difficulties who all used services at a charity called Mind. They invited me to a social event they went to and were proud of. More lovely people there. This has become my chief social group around here, and the amount I'm learning about them and myself is staggering.

The things I've learned can be summed up thusly: Fuck superficiality. It's amazing how a bunch of excellent people suffering mental health difficulties can have so much in common, and such a connection with, yours truly. And yet they're stigmatised by society and shoved into a quiet corner. Why?

I'm no longer lonely because of these people. So this is sort of a tribute to Andy and Paul then. Thanks guys; you won't read this, probably, but my life's made a dramatic turn around because of you guys.

that's awesome! I would love to be out one night and just come upon friends like that!

harmless_little_f***

Steve Dunne wrote:

hey congrats mark! and btw - if you see my ex-girlfriend over there tell her to buy you a pint!

I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a joke but I've got 2 pre-prepared answers, just in case:

1. OK, I will do.

2. LOLZ! I'm still waiting to see a few of mine... I'm thinking 'delusions of grandeur' might apply to every one of them.

norm

good for you mark....that's a great story....:)

harmless_little_f***

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

that's awesome! I would love to be out one night and just come upon friends like that!

These guys haven't faced episodes since I've known them because they're disciplined with their medication. I'm sure there's a lot for me to learn, but it suits me fine. I'll take it as it comes. The cool thing is, I keep meeting people and having them shake my hand and sit at my table and have a drink. And they're all connected in some way to Andy and Paul.

GreenTeaDisease

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

These guys haven't faced episodes since I've known them because they're disciplined with their medication. I'm sure there's a lot for me to learn, but it suits me fine.

well, I mean regardless of their health issues, it's great that you were able to move to a new town and meet new friends so easily!

harmless_little_f***

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

well, I mean regardless of their health issues, it's great that you were able to move to a new town and meet new friends so easily!

It certainly doesn't happen every day, certainly not to me. But these people have no barriers or prejudices.

urbanhippie

A friendship is like any other relationship...you get out what you put in
If you get a lot from their friendship then the chances are, they get a lot from yours.
Open minded and non-judgemental people are hard to come by and often the most open minded and non-judgemental people are those that have been judged themselves.

Keep it up, you

meme

Well, we knew already you liked 'em crazies since you spent so much time around here

I'm really glad you made good friends. There's nothing like friends to ground you and make you feel at home in this world.

Stone Is God

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

It certainly doesn't happen every day, certainly not to me. But these people have no barriers or prejudices.

Those are the people, I've found, that you can grow most from as a person.

Steve Dunne

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a joke but I've got 2 pre-prepared answers, just in case:

1. OK, I will do.

2. LOLZ! I'm still waiting to see a few of mine... I'm thinking 'delusions of grandeur' might apply to every one of them.

HA! You know me and my 'SNAP OUT OF IT' mentality! I love delusions of grandeur! Make her buy many pints!!!!!!!!!!!!

eyedclaar

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I'm now living on my own in a town in which I have no one around me. Not saying this to be melodramatic but it's just how it is. After work I come back to a flat which is quiet as a nun's orgasm, then I sometimes go out to drink on my own to while away an evening, or I get a table for one at Pizza Express. Or I write or draw.

Anyway, the other week I met a guy called Paul. He was getting drunk in a pub and randomly came over and sat at my table and started pouring out his life story. He's bipolar and was on a low. He became a brilliant friend after I spent a couple of hours drinking with him and convincing him that life is, in fact, worth living. He then introduced me to a friend of his, Andy, who is a medicated paranoid schizophrenic. Both these people have ended up being excellent, genuine, amazing people who, in a very short time, have become my best friends. They started introducing me to a bunch of lovely people with mental health difficulties who all used services at a charity called Mind. They invited me to a social event they went to and were proud of. More lovely people there. This has become my chief social group around here, and the amount I'm learning about them and myself is staggering.

The things I've learned can be summed up thusly: Fuck superficiality. It's amazing how a bunch of excellent people suffering mental health difficulties can have so much in common, and such a connection with, yours truly. And yet they're stigmatised by society and shoved into a quiet corner. Why?

I'm no longer lonely because of these people. So this is sort of a tribute to Andy and Paul then. Thanks guys; you won't read this, probably, but my life's made a dramatic turn around because of you guys.

Got room in your club for an anti-social, eco-terrorist, pistol-packing poet who hasn't spend a day sober in 15 years? Cuz my mom needs some friends...

harmless_little_f***

Steve Dunne wrote:

HA! You know me and my 'SNAP OUT OF IT' mentality! I love delusions of grandeur! Make her buy many pints!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Paul's anything to go by, getting her to buy many pints won't be a problem. Getting her to give some of them to me... might be.

harmless_little_f***

eyedclaar wrote:

Got room in your club for an anti-social, eco-terrorist, pistol-packing poet who hasn't spend a day sober in 15 years? Cuz my mom needs some friends...

She probably already goes. I'll probably meet her next Monday or Tuesday night at the next Mind social night.

eyedclaar

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

She probably already goes. I'll probably meet her next Monday or Tuesday night at the next Mind social night.

Sweet, and since you are so accomodating, maybe I'll swing by as well. Be warned, I am much, much worse...

MattCameronKicksButt

Good work, Mark! Although I'm not surprised you made friends so quickly. And well done for not judging. I'd be a bit freaked out if a stranger came to my table and just started talking to me about their life.

harmless_little_f***

eyedclaar wrote:

Sweet, and since you are so accomodating, maybe I'll swing by as well. Be warned, I am much, much worse...

I know. They already have a file on you. They wouldn't tell me much (patient confidentiality); all they said was 'You gotta watch out for that one.'

harmless_little_f***

MattCameronKicksButt wrote:

Good work, Mark! Although I'm not surprised you made friends so quickly. And well done for not judging. I'd be a bit freaked out if a stranger came to my table and just started talking to me about their life.

Tbh I welcome it. People are normally so fucking private. I hate it when people build walls.

I'll probably end up dead in a gutter for it but at least I had fun while I was here. (That was supposed to be a joke but it's made me just a little bit depressed.)