I lost my husband of almost 40 years to suicide two years ago. My closest and best friend still has not come to see me, write me a note, make a phone call - absolutely nothing. It is like like another death. Friends for 55 years and it is inconceivable. I haven't been hugged for two years except for my son, and one friend. I know who my friends are.

I've had two very hard periods in my life. In both those instances, the speed with which my "friends" suddenly stopped returning my calls was stunning and heartbreaking. I've always prided myself on not being such a person. I do my best to be there when my friends are having a hard go of it. Now, many people who I once considered close friends are now nothing but distant acquaintances.

You always realize who. Your real friends are when you go through tough times. The real friends are still there. Real friends will tell you if you have a booger visible, food hanging on your face or normal things that we all face. Hardship is the best way to discover who your friends are.

Don't drift away," said Mark Webb. That's the theme of his TEDx speech. But for me, someone in a similar situation, 24 yeesrs in wheelchair now, it's solitude that has been keeping me alive lately. It nourishes my soul and rejuvenates my mind. I don't seem to care about people drifting away from me anymore. Life is beautiful and I am enjoying every moment of it.

Thank you for this talk. I had a lot of people vanish with a cancer diagnosis and also when my mental health deteriorated after losing 3 people I really cared about and my job. My partner left me when all this happened and it was an emotionally abusive relationship. If you see someone who’s going through it, show up. It can change someone’s life. Going through these challenges alone is extremely painful. We need each other. Thank you again for talking about such an important topic.

Thank you for this. I’ve been ill for over 10’years. Every single friend has left me. I have no one but family and they don’t understand. The fatigue and illness is horrible but my heart hurts. I’ve lost my health, working and my friends and I grieve everyday for the person I was and the friends I’ve lost. I’m only here for my children and if I didn’t have them I’d quite happily take a few pills.

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” - .

Thank you for saying the uncomfortable truths ! I have been shocked by those whom have said they care about me and my husband - that since things started falling apart for each of us and we each developed more serious PTSD and health / general challenges - those whom I never thought would have disappeared … and blame me for it .

"no body knows you when you are down and out" - a lot of Blues songs

12:15 as someone who experienced a lot of loss and grief, I’ve learned that some people just can’t handle being there for someone going through something hard. Like he said, they aren’t bad people, just can’t handle it. I’ve learned to accept that and love them still even though they are no longer in my life.

Yay! My talk was in the top ten most viewed TEDx talks released in April. Out of 1700+ talks!

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments so far!

Increasing the quality of our relationships in life is one of the major deciding factors of satisfaction within our lives. Bravo to this speaker and his transparency, it might help us win a Nobel Peace Prize yet.

I've lost the job I loved. Those who loved me left me. I'm wondering if they've ever been my friends. Possible. But none of them wanted the "broken" one. I'm thinking, what has changed, they didn’t NEED me anymore. I would have to ask them. I was helpful until I couldn't be helpful anymore, and that's why all the friendship collapsed.

The calmness in his voice is very soothing

Thanks for the talk. 35 years of chronic fatigue. You're doing brilliant work. Keep up the great work. ❤️ 🫶

Yes its very true that your friends can all disappear. I was diagnosed in 91, had my house repossessed in 92. All my friends were nowhere to be seen at this time, or again. Thankfully in 93 I met, for me, the most wonderful man in the world, who helps me with my daily battles with MS.

Brilliant- I think the phrase “uncomfortable with the uncomfortable” is just so true. Great talk 😍

This channel helps me a lot to improve my English. Thank you so much

I really needed to hear this today thank you Mark. Please keep raising our profile ❤

Hi mark, wonderful words and so true in every way. I could really relate to everything you were saying. It’s true you realise who people really are in times of need. I have been so surprised the people I thought would help are totally absent and people who I Hardly knew have been amazing. Your video will help so many people thank you. Wonderful company that you work for they did exactly the right thing 👍🙏

Thank you 😊. I promise to be more empathetic towards others.

Salute to Mr. Mark Webb❤

definition of a beautiful, Man and Human…love ya, Mark

Thank you so much! You have opened my eyes!

Love this Mark! Thank you for sharing your story ❤

Loved this Mark! I really enjoyed the hair, the suit and the message. The silver lining - if people do drift - it's just making some space for better people, or more time for those that matter. MS sure does teach you humility in a pretty savage way (MS also teaches you an extraordinary amount about the nervous system, brain and adjectives to describe pins and needles). LB x

If you are a guy, it's "nobody cares, work harder." We cant show emotions, and no one is coming to save us.

Fantastic as always - so open, and honest 🎉

I have to say....I wanted the guy to come to the point much quicker or basically to give less backstory and more on how his dynamics with his friends & colleagues changed.... Life dealt him a very harsh blow and that's putting it unbelievably mildly. And maybe he still has a lot of ongoing inner turmoil - but he's able to put up a remarkably resolute exterior. He also has a pretty soothing manner while speaking. He is definitely an inspirational guy! But for me esp who can really relate HARD with the subject of this TED talk, I feel the way to talk on this issue is to address it right off the bat and then expound on it thereafter - not spend half the time discussing your medical history which, while being crushing to listen to, is not germane to the topic at hand....

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Mark for a compelling, engaging and powerful message!

Thank you for sharing this, thank you for helping others thrive

Thanks Mark. I needed that❤

Mark, I follow you on LinkedIn and this is the first Ted Talk of yours I have watched. It made me cry, simply because you said it very eloquently we are no different, don't feel awkward around us just be our friend.

Amazing story mark

Thank u , it was usefull story to human . Now I opened another side of disability people ...

Woow!! Thank you Mark

Really important message, top man.

Beautiful story ❤

Thank you for this important message.I am definitely going to reach to some of my Former. colleagues.

Thanks🎉

Sad but true 😢 also for Parkinsonians

Amazing 🙏

This was beautiful ❤

True and honourable friends do not drift away willingly at least , if nothing else their memory endures ... :>P

About 35 years ago, I gave birth to premature twins who died the next day. Each year, around the time of their birth in September, people seem to be walking on eggshells near me. They know what day it is. I certainly do. However, no one mentions them. It’s is as if they never existed.

Bro I have a request please please please please please please put audio track in your videos I and many of us not able to understand what they are saying

My first thought is that red shaggy circular throw rug he's expected to be on isn't very wheelchair friendly, is it?

❤❤

Humans love only their hard times

People are selfish. Many would rather continue protecting their own peace than risk having their illusions of happiness challenged

Woohoo, 32,000 views. Please please like, comment and share. I am having some lovely feedback re conversations finally happening. Messages being sent. Phones being picked up...

Reason why people suffering from this kind of things is the myth of friendship, love and, finally, life. Everyone should be ready to lost everything every second and should know that nobody cares (never cares). Truth is the only cure.

Increasingly; I've been surprised - if not stunned, and perhaps disillusioned at times by the words and deeds of others. And I am Anything but perfect myself. Lol 😆🤣😂😅😆😅😂😂😂. I have increasingly leaned on Art and Music in good times and in bad. This can be found in just about any facet and detail of life, including those (people) we rub elbows with on a day to day basis. Not sure about anyone else - but I Look to .. Celebrate and Emphasize those stories in life that are (full of) Empathy, Detail, and/or Intellegence. What is Intellegence, one may ask ?. (I'd say) it's Hugging and Kissing like you mean it.

Because life happens.

انَا اختكمَ مَن اليمَن وّالَلَه ماتكلمتَ الَا من جوّع وًّمَنَ ضَيَقَ الَحَالَ انَا وًّامَيَ وًّاخَوًّتَيَ تَشَرَدَنَا مَنَ بَيَوًّتَنَا بَسَبَبَ الَحَرَبَ نَحَنَ فَيَ حَالَهَ لَايَعَلَمَ بَهَا الَا الَلَهَ حَسَبَنَا الَلَهَ وًّنَعَمَ الَوكيَلَ فَيَ مَنَ اوًّصَلَنَا الَى هَاذا الَحَالَ 💔💔وًّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ مَا كتَبَتَ هَذا الَمَنَاشَدَهَ غَيَرَ مَنَ الَضَيَقَ وّالَفَقَر يَاعَالَمَ حَسَوّا فَيَنَا ارَجَوّكمَ وّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ رَبَ الَعَرَشَ الَعَظَيَمَ انَه الَاكلَ مَا فَيَ عَنَدَيَ بَالَبَيَتَ وًّالَلَهَ يَا اخَوّانَيَ انَهَ اخَوًّنَيَ بَقَعَدَوًّ بَالَيَوًّمَيَنَ مَافَى اكلَ وًّالَلَهَ وًّضَعَنَا كثَيَرَ صَعَبَ نَحَنَ 6 نَفَرَ دَاخَلَ الَبَيَتَ وًّابَيَ مَتَوًّفَيَ وًّلَا يَوًّجَدَ مَنَ يَعَوًّلَ عَلَيَنَا وًّسَاكنَيَنَ فَيَ بَيَتَ اجَارَ لَانَسَتَطَيَعَ دَفَعَ الَاجَارَ الَلَيَ بَاقَيَ عَلَيَنَا ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' اخي اول كلامي انا اقسم بالله على كتاب الله اني لااكذب عليك ولا انصب ولا احتال اني بنت يمنيه نازحين من الحرب انا واسرتي بيننا ایت الشهرب 14 الف يمني والان علينا 42 الف حق 3 شهور وصاحب البيت من الناس الي ماترحم والله يا اخي انه يجي كل يوم يبهدلنا ويتكلم علينا ويريد من البيت للشارع لانناماقدرنا ندفعله الأجار شافونا الجيران نبكي ورجعو تكلمو الجيران ومهلنالاخره الأسبوع معادفعنا له حلف يمين بالله هذا بيخرجنا إلى الشارع رحمه واحنا. بلادنا بسبب هذا الحرب ولانجد قوت يومنا وعايشين اناوامي واخوتي سفار والدنا متوفي الله يرحمه ومامعنا أحد في هذا الدنيا جاانبنا في هذه الظروف القاسيه اخوتي الصغار خرجو للشارع وشافو الجيران ياكلو واوقفو عند بابهم لجل يعطوهم ولو كسره خبز والله الذي له ملك السموات والارض انهم غلفو الباب وطردوهم ورجعو یبکو ایموتو من الجوع ما احد رحمهم وعطلة ردها لقمت عیش والان لوما احدنا ساعدنا في إيكيلو دقيق اقسم بالله انموت من الجوع فيا اخي انا دخيله على الله ثم عليك واريد منك المساعده لوجه الله انشدك بالله تحب الخير واتساعدني ولو ب 500 ريال يمني مع تراسلي واتساب على هذا الرقم 00967714275774 وتطلب اسم بطاقتي وترسلي ولاتتاخر وايعوضك الله بكل خير اخواني سغار شوف كيف حالتهم وساعدنا وأنقذنا قبل أن يطردونا في الشارع تتبهدل أو نموت من الجوع وانا واسرتي نسالك بالله لولك مقدره على مساعد لاتتاخر علينا وجزاك الله خيرا،.،.،:^:؛^:🎉°~°~^~°^π√^π√~π~√~√~π^~^~

انَا اختكمَ مَن اليمَن وّالَلَه ماتكلمتَ الَا من جوّع وًّمَنَ ضَيَقَ الَحَالَ انَا وًّامَيَ وًّاخَوًّاّتَيَ تَشَرَدَنَا مَنَ بَيَوًّتَنَا بَسَبَبَ الَحَرَبَ نَحَنَ فَيَ حَالَهَ لَايَعَلَمَ بَهَا الَا الَلَهَ حَسَبَنَا الَلَهَ وًّنَعَمَ الَوكيَلَ فَيَ مَنَ اوًّصَلَنَا الَى هَاذا الَحَالَ 💔💔وًّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ مَا كتَبَتَ هَذا الَمَنَاشَدَهَ غَيَرَ مَنَ الَضَيَقَ وّالَفَقَر يَاعَالَمَ حَسَوّا فَيَنَا ارَجَوّكمَ وّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ رَبَ الَعَرَشَ الَعَظَيَمَ انَه الَاكلَ مَا فَيَ عَنَدَيَ بَالَبَيَتَ وًّالَلَهَ يَا اخَوّانَيَ انَهَ اخَوًّنَيَ بَقَعَدَوًّ بَالَيَوًّمَيَنَ مَافَى اكلَ وًّالَلَهَ وًّضَعَنَا كثَيَرَ صَعَبَ نَحَنَ 4 نَفَرَ دَاخَلَ الَبَيَتَ وًّابَيَ مَتَوًّفَيَ وًّلَا يَوًّجَدَ مَنَ يَعَوًّلَ عَلَيَنَا وًّسَاكنَيَنَ فَيَ بَيَتَ اجَارَ لَانَسَتَطَيَعَ دَفَعَ الَاجَارَ الَلَيَ بَاقَيَ عَلَيَنَا ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' اخي اول كلامي انا اقسم بالله على كتاب الله اني لااكذب عليك ولا انصب ولا احتال اني بنت يمنيه نازحين من الحرب انا واسرتي بيننا ایجار الشهرب 20 الف يمني والان علينا 60 الف حق 3 شهور وصاحب البيت من الناس الي ماترحم والله يا اخي انه يجي كل يوم يبهدلنا ويتكلم علينا ويريد من البيت للشارع لانناماقدرنا ندفعله الأجار شافونا الجيران نبكي ورجعو تكلمو الجيران ومهلنالاخره الأسبوع معادفعنا له حلف يمين بالله هذا بيخرجنا إلى الشارع بدون رحمه اني اختكم في الله من اليمن رقمي 0̳0̳9̳6̳7̳7̳1̳6̳6̳4̳9̳4̳9̳4̳ وتساب لمن اراد يساعدنا واحنا. بلادنا بسبب هذا الحرب ولانجد قوت يومنا وعايشين اناوامي واخواتي سفار والدنا متوفي الله يرحمه ومامعنا أحد في هذا الدنيا جاانبنا في هذه الظروف القاسيه اخواتي الصغار خرجو للشارع وشافو الجيران ياكلو واوقفو عند بابهم لجل يعطوهم ولو كسره خبز والله الذي له ملك السموات والارض انهم غلفو الباب وطردوهم ورجعو یبکو ایموتو من الجوع ما احد رحمهم وعطلة ردها لقمت عیش والان لوما احدنا ساعدنا في إيكيلو دقيق اقسم بالله انموت من الجوع فيا اخي انا دخيله على الله ثم عليك واريد منك المساعده لوجه الله انشدك بالله تحب الخير واتساعدني ولو ب ||| ماتستطيع مع تراسلي واتساب على هذا الرقم 00967716649494 وتطلب اسم بطاقتي وترسلي ولاتتاخر وايعوضك الله بكل خير اخواتي سغار شوف كيف حالتهم وساعدنا وأنقذنا قبل أن يطردونا في الشارع تتبهدل أو نموت من الجوع وانا واسرتي نسالك بالله لولك مقدره على مساعد لاتتاخر علينا وجزاك الله خيـرا🤲🏻ا`/~«:☽💔💔💔Ππ≋Π-↑/🎉