The realisation of how much of myself I have lost or compromised by devoting myself to the care and happiness of others has hit me between the eyes today, so I have not even began to mentally 'pack' my cases for the journey!!
Did I ever quote you Ghandi's "the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others"?
Subplot there being that if we don't genuinely look after ourselves first'n'foremost then we swiftly become of no genuine use to anyone at all, mind.
First part of genuinely looking after oneself, imho, being this; Never lie to yourself that you are being gentle when you are actualy being weak and never forget that to be truly gentle you must first be truly strong.
Second thing being never run away from difficulties, that is weakness; Just work on being strong and, soon enough, you'll find that difficulties run away from you.
Strong people have nothing to lose, btw; Anyone who runs from them can only fall into one of three categories:
1. Self fixers (you'll know them when they return to say "thanks for all you've done ..")
2. 'Prodigal Sons' who return to the source of strength they need once they learn they are not yet ready to hack it alone.
3. Those who simply want to drown and take someone else down with them. (They'll find some other weak knee'd mug who's life to attach to, and ruin, in the end.)
No fear of bridge jumpers either. That only happens to people who have no source of strength to draw upon at all.
as I know you've had a rough time 
