Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Rules For the rest of the Site also accessible on the sidebar.
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I feel empty today
I hope this helps someone others the way it helped me put my finger on what i'm feeling. I wanted to relapse and numb the pain but I know Charlie wouldn't want that for me.
survivor’s guilt:
It’s the brain’s attempt to make sense of the senseless.
We look for a reason, even if it means blaming ourselves (“Why me?” “I don’t deserve this”).
It often shows up with symptoms of grief: tight chest, nausea, racing thoughts, or a sense of being out of place in the world.
Over time, healing comes by shifting from guilt for being alive to purpose because you are alive. Many who experience this find comfort in honoring the one they lost through how they live.
From faith:
God numbers our days. Psalm 139:16 says: “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” That means Charlie’s journey and yours are different by divine design, not by mistake.
In Scripture, when others die, the living are often called to carry the torch. Think of Elisha picking up Elijah’s mantle. You being alive is not an accident—it’s a calling.
Grief can feel like a test of faith, but it can also deepen your reliance on God’s sovereignty. Where our logic says “this is unfair,” God whispers “this is not the end—there’s more beyond what you see.”
A gentle reframe:
Instead of asking “Why am I alive when he’s gone?”—try “Since I am alive, how can I live in a way that honors what God entrusted to me—and what Charlie inspired in me?”.
Well said, Fren. Indeed, you are not alone and Charlie's flame lit many others. Soon the world will be alight with the holy fire he exemplified.
Amen. 🙏