FallingLeaves, thank you =) for sharing. truth is we all have our defects that is why we are here, to learn and to learn something to someone else, and push ourselves to go forward. Like you I have too always had a fear (but more so a fear of my gift meaning I would be crazy even if I am not) of becoming crazy and so being in a mental institute. I thik in the old days one feared it even more. There were people there not even "crazy" by those days terms. They could be a wife the husband wanted to get rid of (the men had such power then), could be someone not speaking the language or someone having a disease they did not understand or a birth defect.

I personally prefer to be alone than to be with someone and feel alone with that someone, been there, done that.

Thank you for being so kind to me.

Yes one would not want to treat someone else as if they are second best, see you have feelings of guilt and empathy - meaning you are a good person!