echo says:

i don't think you had any ill effect. my groups are very broad, just talk about whatever has hold of you at the moment. whatever you feel passion about. except one, me being the staunch atheist that i am. this one doesn't have wide appeal, that's ok, i'm usually suspicious of things that do. i am at a loss lately myself as to how to open up discussion. but i don't really mind. if anything happens, then great. if not, that's ok too.

posted Jun 1

[ c h a o t i x ] says:

that a different way of seeing things

posted May 20

WoozyChain says:

i agree with mandy. a lot of what we feel in this life i believe we bring on ourselves. we can choose to see things in a positive way and in a negative way. i know because i have chosen both. i've had a rough life, but when i started to make right decisions for myself, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and thinking positively, was when my life changed. 6 years ago i was stuck in the muck. i confronted my demons, and today, i am unstuck.

posted May 20

[ c h a o t i x ] says:

i could lean a lot from what you just said , i say this because as of now , for more like for a while i'v been feeling like i'v been in a rut with no why out, or at less that what it seem , but as of now i'm not to sure what to really think . That might of made no sense tho.

posted May 20

WoozyChain says:

it's not easy. i think first comes the recognition that a change must take place. then came recognizing everytime i was falling in to a negative pattern of thinking. it's sounded foolish to me at first because i was so used to "my way". my childhood sucked ass. but i could have chosen to be a victim of those things that were done and said to me, or i could use them to make me stronger. for a while i chose to be the victim. not saying that it is always perfect for me. every now and then i dip, but the dips are much shorter and don't last nearly as long as they used to.

i didn't like being depressed. being pessimistic about everything wasn't a life well lived, i was feeling. i am only given this life to live that i know for sure of, how was i going to live it?

[c h a o t i x]- ruts don't last forever. surround yourself with friends and people that truly care about you (not aquaintences) and things will change in time. it works for me.

posted May 20

[ c h a o t i x ] says:

i really don't know what i can say in respond to what you just said , I mean i can take the first part of what you said , and but it to good use , but i really just have to agree with the rest of it , and in some way i can also relate. not saying that i went thru the same thing , but each person has there own battle , from then to now , if that makes any sense.

posted May 20

WoozyChain says:

it makes sense to me.

posted May 20

[ c h a o t i x ] says:

well that good , cause a lot of people on hear don't really understand me for the most part , im guess cause i might say some out there thing , with out even noticing .

posted May 20

echo says:

there is some truth and some merit in these things. but to be overly simplistic about it has it's own pitfalls. it is not enough to say make a choice to be happy. you must make a choice, but the choice is to strive, to work, to put effort into things when you would rather do nothing, sit in an orgy of self-pity and despair. but sometimes the feelings of despair are valid and the reality of circumstances unavoidable. so to say you choose this or that is not always the case. you chose how you deal with them. you can always by your choices improve or worsen matters. the struggle. it is seldom that your efforts have no reward, though they will not always get you what you wanted. so struggle. i say this to myself, particularly today. i know this, but more often than not do not do it. but every day you can chose. i have read, and been told, and have seen truth in the idea that it does not matter so much what you do in particular, so long as you do something. do anything. just move, make effort at something. read, study, cook, help someone, clean (i hate to do it, but i feel better when i've improved my and my family's environment), hike, swim. or have a peace sit in ;)

posted May 20

WoozyChain says:

i agree with you echo. it is always a struggle. and whenever i expect to be tongue lashed by you for writing something positive or challenging others to think differently, you end up writing something that makes me think that you do understand where i am coming from. you've never given me a reason to believe that you would lash out at me, but you never know how sensitive people can be.

we are each responsible for all our experiences.

every thought we think is creating our future

the point of power is at the present moment

everyone suffers from self hatred and guilt

the bottom line for everyone is "i'm not good enough"

it's only a thought and it can be changed.

resentment, criticizm, and guilt are the most damaging patterns

releasing even resentment will dissolve even cancer

we must release the past and forgive everyone

we must begin to learn to love ourselves

self approval and self acceptance in the now are the keys to positive changes

when we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.

someone very close to me recommended a book to me and i implore you all to read it as well....

"you can heal your life" by louise l. hay

posted May 21

echo says:

i do lash out sometimes, i suppose. i try not to; i try to consider how i make people feel. i hope to get the same consideration. i know what you mean about being sensitive, i am quite. i know i have my faults, i know many that could be pointed out and i'm sure i have been given amnesty on many occasions. i do disagree with people often enough, and tact was never my strong suit.

the resentment is the hardest thing to let go. do you find that to be the case as well?

posted May 21

WoozyChain says:

(you know come to think of it, i remember watching an old jerry springer episode...you know the ones with a the trailer trash issues? remember how stupid some of these people's problems seemed to be? i remember some kid saying that because of how he was treated as a kid, was the reason he was the way he was then at like 30 years old, and believe it or not, that was the eye opener for me. i was so afraid i was going to end up like him....i know you all are probably laughing at me, but it's true)

yes i did find that the case..letting resentment go. for me to release mine was writing a letter to the one who i was most resentful towards. subsequent conversations led to apologies, and time led to new relationships.

but i think it is critical that resentment is let go. no matter how hard it is. you have to find your way.

posted May 21

echo says:

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde

i hadn't know chrissie hynde had stolen that from wilde.

posted May 19

annihilation [floating upon little pink pills] says:

though i drown in muck... it is sublime.

posted May 14

echo says:

then perhaps you can just admire the wistfully bleak landscape. or turn a hose on me. whichever.

posted May 14

Janie-In-Nautilus [take cover] says:

mmm. yep! i can do that. i like to play with hoses.

posted May 15

Sean Marie says:

It's a dilemma--in the dark, my colors are invisible; in the light, they fade. I take shelter in the gentle umbrage of rare friendship and limited acquaintance.

posted May 15