My name is Doug. I am a 47 year old male. I live with degenerative disc disease, chronic pain, and heart problems. My disabilities are mild compared to some. But I do know first hand how hard it can be to find love and romance. I am able to walk and function in a limited manner. Still I searched many years looking for that special someone. But it was always the same. Either my physical abilities or the fact that I was on a fixed income caused reluctancy on the part of my perspective acquaintances.

One day I was lucky enough to have landed on a link that guided me to “Soulful Encounters”. A friendship and dating website that was just what the doctor ordered. It was specifically designed by the disabled for the disabled and differently abled. It was like a shining city on a hill, full of men and women that were having the same difficulties I was having finding companionship. We are all the same here and know the hardships that one faces in our everyday struggles. Instead of trying to find the needle in the haystack it was more like trying to find a sewing machine in a barn. I believe ones chances are increased immensely.

“Soulful Encounters” is exactly what it says it is. I know this because I have experienced encountering many beautiful souls myself.

One in particular has given me new hope on what was a dismal outlook in the pursuit of a life partner and a best friend. She has touched my soul and makes me smile from the inside, out. Which is the best medicine one could be given. A gift I may have never received if it had not been for the very first soul I encountered here, which is the owner and administrator, Louise. Those are only a couple of titles that describe this lovely lady. There is not enough ink in a pen to depict her vast character. I have heard her referred to as angel, mom, sister, godsend and friend.

Louise is tenacious in her efforts to create a gathering place for the disabled and the medically challenged from across the globe. A place to meet new people, build friendships and best of all, have loving relationships that can actually give some of us whom thought we would never find a soul mate, because of our life setbacks, hope, and a new beginning. A chance to find happiness and wallow in it…

This site reflects all the wonderful qualities that comes from the heart and soul of an amazing woman. Best of all it’s free, which shows the quality of her generosity. Louise gives of her money and time. She has invested her whole heart and then some to make others happy.

The quality of caring is seen in the simplicity of navigating the site. She has made it easy to enjoy the site by providing helpful links to information that can be useful to those in need of just about anything having to do with making life easier to cope with.

Her creativity and keen intellect is seen throughout the site. We get to have personal profile pages that are easy to customize and lets one reveal as much of themselves as they feel comfortable. Members share their own unique qualities and talents here, which makes it fun to just surf the profiles and see what life is like for others. A guest book on every ones profile where those searching can leave a howdy or a nice comment that can seriously change ones mood instantly. Also a place to upload photos and share stories of their own personal lives.

Her loyalty in the untiring efforts she puts into personally interviewing every perspective newcomer to the site in order to protect her members. Her personal conviction in keeping the site safe and fun to be in is unending.

Her loving kindness shows in the blogs of members who truly care about others and professionals that give practical information on a variety of medical issues, spiritual guidance and so much more.

There are forums where we can share ideas, poetry, recipes, prayers. There are tips on dating, medical information and resources. Just another great source of communicating with others.

She has given us a wonderful chat room where many members go to regularly to keep in touch, to share the days events and to laugh and cut up till we lose all track of time. I have personally seen relationships flourish in this little corner of the site.

Louise has earned my respect, my gratitude and I am truly honored to have been so lucky to have crossed paths with such a beautiful soul.

Her honesty, integrity, perseverance, intuition, charisma, her problem solving ability, her accepting nature, and the wonderful gift she has given me is why I love this sweet lady so much.

Louise is Soulful Encounters. From such a wonderful person has come a wonderful site.

Doug L.

“backwords”

Cheaters Demise

My eyes open slowly, the sandman’s presence felt.

A moment in time realized, I awake and the cards are dealt.

Up and at em, the covers cast aside,

A chance to win today, if luck be on my side.

I stretch and walk to strengthen my heart.

An ace in the hole, not a bad start.

The river is wide and presents no shoal,

A verse from the Bible to enrich my soul.

I’m ready now!, the endgame in sight

The sandman’s in route to usher the night.

The flop is a three, can it get any worse?

With luck like this, just call me a hearse.

As hard as it seems to beat this game,

I’ll fight to the end, the chips I lay claim.

Mine they are, I’m the only player,

With God stacking the deck it only takes prayer.

My eyelids grow heavy, my fear of defeat gone,

I dose off to sleep with a stretch and a yawn.

Doug L.

Back In The Day When I Was Wild

I Found Out Your Mother Was With Child

I Did The Right Thing And Married Her Quick

To Find Out Later I Made Her Sick

Before The Day Came When Our Hearts Were Torn

Came A Wonderful Day When You Were Born

A Beautiful Girl With Lots Of Dark Hair

Daddy Called Her His Little Clare Bear

Music She Loved And So She Did Dance

Away She Would Go Carried In Trance

Happy She Was, This I Could See

What A Great Time This Was For Me

A Young Father I was, Totally Unaware

Of What It Takes To Love And To Care

I Had No Father, No Advice To Take

To Raise A Child Without A Mistake

A Few Were Made I’m Sorry To Say

That May Have Led To Your Troubles Today

It’s Up To You To Change The Tradition

Of Living A Life With The Curse Of Addiction

Life Is To Short, As You Grow Older You’ll See

That It’s All About Love And Trust You’ll Agree

So Make A New Start, Like It’s Just Begun

For Your Mom And Me And Sweet Rhegan

If You Wake In The Morning Without A Dream

Things Stay The Same Or So It Would Seem

So Wake In The Mornings With Hope And A Plan

Be A Good Parent Like I Know That You Can

We All Make Mistakes And Hopefully We Learn

That Trust And Respect Is Something You Earn

Make Daddy Proud And Be A Good Girl

And A Happy Life Is What Will Unfurl

The End Of A Sentence?

I carried a prison upon my shoulder.

It only got heavier as I grew older.

My cell is familiar, I know it well.

Like my soul, it’s an empty shell.

The jury decided my guilt was real.

My innocence escaped my final appeal.

A silence bellows, loud in my head.

Will it quiet, when I am dead?

This I fear. I need to know,

Will the torture cease, or will it grow.

To live or die, or is it the same?

I no longer wish to play this game.

My final moments desire proof,

As the priest attempts to tell the truth.

Words like bandages hide the pain.

The wounds don’t heal, they still remain.

I must let go, to see what’s there.

The worst thing is, nobody cares.

Alone I am. Alone I will be.

A lonely walk to my hanging tree.

Doug L.