I'm happy to be here!

[quantumpork]

"I'm already famous with those who make my life so rich."  (Dennis James) 1955-

My name is Dennis James, and I have been confused all my life. I have an intelligent wife and friends, plus 4 sons (28, 25, 10 and 5)  that I love very much.

All I know I've learned from others, and I appreciate the contribution every person in my life has made. I enjoy listening and love to talk. I'm a sponge and there is an ocean of knowledge out there to be absorbed.

In all my school years after fourth grade, my teachers would tell my parents, "Dennis is not living up to his full potential." I'll give the teachers a break because in the early 60's they didn't really understand OCD, ADD or dyslexia, so I was destined for academic stagnation. But I was not willing to accept the lazy, 'amount-to-nothing,' label I worked so little to receive.

I was on a journey of discovery that was only being stymied by my schools inability to identify or diagnose my specific medical conditions. What I needed was to learn at 'my' pace not some predetermined curriculum of one-size fits some. I did then and still do have an intense desire to learn everything I can, but these days, I get just as much satisfaction by sharing what I know as I do by obtaining additional knowledge.

A passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something, for me it has been God, photography, cooking and sports (fishing, baseball, snow and water skiing). It was not until after I was divorced, before I begin to see the errors in my passions. Enter Karen my wife; I then aligned my passions with my priorities successfully. Faith, family, friends, fishing and then food. Food, fishing and friends may on occasion change positions depending who's cooking and what is being cooked.

My imagination has most often been described as 'out there.' Somewhere. I have absolutely no reason too, but I am very insecure (middle child syndrome). The other issue I deal with every second is the result of being an adult with ADD and without medication, I'm a mess. For those who know me personally, they know that my brain works at a million miles an hour (thank God for medication).

I also suffer from chronic pain caused twenty years ago when I fractured vertebrae C4, C5 and C6 from a fall while barefoot water skiing at 55 mph. During the accident, I did not sever my spinal column so I was unaware of the fracture. I even skied more the same day and the damage was not discovered until eight years later. The vertebrae healed incorrectly and are severely rotated and filled with arthritic spurs.??The pain is constant but varies daily in its intensity and I have become accustomed to what I term as my "base pain." This base pain is the best that I will ever feel for the rest of my life.
?In any inspirational story no matter what the circumstance, the hero always has a choice of how to handle the issue that confronts them. There is really no difference between the stories that come from disease, injury, loss or any other cause of pain, everyone has their own attitude choices. It is 'my choice' to not let pain have control of my life!

I pray that my words may be an inspiration to someone, I do enjoy yours.

[Aloverssunset]

Hello and welcome to our forum, Dennis. It is nice to meet you here. Thank you for your inspiring words.

Have a wonderful evening.
Sandra

[ELLIE]

[size=12]WELCOME DENNIS-
So glad you could join us here...I look forward to learning more about you and your interests...
I enjoyed reading your intro.....
take care
PEACE [smiley=engel017.gif][/size]

[Linda]

Hello Dennis,  
Welcome to our Forum. You will find our community is full of wonderful, positive, caring people. I'm looking forward to learning more about you and reading some more of your posts..We are glad you joined.      
      
Take Care,      
Linda  

[Creations By Donna]

Hello and Welcome Dennis!
So nice to "meet you"  
I look forward to getting to know you here.
I hope you will share some of your photography with us.
Much success and many blessings to you.

[Hippietoad]

Hello Deniis
So glad to get to know you.

Dawn

[Confederate Starz]

Dennis,
It's always a pleasure to see you and something you are discussing.  I know about the base pain you are talking about.  We choose to let something overtake us, or we choose to not let it.

I have chosen not to let it, and my things I need to accomplish daily take over my sitting and reminding myself I'm in pain.

It definitely sounds to me like you have been blessed with a lovely family, and they are blessed having you as their father and husband.

Dennis, you truly are an inspiration to many.

Have a great day when you arise.
Sher

[MIMI369]

I am so happy that you are here! You are such an inspiration to so many and I am grateful to hear your story. Many times, children who are "labeled" become adults who underestimate their full potential. I am happy that you did not allow that to happen to you!

[quantumpork]

Thank you all so much. Your words are encouraging and inspiring and I am forever thankful.

God bless,
Dennis

[abbynormal92243]

I'm happy that you're here, Dennis

you're so inspiring and uplifting.
you always make me smile.