Replies to 'Defining Your Authentic Self'

Now, there's some advice I could really use - I only have one friend who I need to voice my opinion with, but as I'm 13 years younger than her, she yells over the top of me or shouts at me "Listen to me.......". & goes on to tell me that I should get involved in everybody elses problems. I stick to myself for much of the time & have enough problems of my own without anybody elses'. This friend really needs to quit obsessing about the sexual abuse her children have suffered at the hands of her last 2 husbands & let them get on with their lives. Every day she reminds the kids of what happened to them & they aren't allowed to heal. & it's been this way for 5 YEARS!!! I don't want it to seem like I"m abandoning this friend, but I feel as though I just can't help her & she's really dragging me down & then I get affected by the situation. But for me, I really think I'm going to have to disentangle from the situation & get on with my own life, but feel I'm being horribly selfish as she doesn't have many friends. But, the situation is kind of of her own making, afterall, she did invite these questionable characters into her home. After I had children & my ex left I was so wary of men, & have only had one 'boyfriend' in 7 years (we split up after I got pregnant as he was told he couldn't have children & he doesn't believe the beautiful little baby is his). Oh well, it's allowed me to find out just how strong I really am & I'm determined to get along with my life without the ball & chain of the older kids dad. I'm going to do a writing course which is probably more productive than sitting on the internet all day & half the night, although this is good 'therapy'. Hope all goes well for you. Meg