HumanKind.. Be Both

[done_got_old]

Praying for you too. Hugs!

Thank you!

One of my former students asked for prayers. I told her that I pray for her every single day. Someone asked me how I knew she needed prayers. "I pray for all my students and all the kids I came in contact with. I pray that God protect them from anything not sent by him."

 

[Mrtenant]

It reminds me of one of my favorite songs.......
.........

Like the shadows on the snow
Like the light this time of year
Like the birds that never go
Like the words that bring the tear
Like the coming of the dawn
Or the running of the dear
Like love's old sweet song
Like the words that bring the tear

Thank you my friend. Very kind of you.

 

[Devlishone4fun]

Thank you!

One of my former students asked for prayers. I told her that I pray for her every single day. Someone asked me how I knew she needed prayers. "I pray for all my students and all the kids I came in contact with. I pray that God protect them from anything not sent by him."

I know the other day I was praying and I prayed for anybody just needing a prayer.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

Do you think people extend kindness to those who seem more vulnerable.. or do you think our vulnerability puts us in a place where we're more open to receive kindness?

I read the other day that middle aged women are invisible. They do not get the attention of the young or the old. They plod on through day to day living. They neither need nor receive much from others.
But I remember living a task oriented life and I don't know if I took the time to put myself out there. I was busy.. too busy. Someone could have handed me a million dollars and I'd see the stress of how I was possibly going to manage it.

I'm brought peace by your stories of people who support you during, what must be, difficult challenges. I love that it can move in so many directions so that we can enjoy being on both the giving and receiving ends. It's settling.. grounding.. and it brings me a quiet joy to be present in this very moment.
Thank you.

 

[meop79]

I believe most people do not. I believe they extend kindness to people whom they perceive as being valuable. If someone perceives you as being important, they will be kinder to you.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

good morning

 

[meop79]

 

[GiggLeGasm]

thank you, meop

 

[PeteHulbert37]

So, I was watching Cinderella with my daughter the other day and there is a profound lesson in one line, "Have courage and be kind." Have courage to step up and help others when we see the need and always show kindness to others.

 

[meop79]

thank you, meop

Anytime....

 

[BlackCashmere]

So, I was watching Cinderella with my daughter the other day and there is a profound lesson in one line, "Have courage and be kind." Have courage to step up and help others when we see the need and always show kindness to others.

Love this...

 

[meop79]

 

[iamincognito45]

When we look the other way indeed... Beautiful words from an amazing man...

 

[meop79]

 

[GiggLeGasm]

It's time for a little time

It's been a handful of months since I decided to consciously respond with kindness.. and it's not that I was unkind before.. but I think that there is a difference when you respond with clear intention.

It can be difficult when you're tired.. and you've worked so hard that you want your legs to fall off at the knees.. and you've tried to live on bagged salad and ice cream..

and you can't pour yourself a glass of wine because it would take too much work to actually get the cork out of the bottle.. and why the hell didn't you break down and get the screw top.. how bad could it be

(Just pretend I didn't say that)

I met a lady yesterday. Her dad was admitted to our hospital for a little cardiac problem. In the few minutes we spoke, she shared that she had come up from Dallas because she'd learned that her dad was homeless. In ten days, she set him up with a spend down account, found him a doctor, secured a group home, enrolled him in available services..
and I'm worried about the cork in my wine bottle?
the most rewarding thing she said was.. "I was so nervous about leaving him but I think I'm ok to go." And (after a few hugs and some girl talk) she left for the airport.

and I guess it's a good lesson that we don't need to be everything.. we don't need to fix everything.. we don't need to drain ourselves completely in the process of supporting other people. this lady was perfect at loving her dad. She didn't take over. She helped him get some things together and then she was able to say, "I love you.. I'll see you later." (she also told me to pop him in the head if he gets out of line.. but I'm pretty sure that's illegal)

Have a good day

 

[BlueEyedGent]

It's been a handful of months since I decided to consciously respond with kindness.. and it's not that I was unkind before.. but I think that there is a difference when you respond with clear intention.

It can be difficult when you're tired.. and you've worked so hard that you want your legs to fall off at the knees.. and you've tried to live on bagged salad and ice cream..

and you can't pour yourself a glass of wine because it would take too much work to actually get the cork out of the bottle.. and why the hell didn't you break down and get the screw top.. how bad could it be

(Just pretend I didn't say that)

I met a lady yesterday. Her dad was admitted to our hospital for a little cardiac problem. In the few minutes we spoke, she shared that she had come up from Dallas because she'd learned that her dad was homeless. In ten days, she set him up with a spend down account, found him a doctor, secured a group home, enrolled him in available services..
and I'm worried about the cork in my wine bottle?
the most rewarding thing she said was.. "I was so nervous about leaving him but I think I'm ok to go." And (after a few hugs and some girl talk) she left for the airport.

and I guess it's a good lesson that we don't need to be everything.. we don't need to fix everything.. we don't need to drain ourselves completely in the process of supporting other people. this lady was perfect at loving her dad. She didn't take over. She helped him get some things together and then she was able to say, "I love you.. I'll see you later." (she also told me to pop him in the head if he gets out of line.. but I'm pretty sure that's illegal)

Have a good day

How can anyone not start their day off on a good note after reading your post? You are so right, and yet, I am so guilty of wanting to do it all...because I think that if I don't, then I am not caring enough or loving the way I should...yet, what I am actually doing is hurting myself...and the commonly used saying , "put your lifejacket on first before you can even begin to save anyone else" is correct...I know this...but do I actually do it? Um no...but I will try, even tho it can be so damned difficult to do...and I do know of a loving yet very assertive nurse who will KICK MY ASS if I don't.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

...but I will try, even tho it can be so damned difficult to do...and I do know of a loving yet very assertive nurse who will KICK MY ASS if I don't.

hahaha.. just get your shit together and don't make me hurt you

 

[BlueEyedGent]

hahaha.. just get your shit together and don't make me hurt you

neener !neener! neener!

 

[GiggLeGasm]

::staring blankly at a dancing banana and shaking my head::

 

[beachbaby179]

This thread was buried on page 11. It was a shame.

A group of teens in my beach neighborhood took it upon themselves to urge our summer residents to do an end of season pantry clean out and donate the contents to a food bank. They're doing the heavy lifting. Picking it up from you, delivering to the food bank. Made me smile.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

This week marks an anniversary for a friend of mine who lost her son to a brain tumor.. It was about 3 weeks after the birth of his child. Every now and then (but particularly now) I think about how difficult it must be to carry such a burden in your heart. It's enough to make me cry out loud.. in a room by myself.
And I know that many people here carry heartache similar to that of my friend..
Peace to each and every one of you.

This one was written by Beth Nielsen Chapman following the death of her husband..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M_HYg2S870&list=PLCgjyvU3pewOoUk7xPCv6ik17UQQ-RJdT

 

[starrynightin64]

I was blessed this week with a quiet call that I can't really talk about I real life. BUT I will have a place to live when my dead line here is up. Someone locally (works for my village) who knows what I do first responder support wise wants me to be her neighbor.... Actually it's move into the garage apartment where her mom lived for the last 15 years. Her mom passed away 2 weeks ago so they have some sorting, repairing, etc to do along my same time line to be out of here. They want me because I won't be a problem and I'll be long term. They want me enough to drop rent $200 a month lower to what (top of the line since I'm on Medicare) I can afford. Things will be even tighter then here but even if I'm back to $25 a week for food, I've been there before.

There will be some haters but I feel so relieved. They work the citizen emergency response team here and will make sure I'm OK and safe without living in my pocket. I've not had one panic attack all week since talking to her and she also feels really good about this.

So Ms. Karma has blessed me this week for services already paid forward.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

Starry.. what a great outlook

 

[islandjoe2]

I wasn't going to post this.....

I've debated it all day. I'm not generally the type to draw attention to myself, but it feels wrong not to in this particular instance, as it is the only way I can think to give public thanks. I'm not telling this story for the sake of patting myself on the back, so please don't make it that way.

For background......

15 years ago, a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive and sudden onsetting form of bone cancer. He was given only months to live, unless he received a bone marrow transplant. He was a good man, the type that everybody wanted to be friends with. Everyone he knew, including myself, registered on the National Bone Marrow Registry in the hopes of becoming the donor who would save his life.

Sadly, it wasn't enough and he died only weeks after his diagnosis.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I had never taken the steps to remove my name from the registry. I am already an organ donor, and didn't see any reason to preclude my marrow from donation, so I left my name in the proverbial hat, though I’ve never updated my contact information.

Imagine my surprise when my mom called a few weeks ago to tell me they were trying to get ahold of me. I called them back and was told I was a donor match, and they wanted needed me to do some blood work ASAP. Which was how I found myself sitting in an otherwise empty medical lab at 0600 on a Saturday morning….they said the results would take a week, and the next few days were a living hell….the waiting…….

It was a Wednesday when the registry called to say I was a good donor. They told me it would be 3 weeks until I donated, and asked that I just stay healthy and clean during that time…..I was a nervous wreck. I had never been under general anesthesia before, or even had a major surgery for that matter. So many things were crossing my mind, I took the time to get my will updated, which seems like a ridiculous gesture but I needed to do something……but I was also so excited. I was a part of something miraculous, bigger than myself and I could remain anonymous if I so chose. It was exactly what I needed at this point in my life.

And then, the call. He died. Just as I was getting over my fears and hangups with the support of many good friends here, he was gone. Before I even met him or could even offer him my help. For more selfish reasons than not, I fell hard. It’s a strange thing, to actively shed tears for someone who you know so little about…..a veteran like myself, leukemia, 45 years old with twin daughters in college….that’s it. Yet I cried like I haven’t in so many years…..it literally sucked every ounce of energy I had right out of me. I left work early and just walked…..

And then, 5 hours later, another call. The registry. Because my bloodwork was all up to date, they were able to match me to someone else. But I had to donate on Monday. Like 4 days away Monday. Damn it…..to go from such a low to such a high as though a switch was flipped……they sent me the new forms electronically.

No need for new blood work. They called in a prescription for high dose antibiotics and I picked it up at 10pm. A warning saying it may cause dizziness and nausea right on the bottle but I’ve never had problems with that before.

Good Lord. I was so sick that night and the next day. My abs hurt from vomiting. All I could keep down was crackers and a few pieces of plain pasta, and I could hardly walk a straight line from the spins I had. As miserable as I imagine one can be without the aid of alcohol.

And now, finally, to the point of this ramble…..

There are amazing and good people in the world. I want to thank 3 particular Litsters who came running to my side when they saw me stumble. I don’t want to embarrass them so I won’t name them, but I do want to say this:

To my nurse, thank you for staying up with me into the wee hours, doting on me as if you were here, and loving me for all my flaws. I know you have your own real life issues to tend to but I appreciate your diverting your attention for my benefit, I hope to be able to repay that one day.

To my psychic, who messaged me out of the blue to check on me and then supported me in her own special way, thank you for knowing me and reaching out when I needed it most, I am in your debt.

And to my scientist, who knew without asking I was in a bad place and, as always, diverted my attention with her analytics and less than perfect tact, I am so thankful.

There were of course many others. I'm so sorry that I can't name you all.

To all those here who are having a bad day or bad week or bad month…..share it with somebody. For all the negativity we have seen here recently, there are so many more warm people who genuinely care and want to help if you give them the chance. Don’t suffer in silence, let them share your burden, as they will do so all too happily and without complaint, if given the chance. For all of Lit’s faults, there are a lot of good things to be had here.

Thank you for bearing with me……

 

[GiggLeGasm]

Joe.. that was perfect. <3