Interesting post Love,
I was just talking about something similar yeterday with a new friend, introduced by an older friend.
His first reaction when my illness came up was one of sadness, he apolgized like it was his fault and nearly reached out and touched my knee, a truly sympathetic gesture, one I rarely see when talking with anyone about my crohns. More a compliment to him I suppose, nice guy.
But, I told him, nah, no worries friend, believe it or not, I became stonger, the first few years sucked, but once I got past things, learned I wasn't so easy to kill, ha Crohns! Take that!
I told him my Capt. Kirk story, the Kobayashi Maru. There are no, "No win Scnarios"
The problem with everyone in the world, or perhaps I should say the kind of people you are referring to and we have all met, is that they have never walked in anyone elses shoes but their own.
We, crohns sufferers, all have the same deal I believe, we, or at least I, don't have time nor do I care about trivial things anymore, little details that used to bother me before, traffic, people complaining about the tiniest of things, weather, money, whatever.
Everyones situtation is specific to them and without having any experiences past those it is almost impossible to understand what others go through.
I always wished for a power that would allow me to touch someone for just a second or to and allow them to feel what I feel inside, all the emotions, the physical pain, etc.
That may sound evil, but I just know, if people could somehow empathise more with others, listen more then talk, ask questions more then make statements, then we would all be better off. Someday :)
For example, I thank God every night that I don't live anywhere near the middle east, doesnt matter which contry, those people are suffering vastly, African chilrden dying by the thousands of starvation, these stories go on and on. My guess is the majority of these people would take a Crohns diagnosis if they could have swapped lives and been born somewhere less lethal. This has more to do with my personal oppinion then anything else, I certainly can't speak for anyone else, but my point is, while your roomates seem oblivious to life and your life, it is more then likely due to the fact they they have not been forced to walk in anyone elses "tough" shoes.
You have become stronger, more mature, you had no choice. This illness may suck, however I agree with the maturity thing.
Strange world where being sick makes you the more compassionate or caring person in the room, or the most mature.
Thanks for the post
Jon