Something I am learning more and more every day -- things, "good and bad" are transient -- everything passes --

Moreover, to mark something "good" or "bad" that is too definitive -- what might appear as a bad thing, actually turns out to be a good thing -- (Sufi story -- man loses his horse -- won't say that it's bad, then a stranger returns the horse, won't say that it's good etc etc -- the story line, in other words, continues)

And in my opinion the forum is doing fine.  There might be "stuff" behind the scenes that I know not of -- but on the face of the threads -- things are "good" <grin>

Christine B.

Cortex Vortex, I'm not sure what you're talking about...at all.   I don't recall seeing anything of what you just mentioned in your posts, unless I missed something.   Also, I wasn't "jumping all over" Christine B....I was jumping all over the invisible "forces that be" that would have somebody believe they're arrogant for even so much as acknowledging an attribute.  It wasn't about ChristineB....it was about anybody who would walk on eggshells in life because certain elements in our society have ingrained us to not acknowledge our positive traits and attributes.

At any rate, I'll sign off here, very confused.   I'm not sure why the sudden target / spotlight on me, I don't know where it came from, I'm at a loss for what's going on here with your post.   I've been going back and forth and back and forth for months now about leaving NR, and every time I do, something draws me back in.  I think I'll take your post as the sign that it really is time to make a break.   Your post makes no sense to me, it's a mish mash of "compliments" mixed with insults.

In a moment's passion I negated all the traits I claim to espouse in my previous posts.

I realized how easy it is to do a flip, and I know it left some scratching their heads as to why.

I'll be quite frank with you lyra.

I became a member of NR because I felt it was balanced.
Everyone is equal.
I quickly came to see a bit of an imbalance, intentional or otherwise.

You seem to have some lust for the limelight, lyra, and at the time I (regrettably) took a shit
on this thread because you had, seemingly, jumped down Christine B.'s throat for her deletion of a post.

I know it was not meant that way.

I was feeling positive about affecting some real change in a few people's real lives.

Whenever you start a thread, or contribute lyra, people listen.
Myself included.

That's what angered me.
Not this thread, or you, but purely the timing of it.

Like it was just postured to steal attention away from someone else's thread- namely mine.

I have very little capacity for competiteveness, that's just my nature, but I have to be honest with myself here.

That little bit I'm reluctant to acknowlege reared its ugly head.

Could it be..............arrogance?
Yeah maybe.

I am sorry lyra.
I f*cked up.
Had a choice to not hit submit, did it anyway.

An undeserved about face on my part.

I will also toot my own horn...

4 years ago I had no typing skills.
Y'know..... peck, peck............peck.

For a bluecollar grunt like myself, knowing I can hold my own (expressive) with some of the best damn wordsmiths on the forum (and Web) is  somewhat exhilarating.

I am not a creative writer by definition, but expressive, which is creative from the point of origin.

I think I am done here, I just did not want to leave in such a vile manner.

                      Thanks, Jason

Lyra et al :Once tooted my own horn to a student, then, ( raised female, thus trained to be humble) said "Oh, sorry...that sounds so arrogant."

His reply (after a thoughtful moment)..."...ummmm...I think it's not bragging if you can do it".  A definition that I have lived with Happily Ever After...

Well see, there you go...and it's true.   We've gotten to a point where we're so afraid of the fact that others feel inadequate about themselves that we feel that we can't even acknowledge stuff that we're able to do, and do well, without it sounding arrogant.  But if it's something we can do, and we're good at, then there's nothing wrong with it coming up in a conversation.  We all have our talents.   I have mine, you have yours, the person over there has theirs, and so on.     Nothing wrong with that!

I think the trick is for people to stop feeling inadequate about themselves, then they'd be less inclined to "bristle" when someone mentions anything good about themselves.   Tenetnosce mentioned the attitude about money, the way people tense up and get frowny as soon as someone even so much as mentions their personal financial success.  It's the same mindset.  Change the way we feel about ourselves, then the way we react and respond to others will in turn change. 

artichoke wrote:

morningsun76 wrote:

On the subject of adopting admirable qualities in others:  I finally got around to doing something which I've wanted to do for awhile, but for some reason never did until now.     I collected pictures from the internet of all my favorite people: the ones I find most inspiring in my life for a variety of different reasons.

I don't want to do this.

Well nobody said you had to.  morningsun76 was sharing with everybody something that he liked to do.  It wasn't directed at you personally.

Likewise, my comment was also not directed specifically at you.  And in this case (as if you didn't know it) the context would be enhanced by quoting more of what I wrote.

But I've tooted my own horn here...

TOOT TOOT TOOT TOOT TOOT, TOOT TOOT!

His reply (after a thoughtful moment)..."...ummmm...I think it's not bragging if you can do it".  A definition that I have lived with Happily Ever After...

morningsun76 wrote:

On the subject of adopting admirable qualities in others:  I finally got around to doing something which I've wanted to do for awhile, but for some reason never did until now.     I collected pictures from the internet of all my favorite people: the ones I find most inspiring in my life for a variety of different reasons.

I don't want to do this.

Well nobody said you had to.  morningsun76 was sharing with everybody something that he liked to do.  It wasn't directed at you personally.

On the subject of adopting admirable qualities in others:  I finally got around to doing something which I've wanted to do for awhile, but for some reason never did until now.     I collected pictures from the internet of all my favorite people: the ones I find most inspiring in my life for a variety of different reasons.

I don't want to do this.  I recall I was in a session taught by a Qigong master, and one of the exercises was to imagine famous people of history and to do something that seemed like substituting their spirits for my own.  It felt wrong and I didn't do it.  My own view on this is that they are not God any more than anyone else is, so if I'm going to worship anyone it should be God not another flawed human.  The OT warns against worshipping graven images.

It would do the reverse for me.  Just my own view that I feel rather strongly about.

David

Many Native American peoples practiced ancestor remembrance, believing that by preserving the memory of those who had gone before,  they also kept alive the very spirits of those people.  So I've done what I describe above with that same feeling and purpose in mind.   And, in my act, I've included pictures of people both living and dead, since that particular distinction is of no importance when it comes to reminding me of the qualities in others towards which I want to strive in my own life.

I too have been thinking about this in the past week or so, adding to the coincidence.

Interesting!   

Not sure if covet would be the word for it...but admire, yes, definitely!    In thinking back on the people that I liked the best, those people who made an impact on me, the people I can't forget, no matter how many years go by, I naturally have to reflect on what it was about them that made their personalities so memorable, what it was about them that struck a positive chord within me.   Which naturally led to the idea of adapting those traits as my own.  Becoming what I admired in them.

A good example would be the boss I had back in 2001, in California.  She was from Australia, and was by far THE coolest boss I've ever had...but was also a neat person in general.   What I really liked and admired about her were her constant upbeat, smiling happy positive personality;  the way that she even admitted that she couldn't hold a grudge or hold onto any anger.   She would get mad, say how she felt (namely to her boyfriend...) then be over it and move on;  and most importantly.........the way that she didn't impose her own negative ideas onto other people.  !!!

If someone (like me for instance!) had an idea that sounded far fetched or totally nutty, she'd listen with interest, her face would light up, she'd grin, and have a "Wow!  Cool!" mindset.....then wish you the best and sincerely hope that everything worked out for you!  She'd get excited for you!  She wouldn't frown like most people, saying crap like, "Why do you want to do something like THAT?"  or scrunch up her face, making sour puss faces, expressing her personal doubt and displeasure and skepticism.

In short:

There was no judgement.  Only sincere excitement and encouragement.  Like, Cool!  Go for it! 

And I like that!   Especially being that I was that person with the crazy sounding ideas.  "Oh yeah, I'm thinking I'm just gonna like, drive across the country and go to Florida next!  I've never been there!  But the beaches look awesome!   This should be fun!"

When I told her that, she got so excited for me at the prospect.  She was the one in fact who put the idea in my head about "You could serve cocktails on the beach!"  While nearly EVERY other person who heard of my plan was making faces, getting all sourpuss on me, trying to trash Florida and discourage me from going. 

So, I've (tried) to adopt her mindset for myself.   It's a great way to be.   Let's hear it for Australians!!!  The best people on the planet!    (I actually do think that, btw....have yet to meet an Australian that wasn't the most awesome person I've ever come across....)

I think if we were all raised in Australia, we'd all be better people!    haha

I see the challenge with referring to myself as excrement.  But at least it's quality excrement.

Oh and Happy New Year!

We interrupt this program to make the following important announcement. . .

I am the shit!!

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming. . .