There is too much media, too much information, and too much of it is constructed to force a direction of thought and structured beliefs ... we need a break from it all

[slowinmi]

I hate trying to deal with my mental issues when I am also physically ill with an ear infection. I tend to revert to some of my old habits.

[buttrfli42481]

I wish I could have a vacation from life.

[porcupine2]

I have been raging for the past two weeks and today I am very anxious as I have to bring my cat in to get neutered. The problem is I'm stuck in a vicious cycle of racing thoughts on how I can time this all right. And I still woke up pissed off at the world.

Churchill: “There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.”

[spaceid]

Doesn't anyone want me?

[jen29]

Why do you care what happens to me from now on????

[buttrfli42481]

Who is really going to miss me when I am gone?

[Rose76]

I was sliding down today toward that depression pit. I just kept doing little thinks to keep busy, and I averted disaster. That's my new game-plan: just keep doing little constructive things. (Tidy a drawer, put the laundry away, cook a little meal.) I've been afraid to fall asleep, because lying down and closing my eyes makes me worry about the pit. Here it is after 3 AM, and I stay awake wanting to do just a few more things . . . hoping to earn the right to sleep in peace, without bad dreams.

[porcupine2]

Originally Posted by porcupine2

I have been raging for the past two weeks and today I am very anxious as I have to bring my cat in to get neutered. The problem is I'm stuck in a vicious cycle of racing thoughts on how I can time this all right. And I still woke up pissed off at the world.

My kitty came through surgery fine, and as soon as the anesthetic wore off he was back to his old tricks again. At least my female cat will get a break from being jumped on all the time! Mojo (his name) hasn't lost any of his Mojo!

[afterrain]

I want him to stay here with me.

[Shadow-world]

Managed to shed some of my lethargy and go for a swim and a walk and feel so much better for it. Determined to try and keep up the exercise, as it seems to help at least temporarily.

[buttrfli42481]

Wanting a day that has no worries.

[Rose76]

So the bad dream came when I finally slept, but tonight I won't have that fear because that isn't likely to happen two nights in a row.

True or False?

Life is a Journey
by Alvin Fine

Birth is a beginning and death a destination;
But life is a journey.
A going, a growing from stage to stage:
From childhood to maturity and youth to old age.

From innocence to awareness and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion and then perhaps, to wisdom.
From weakness to strength or strength to weakness and often back again.
From health to sickness and back we pray, to health again.

From offense to forgiveness, from loneliness to love,
From joy to gratitude, from pain to compassion.
From grief to understanding, from fear to faith;
From defeat to defeat to defeat, until, looking backward or ahead:

We see that victory lies not at some high place along the way,
But in having made the journey, stage by stage, a sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning and death a destination;
But life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage,
Made stage by stage...To life everlasting.

[porcupine2]

Spirit - thank you in advance for a smooth move of the futon today or tomorrow.

[emptybee15]

I have thought and thought. There is NO reason for my existence. Please stop this now.

[lunarpariah]

Wondering when the depressed mood will end.

[agma]

I hate this time of day. I can't wait to go to bed.

[buttrfli42481]

Praying for my Becca and that her surgery goes well.

[Indie'sOK]

I'm tired of waking up nervous, praying that nothing bad happens at work. I'm tired and I wake up nervous. Maybe that's why I'm tired.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

True or False?

Life is a Journey
by Alvin Fine

Birth is a beginning and death a destination;
But life is a journey.
A going, a growing from stage to stage:
From childhood to maturity and youth to old age.

From innocence to awareness and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion and then perhaps, to wisdom.
From weakness to strength or strength to weakness and often back again.
From health to sickness and back we pray, to health again.

From offense to forgiveness, from loneliness to love,
From joy to gratitude, from pain to compassion.
From grief to understanding, from fear to faith;
From defeat to defeat to defeat, until, looking backward or ahead:

We see that victory lies not at some high place along the way,
But in having made the journey, stage by stage, a sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning and death a destination;
But life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage,
Made stage by stage...To life everlasting.

Yes, I would say this is true Byz.

We all roll around at first,
Then we learn to crawl
Then we learn to stand, while holding onto something, maybe even someone.
Then we slowly take our own first steps traveling from place to place where we can hold onto something if we need it.
Then we can walk without holding on.
Then one day, we try to run and master that too.
With every day a new opportunity can arise
We never know how long we will walk through life.
The important thing is to keep trying and to know, we can.

Open Eyes

[Rose76]

The hyper-euthymia has run itself out, as happens with heightened states of enthusiasm. Now cheerful one minute, choking back sobs the next when I'm not even depressed. I'm all lost because that elated mood bubble busted. Time to do like grown-ups do. Can't depend of the elevated mood intervals to carry me over and get caught up on everything. Must start functioning better when in "neutral mood." Requires having a daily plan.

[porcupine2]

As usual I've made a mountain out of a molehill. Making things as complicated as can be when it should have been straightforward. Racing thoughts don't help the situation. Now if things can at least go smoothly today I will be eternally grateful.

Let's agree to disagree. Sometimes that's all there is to say.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT



John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend,

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!