Dear Shinedown,
I am no one in the grand mix of things, but never the less I am a fan, a fan beyond concerts, a fan beyond, songs, I know your lyrics,beyond that I understand them and connect with them, to whome ever has had there heart broken, prayers for you are prayed, to whom ever has lost there way, I pray the light Shinedown upon you. I wish I could sing a song with you in a bar, i wish I could drink beers with you and pick your brain , for the most part your music is what keeps me sane, through my divorce you first CD set me free, your second CD was there just in time for some support with songs like SHED some Light, and Someday, TWO VERY UNDERATED SONGS , I grew, and my love for your band grew, you guys are awesome and thus, I wish could say I knew you in another life
Later
Crusadingheart

For whatever it means to you, I feel the exact same way. I went through a very rough marriage and divorce and had to try to keep a teenage son on the right track since his Dad was not at home anymore and a very bad influence on him. It has been a very difficult road in regards to that. Having to take a second job, PT, didn't make things easier. I was home less and that gave my son more freedom.
This all began several years ago, before Shinedown came out with the first CD, and I felt so alone. I knew I was not the only person to go through this, but it felt like it. When "Leave a Whisper" came out, I heard the first song on the radio and I bought it the same day. Listening to the lyrics, I felt that if I tried hard enough, I could do right by my son and myself. My son comes first, so I concentrate my time on him. We had many rough spots, because his father is such a huge influence on him and he looks up to him very much, but we are working through it. His father did some things that made my son realize things. (It may sound like I'm male bashing here, but I'm not. If you knew the entire situation, you would understand.)
I have since started a new relationship, which started out good, but there are issues now. I don't like to give up on things and I don't think walking away from someone you love without a fight is the right thing to do. So, we (actually me) are trying to work things out. I don't know how I get myself in these situations, but like Brent's tattoo says, "your pain is a gift". I try to remember that. I also try to figure out why it's a gift, but when you really think about it, you learn from things in your life, good or bad. Unfortunatly, you usually learn more from the bad things.
I listen to my Shinedown CD's everyday. For the past several months, that's all I've listened to. I feel better when I hear Brent singing about things he or one of the guys have gone through, I believe I heard in an interview that he also uses fan experiences to write songs, and have learned from their experience or become a better person from it.
Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long. Thanks for listening.
I'm glad Shinedown has touched your life and made it better. Goodluck.

For what its is worth, I feel you , more than you know.

i am right with you, shinedowns first cd, guided me out of a haze of confusion and pressure and into a light of cententment, the music and the lyrics are truly a gift, they dont hide anything they lay out the true pain and suffering of life and give strength to fight through it, and as i grow as a person and a musician i notice and people notice that shinedowns attitude has become a part of me, and a light that i will shine on those who are lost just like i once was for the rest of my life