I want to change a habit that's no longer working for me. I'm going to transfer my addiction to the main stream news to new sources of information that are uplifting and reminders that we continue to make great progress in areas of spirit, science, medicine, technology, philosophy and all other areas of knowledge.
I'm hoping that many of you have online magazines, books and other sources of information that you read and love. For example, @Danny Boy has suggested a book on Stoicism called "Reasons Not to Worry" and I can second that it is well worth reading. I'm also looking for daily or weekly online publications or books available through the library.
How about if we establish a place on our forum to share sources of light and information with each other. Would any of you have suggestions? I'm a hungry bear!
Hi, everyone! I'm Elizabeth a.k.a. "Liz-O" (she/her), I'm 33 years old, I live in a deep-blue Maryland suburb that's 30 minutes from the DC border (on a good day), and I've been an occasional lurker over this forum for exactly 8 years this month!
My intuitive abilities are… very informally trained. All my life, ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder have been a struggle, and my two younger siblings (as well as my dad, and my mom just on the anxiety side) also experience those disorders. However, my family carries some sort of "default," "genetic" openness to sensitivity and intuition.
My mom, my sister, and I are the most involved in exploring the positive spiritual and intuitive realms. These pages and threads by all of you have done more than you'll ever know to keep us centered over all of these years. With this week's events, I finally realized that I should make a proper account here to share my gratitude, and to humbly offer my love, positive energy, and support, as well as from my family by proxy!
The positive energy and work that go on here matters, no matter the twists and turns of the current day. I really feel that these Stoicism principles truly suit the most loving outlook one could find at this time: work to do your own personal best in this moment, with the resources you have. If something completely outside of your control suddenly strikes you down, you are not to blame for being unable to foresee it, but you do get to choose how and when to respond to it.
Let's keep going!
@liz-oletsgo Welcome, Liz-O! And thanks for your post. I agree that the positive energy and work we do here matters. And as the initial emotions ebb and flow, I find myself returning with great curiosity to the why, how, etc. of our visions. As Jeanne has said, consciousness is so complex. It is fascinating that we are all here exploring it together! Onward, indeed!
From @Kathleen in a different thread:
I want to change a habit that's no longer working for me. I'm going to transfer my addiction to the main stream news to new sources of information that are uplifting and reminders that we continue to make great progress in areas of spirit, science, medicine, technology, philosophy and all other areas of knowledge.
This is the way! I'm actually thinking I might take the energy I've invested into doom scrolling and the like over the years and using it to learn ASL. There's a cool app I used briefly before the liver transplant last spring that I liked but unsubscribed to because the monthly price wasn't in the budget. But - I think I can forgo a gas station treat or two each month to resubscribe. Plus it's a valuable skill - do you know how much a skilled ASL interpreter can make in a day? (I actually do because I had to hire one for a conference!)
@dannyboy we use them at school I think it’s a bit less than $500 we go through a bank of interpreters so like the business takes a cut and then pays their interpreters. We got told how much we pay to use their services at a mtg the other day and it was a lot but I don’t think $500- probably check the internet for accurate but over $100 for sure. And we pay $100 whether we use for 5min or 1hr.
Cheers to putting energy to good use and using this as an opportunity to find a way to do good. Fear is fear so whether it’s Fox News inciting fear or fear of trump I’m making an effort to hold inner peace and many at work have said they’re grateful not to ‘fear bond’. Be the light.
@kathleen That sounds like a reasonable rate for an area with many services available. I'm in rural northern Michigan. The ASL interpreter available to us for the nonprofit I was President of cost $2,000 a day, and we had to feed her. P.
EDIT: Again, where I live not a lot of people have that skill set, and the need is still there. $500 sounds right, but I would also make them feed me :P.
2nd EDIT: This is my 1,234th post! I feel like that number is special, especially today :-)
I just had a lovely conversation with @jeanne-mayell about some things that have been posted here by myself and others, and she explained something that I'll admit I didn't often consider in posting here. Because there are so few people who post here regularly and often - maybe 25-30 of us - it's easy to forget that it's not just a cozy little group. There are literally thousands of people watching and reading here, and our words reach more people than we can know or imagine.
For those of us who do post often, we can sometimes across as being more authoritative than we are or intend to be, and unfortunately, in a text-only medium, it's difficult to express the nuances of meaning and intent that would normally be carried by spoken inflection. That means that there are times that I may be smiling or even chuckling a bit as I'm typing, but that tongue-in-cheek intent doesn't translate well.
So, to everyone on here, but especially to all of the lurkers and anonymous readers, I will do everything I can to be more cognizant of the fact that you are here and that you are listening and watching what we do and say. I will try my best to be more clear about my intent and any emotional content that I may inject into my posts. I sincerely apologize if my posts have frightened anyone or caused them distress. You are welcome here, you are loved, and we will get through this somehow together.
You are a Godsend.
I really needed to hear this message. The words like manna in the wilderness.
This is what we excel at in our forum community. This is why I keep coming back for grounding, unity, friendship and faith.
This is everything. A billion stars. That's us.
@dannyboy I'd like for those who post in this thread to please read the first two posts you made which was the intention of the thread i.e., to find an evolved way forward.
Regarding the philosophy of the Stoics that you wrote about in the first post. It sounds very close to the buddhists. When we meditate, Buddhist style, we focus on how the world is, the energy of the world, of our thoughts, of everything we sense. We aim to train our minds to see everything as ephemeral (constantly changing), so we hold onto nothing but our own inner peace while meditating. If we focus on our senses, rather than the social media posts we've read, the we find ourselves in a state of peace. The interesting result is that not only are meditating people more peaceful, less fearful, but they are also more awake. Their reactions are quicker. They see more of what is happening in this world and around them as they drive their cars or ride their bikes. Their reflexes are faster then people who are nervous and caught up in social media fear and propaganda.
There are well over 3000 peer reviewed studies on the impact of regular meditation on people's health and well being. It affects every organ system in the body. Also, if you are in extreme physical pain, meditation works better than morphine.
If we are to move foward and elevate from what has happened, the griping has to shift to finding joy and a light-filled way forward that we create. Griping is a coward's way of handling difficulties. Complain and blame others, then curl up in a ball and hide away.
The human psyche's default is anger and fear. That is how our species survived the caveman days. It is meant for real bodily danger, not psychological intimidation. Dannyboy, you are showing people another way.
@jeanne-mayell Bless you for this! I used the Calm app to meditate for a long while, and while I still have the ultra-premium Calm version that includes everything (because they had a calm schools initiative that let me sign up for a permanent subscription for free) I have moved over to the Apple Fitness + meditations because they have resonated with me a little more. If you are an Apple Fitness + subscriber (and if you're not, the $9.99 a month is well worth it for the thousands of meditations, workouts, and programs they've built in just four years) I've found all of the trainers who lead those to be light bringers in their own way. I will go a week or two between doing them regularly and toward the end of those lulls, I find myself craving the quiet. It's helped me get better at Jeanne's Read the Future nights as well. I'm going to make this a priority to do every day going forward. You can choose between 5, 10, and 20 minute guided meditations which may help me remember that even if I don't have time for a 20, I can find 5 minutes in my day. It's a choice I can consciously make!
@dannyboy Thanks for this information. I've been searching and finding free e-subscriptions like Smithsonian, Harvard, and non-political podcasts that will keep me updated on progress in science, medicine, philosophy, health and history. Also, I am finding a wide range podcasts that I can listen to while on my treadmill. I've stopped watching the main stream media, period. Feeling more hopeful already and would welcome any other suggestions from anyone out there!
I Study Guys Like Trump. There’s a Reason They Keep Winning. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/08/opinion/republicans-democrats-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.YU4.MIyz.0CMXHdYkxIK0
This is helpful. And it may be a part of the path forward.
@kathleen I was having trouble finding podcasts that I was interested in that were long form storytelling or deep dives to educate myself. Let me suggest joining your local library and downloading the Libby app! I now power through around 10 books a month listening to them while I am driving or doing chores, etc. not only is it a good escape, you support your local library while doing so!
I have also used my digital library card to use sites like Coursera to learn a new skill, etc. I’m a big fan of libraries over here!
I Study Guys Like Trump. There’s a Reason They Keep Winning. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/08/opinion/republicans-democrats-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.YU4.MIyz.0CMXHdYkxIK0
This is helpful. And it may be a part of the path forward.
Thank you for the link to article!
I've been listening to Jack Kornfield's recent and free podcast on my Amazon app, and have found it to be a balm for the angry, fearful and helpless feelings that I've had since the election. He's a western Buddhist monk, has written many books and is the co-founder of Insight Meditation Society.
Liz-OLetsgo what a wonderful post to read, than you so much for choosing to join our community and for such a needed post right now. Thank you! You have no idea how nice it is to read your words...unless you do and that is why you posted. haha