Webs,
Contrary to what you may have been told through life, guilt is a useless and destructive emotion.
I'll leave religion aside but to say I was raised in one that felt that guilt was a useful tool to use against people to keep them in line.
I threw off guilt years ago. If you mess something up, forget guilt and move on from it. Leave the past in the past. For today, live for today and try to help others if you have a chance. If others don't want that, their loss, move on from it.
You've helped LOTS of people and I can't imagine a reason to EVER feel guilty for being alive. Does anybody out have the audacity to think that if you died the other person would have lived????
I truly think that every day lived with guilt is a wasted day of life.
That woman that made the comment about 'at least your alive' was probably hurting and not thinking about what she said. If you ever talk to her again and it seems she still has that attitude, then you may want to remind her that she, herself is also alive. Then ask what the heck that has to do with ANYTHING related to her friend being dead.
I understand that many people feel guilt is a good thing for people. I suppose that it is more than likely they want "other people" to feel guilty for some real or imagined wrong.
Man....I really climbed up on my soap box this time didn't I.
Guess what? I don't feel guilty about it all.
Neither should you....ever....for any reason! You are loved and appreciated here and I feel honored to have shared space on this planet with you and in this forum.
Mike