Something to think about today

[MysteriousRomantic]

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.

-Arnold Glasgow

so true cath

 

[tall_n_tight]

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.

-Arnold Glasgow

Great quote Cathleen.

True friend being the important part of that quote.

 

[MysteriousRomantic]

Great quote Cathleen.

True friend being the important part of that quote.

tnt I agree more then you know.

 

[dcraz]

It's been awhile

Thanks to all for keeping this thread hopping in my absence.

My thought is more a recommendation to ponder than a thought. Last week, I embarked on a special trip. A trip into the great outdoors. The stresses of everyday life replaced with the stresses of enormous physical challenge.

There was no email, no cell phone service. Not even electricity. No communication with the outside world for 7 days. The trip was hard. Really hard. But it was also cleansing in a way I never imagined. I had time to reflect on many things. My life, my family, my job, and even my online friends. I slept in a deep, satisfying sleep every night. The kind of sleep I have not had in years.

I came home invigorated, with a refreshed outlook on life, love and my own happiness.

I know this is not available to everyone due to money, time, family, work and other commitments. But, if you ever have a chance to do something like this, even for a few days, I highly recommend it. It does not have to be a trip to the rugged outdoors like mine. Nor does it have to be for 7 full days. But if you ever have the opportunity to get away. I mean really get away. I highly recommend.

It can quite literally change your life. I know it has mine.

DC

 

[babydoll2u]

Thanks to all for keeping this thread hopping in my absence.

My thought is more a recommendation to ponder than a thought. Last week, I embarked on a special trip. A trip into the great outdoors. The stresses of everyday life replaced with the stresses of enormous physical challenge.

There was no email, no cell phone service. Not even electricity. No communication with the outside world for 7 days. The trip was hard. Really hard. But it was also cleansing in a way I never imagined. I had time to reflect on many things. My life, my family, my job, and even my online friends. I slept in a deep, satisfying sleep every night. The kind of sleep I have not had in years.

I came home invigorated, with a refreshed outlook on life, love and my own happiness.

I know this is not available to everyone due to money, time, family, work and other commitments. But, if you ever have a chance to do something like this, even for a few days, I highly recommend it. It does not have to be a trip to the rugged outdoors like mine. Nor does it have to be for 7 full days. But if you ever have the opportunity to get away. I mean really get away. I highly recommend.

It can quite literally change your life. I know it has mine.

DC

this is so good to hear.......

((dc)) welcome back sweet friend

 

[yesYesYEsYES]

Figured this was a good place to be first thing in the morning......

If you fear something and it keeps you from doing something that's once made you happy all you get are the negatives and none of the positives.....

 

[babydoll2u]

Figured this was a good place to be first thing in the morning......

If you fear something and it keeps you from doing something that's once made you happy all you get are the negatives and none of the positives.....

that is SO true Yes.... very true...

 

[dcraz]

Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For that is the greatest gift we give and receive from those we know as friends.

May we all be blessed with such gifts and friends. I know I am!

Thank you.

 

[TantaLiza]

Amen, dc.... amen!!

 

[yesYesYEsYES]

"If I had one gift that I could give you, my friend, it would be the ability to see yourself as others see you, because only then would you know how extremely special you are."
~B.A. Billingsly~

And yes......that means you...

 

[babydoll2u]

Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For that is the greatest gift we give and receive from those we know as friends.

May we all be blessed with such gifts and friends. I know I am!

Thank you.

hard when you're not sure who your friends are, don't you think?

 

[tall_n_tight]

hard when you're not sure who your friends are, don't you think?

Harder than it should be.

Good thing I have friends I KNOW I can count on.

 

[Denae]

Bear with me folks as this is completely off the current topic of friends.

I'm pulling a Cate with my pondering process right now, so I'm just going to throw this out here and see if it prompts any comments.

I came across a playground thread posting where a bi-woman said that she's been with 4 women and wants to be with many more. For some reason I began to ponder about how society would regard someone who sleeps with lots of people of the same sex. *I am not saying 4 is a lot. The number I consider to extremely high is not relevant, as the number is subjective to whomever is reading this post. Just consider this for yourself and by whatever number you'd start to think of someone as indescriminately sleeping around.

I wondered if a woman sleeps with many women, would she be considered slutty like a straight woman would be labeled?

(Kind of like if a guy has had many partners, he is not automatically tagged with a derogatory label like a woman obtains.)

Just wondering.....

 

[babydoll2u]

Harder than it should be.

Good thing I have friends I KNOW I can count on.

very true TnT.... friends who are really "there" when you need them.

 

[babydoll2u]

Bear with me folks as this is completely off the current topic of friends.

I'm pulling a Cate with my pondering process right now, so I'm just going to throw this out here and see if it prompts any comments.

I came across a playground thread posting where a bi-woman said that she's been with 4 women and wants to be with many more. For some reason I began to ponder about how society would regard someone who sleeps with lots of people of the same sex. *I am not saying 4 is a lot. The number I consider to extremely high is not relevant, as the number is subjective to whomever is reading this post. Just consider this for yourself and by whatever number you'd start to think of someone as indescriminately sleeping around.

I wondered if a woman sleeps with many women, would she be considered slutty like a straight woman would be labeled?

(Kind of like if a guy has had many partners, he is not automatically tagged with a derogatory label like a woman obtains.)

Just wondering.....

very good question Den....
oneto think about carefully before I post an answer,
as I'm liable to get myself in hot water

 

[DLL]

very true TnT.... friends who are really "there" when you need them.

... friendship is a subtle dance, and no one wants to be explicitly pursued when it's unwelcome, or explicitly dropped when they are not wanted. Nor does it come with any guarantees. People are unpredictable. But we need to play the game of friendship. And friendship defines what it means to be human. As the Greek philosopher Epicurus observed: "Of all the things that wisdom provides to help one live one's life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship. Eating or drinking without a friend is the life of a lion or a wolf."

 

[DLL]

very good question Den....
oneto think about carefully before I post an answer,
as I'm liable to get myself in hot water

well sleeping around regardless of gender is still someone that fucks around..if it is done behind backs its wrong if they are open well they are just promiscuous

 

[babydoll2u]

... friendship is a subtle dance, and no one wants to be explicitly pursued when it's unwelcome, or explicitly dropped when they are not wanted.

this is so very true, and I'm afraid I've been guilty of both, looking back. And both have been done to me.... hurtful on both fronts.

Nor does it come with any guarantees. People are unpredictable. But we need to play the game of friendship.

unpredictable? truer words were never spoken
I'm only glad that I have friends who have been steadfast, there, not wavering, and don't keep me guessing.

And friendship defines what it means to be human. As the Greek philosopher Epicurus observed: "Of all the things that wisdom provides to help one live one's life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship. Eating or drinking without a friend is the life of a lion or a wolf."

I wonder how many people are made to live the live of a lion or wolf?
Thank God I don't, but I feel for those who are forced to........

 

[babydoll2u]

well sleeping around regardless of gender is still someone that fucks around..

very true... man or woman, it doesn't matter.

 

[romanticdrifter]

well sleeping around regardless of gender is still someone that fucks around..if it is done behind backs its wrong if they are open well they are just promiscuous

Does sleeping in strange beds (ok hotel rooms) count as sleeping around?

 

[babydoll2u]

Does sleeping in strange beds (ok hotel rooms) count as sleeping around?

well hi there Stranger

 

[romanticdrifter]

well hi there Stranger

I know, I know. I have lots of esplainin' to do Lucy!

Good to see you BabyDoll

 

[babydoll2u]

I know, I know. I have lots of esplainin' to do Lucy!

Good to see you BabyDoll

not to me, since I'm not one who received a pm.
Good to see you as well hun

 

[dcraz]

Are You A Carrot, An Egg, Or A Coffee Bean?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

A young man went to his father and told him about his life and how things were so hard for him. He did not know how he was going to make it and wanted to give up. He was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. His father took him to the kitchen.

The father filled three pots with water.

In the first, he placed carrots.
In the second he placed eggs.
And the last he placed ground coffee beans.

He let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, he turned off the burners.

He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to his son, he said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," he replied. (You known the tone of voice.)

He brought him closer and asked him to feel the carrots. He did, and noted that they felt soft.

He then asked him to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, he observed the hard-boiled egg inside.

Finally, he asked him to sip the coffee. The son smiled as he tasted its rich aroma.

The son then asked, "So, what's the point, father?" (Remember the tone of voice.)

His father explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" he asked his son. "When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt
and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial
hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle Adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

 

[jacuzzigal]

Thanks, dcraz... a friend recently emailed this to me and it's the best forward I've gotten in a long, long time. It's a great way to look at adversity and what we can choose to do with it.