Men and Women a philosophical nature

Gi_Venus said:

*hugs* Thank you done_got_old it is good to see you.

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whspr said:

OH hon...sorry to hear about this. Life does throw us curves as we both know all too well. I know what you are going through..remember...I was there myself. That is best thing gastric bypass did for me...no more diabetes!!!Hoooray!!!!

Just try to follow the guidelines and you will feel better. Thinking of you... {{{{{{{{{{{{{Gi}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

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done_got_old said:

I'm here off and on all day most days, now that I've retired.

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Gi_Venus said:

Do you miss teaching?

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done_got_old said:

Yes!! My former students make up for the loss. I got a crazy email from my last class. I told her that she was sick. Her response was that she learned from the best. I also hear from kids from my first class. They usually just want to tease me about getting old! It's done in fun though.

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Gi_Venus said:

It must feel good to know you have had a positive influence on so many. *smile*

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Gi_Venus said:

A rough week, beginning with my blood test. July fourth after the fireworks my therapist tells me I have diabetes. The following day had me working, I wanted to go to a walk in clinic but my car broke down in the rain leaving me crying, and praying. By the time I got home I was a wreck, afraid to eat anything I huddled in on myself unable to sort out things, just overwhelmed. My sister saw I was in a state and took my blood sugar with a finger stick, 254 a fasting reading. She made me eat food which I was terrified of. Diabetes is real to me, my mind filled with images of the past where I worked in the hospital doing finger sticks on uncontrolled diabetics who suffered from amputations, unhealed ulcers, delirium. A horrible state. A patient crying because she was tired of the finger sticks and misery. Blindness, kidney failure all potential horrors to be experienced. A trip to the grocery store brings me to tears, all of the things I love are off limits, some many things adulterated with sugar and corn syrup. My first trip had me coming home with just some steak and knockwursts that did not have sugar. The next trip had me buying some of the complex carbohydrates that are allowed. Still craving the French fries my little boy consumed today as I sat across from him in the restaurant picking at my salad.

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poppy1963 said:

Hello sweet Gianna...I am sorry also to see what you are facing...when these things are newly "announced" to us...it can be quite terrifying (as you describe the images you recall of others). But you must keep in mind that those poor people are the exceptions rather than the rules to those living with diabetes. Both my gram and dad had the illness and both managed it quite successfully for many many years of good living! They followed what their MD's prescribed (mostly...lol) and came to enjoy the new ways of eating and living...well, in some cases, to not MISS those things they once loved as much as they did in the beginning.

I've experienced that as well...having had to give up certain foods for health reasons and such...at first I pined for them. Now the thought of them (having "sampled" and paid the consequences from time to time) makes me kind of nauseous..."negative operant reinforcement" at it's best!

Hang in...all things have purpose! Look for the benefits that come from it...there will be some you can bet!

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Gypsybyrd said:

{{{{{{{{{Gi}}}}}}}}}}} I only just saw this (I've been lax on Lit for a bit). I have confidence you will adjust and adapt as you need to to control the diabetes. I assume this was not a diagnosis made on the basis of only one blood test, right? Either way - make sure you do the follow up visits (as I'm sure you already know).

There are lots of yummy foods you can still eat. I myself follow a no-sugar, low-carb way of eating - even though I'm not diabetic. I know a number of people who are diabetic and have cut out sugar and lowered their carb intake (carbs turn to glucose in the body). I can tell you - the cravings for pasta and sweets diminish as time passes and the body adjusts.

*hugs*

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Gypsybyrd said:

What makes a friendship?

There are, obviously, various degrees of friendship - from acquaintances to best friends and deeper. Now I have a habit of calling acquaintances 'friends'. When I was in junior high my dad tried to break me of that habit. He would say that they are not friends because I barely know them. However, in my mind, they are friends until they do something that hurts me - they just are not close friends.

Then there are friends with whom we keep in touch and maybe even pal around with - have dinner with occasionally. These friends know some stuff about us - but not our deep dark secrets. They may know our families - at least by name. But most likely they don't know we participate in a porn board.

Then there are the friends we are very close too. These are people we may have known since grade school. Or they are people who we've met more recently. They know a lot about us - and we about them. Of course - these close friends may still not know about Lit! LOL. But they know more about us than just about anyone - including family.

In my mind, friendships are balanced. The parties to the friendship compliment each other. Where one is strong, the other may be weak. And vice versa. Or they may both be strong or weak as the circumstances arise. But there is *some* sort of balance.

Now there are, I'm sure, plenty of levels of friendship other than those I mentioned. But I guess what I'm wondering about is at what point does a friendship cease? Is there way way to objectively say 'This is no longer a friendship.'? I'm not talking about if a friend *obviously* betrays that friendship (sleeps with your spouse, gets you fired and then takes your job).

But what if - it's a quasi-one-way friendship? Where one person bares their soul and unloads on the other - but the other never shares emotional stuff. And the one who doesn't confide, wants to, but knows the other half of the friendship can't 'deal' with it (or even, takes over in such a way that the other can't unload also)? And yet, the parties to the friendship still like each other. Is it still a friendship? Or has the relationship changed and become something other than friendship? Is there such a thing?

Just food for thought ...

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~*sunkyssed_kym*~ said:

Helloooooo Gi and philosophical Litizens!

Sorry I've been "away" from this thread, life has gotten in the way once more, keeping me from posting. However, I have read your posts and offer this short essay on loving ourselves:

Adapted from The Chakras in Shamanic Practice, by Susan J. Wright (Inner Traditions, 2007).

We live in a body-hating culture, where the impossible quest for physical perfection fuels multi-billion dollar industries and takes many of us to a place of self-loathing. Instead, try this simple, loving practice to restore our trust in the body, honoring it as the vehicle for sacred, nourishing connection.
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
You may walk, stand, sit, or lie down to perform this loving task.

1. Check in with your body and all the sensations you are feeling. Notice warmth, coolness, tingling, numbness, comfort, discomfort, and any other sensations. Let yourself enjoy the symphony of sensation. Journey to your magnificent organ systems. Just be with your body the way a loving parent would be with a child. Sense the wonder of yourself.

2. If there is distress or pain, see if you can soften around it. Invite your heart to hold and embrace your body with love. If you have a symptom in a part of your body or feel judgmental or rejecting toward it, try to think about what it does. For example, if your feet hurt, focus on the conscious realization that the feet walk. They move you forward in life. Perhaps your feet need to be honored for all that they do for you every day. Maybe they need to be nurtured and loved.

3. Dialogue with your body. Do what feels right for you to balance your body. Really talk to it, and listen when it talks to you. Feel your body fully embraced by the compassion in your heart. See it glowing in the light of love. Try to do this task at least once every day.

Nameste m'friends!

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Gypsybyrd said:

What makes a friendship?

There are, obviously, various degrees of friendship - from acquaintances to best friends and deeper. Now I have a habit of calling acquaintances 'friends'. When I was in junior high my dad tried to break me of that habit. He would say that they are not friends because I barely know them. However, in my mind, they are friends until they do something that hurts me - they just are not close friends.

Then there are friends with whom we keep in touch and maybe even pal around with - have dinner with occasionally. These friends know some stuff about us - but not our deep dark secrets. They may know our families - at least by name. But most likely they don't know we participate in a porn board.

Then there are the friends we are very close too. These are people we may have known since grade school. Or they are people who we've met more recently. They know a lot about us - and we about them. Of course - these close friends may still not know about Lit! LOL. But they know more about us than just about anyone - including family.

In my mind, friendships are balanced. The parties to the friendship compliment each other. Where one is strong, the other may be weak. And vice versa. Or they may both be strong or weak as the circumstances arise. But there is *some* sort of balance.

Now there are, I'm sure, plenty of levels of friendship other than those I mentioned. But I guess what I'm wondering about is at what point does a friendship cease? Is there way way to objectively say 'This is no longer a friendship.'? I'm not talking about if a friend *obviously* betrays that friendship (sleeps with your spouse, gets you fired and then takes your job).

But what if - it's a quasi-one-way friendship? Where one person bares their soul and unloads on the other - but the other never shares emotional stuff. And the one who doesn't confide, wants to, but knows the other half of the friendship can't 'deal' with it (or even, takes over in such a way that the other can't unload also)? And yet, the parties to the friendship still like each other. Is it still a friendship? Or has the relationship changed and become something other than friendship? Is there such a thing?

Just food for thought ...

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Gypsybyrd said:

*hugs Gi*

Thank you for your thoughts on the subject of friendship ... what you say makes much sense.

My father, when I was in elementary school and junior high, kept correcting me when I'd call someone a 'friend' after I'd just met him/her. He'd tell me they aren't 'friends' until you get to know them. But to me ... every one is a friend until they are no longer a friend. Interesting how that works.

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Gi_Venus said:

A new year is as good as any time to work on ones self, to brace oneself on the coming year. Remember each Moment is an opportunity for change....every ones life is a blank page waiting to be written on. Here are some of the things I resolve to do this year...grin and forever or starting now......temporal confusion really plays havoc with ones center......grin...Live in the moment!

My New Years Resolutions.

Resolutions for the next year starting today.

1. I promise to be gentler to myself

2.I will bring my finer qualities to the fore and make them my mainstay

3. I will exercise more.

4. I will be compassionate even with people I do not like.

5. I will eat with more health in mind.

6. I will be more loving with everyone.

7. I will write more, work on my projects.

8. I will avoid pettiness and petty thoughts

9. I will not have false expectations of others.

10. I will record music in a studio this year

11. I will write lyrics to some of my music

12. I will pray for the healing of the world.


Hugs and love to you all!

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Gi_Venus said:

Question 1: Is there an Innate self?

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Question 2: Can the Innate self be reclaimed to its pure state?

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whspr said:

{{{{Gi}}}}}}

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