Best Of
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Went for a great walk this morning, before the humans and their pet canines start filling up the new pathways... 
lobster
Listening to the heart
I was just having a discussion with a good friend about meaning in life, and she held that for her learning and development held more meaning than proving one’s capability through overcoming challenges. For me that hasn’t been true, if I look at my life the things I was most proud of, that lent me the most confidence, they were creating things of beauty and accomplishing difficult things.
I think that meaning ends up in one’s life automatically, as long as you follow your heart. I find that not listening to the mind but listening to the heart is an art, it’s like finding the silence inside even amidst noisy surroundings, a knack. I haven’t always been equally good at it but most of my best decisions have come from that space.
I said yesterday to my dad, if I have a regret it is that I didn’t make it happen when you proposed that we should go on a tour to Egypt together to see the antiquities a couple of years ago. That may still happen, I held it out for him that if he becomes well enough we will go and do it with the two of us. It’s difficult but I think my mother will be alright with being on her own for a couple of weeks if we arrange the right support for her. And that immediately felt like the right thing to do.
Generally I can only find my emotions and the voice of inspiration that comes from my heart when I’m quiet inside.
Jeroen
Re: Rise Above
I used to wonder why so many people held Right Wing positions directly and overtly detrimental to themselves and their families. Then I was unitentionally exposed the one-sided flood of attack ads and deliberte disinformation and misinformation with no room, no space allowed foe any counter arguments or contrary (to the rt wing) messaging of any kind. It waa both a shock and an awakening. It explains much about why people keep voting for candidates and issues that only harm them and never help them.
Almost all of this (in the US) traces back directly to Ronald Regan abolishing the Fairness Docrtine in which the FCC required the holders of broadcast licences "both to present controversial issues ofpublic importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints."
The Right Wing was poised to pounce upon that removal and, with Mr Murdock in the lead, did just that. The Moderates ad te Left were caught competely unprepared, were overwhelmed, and have been playing catch up ever since.
Lionduck
Re: The Plant Medicine Path
@marcitko said:
Personally, I firmly stay away from such things, prefering lifestyle solutions.
It occurs to me that perhaps I should just be happy with what I’ve got, and not go chasing after big insights. There are a lot of things I can be grateful for in my life.
Jeroen
Re: What movies are you watching?
The Star Wars series Andor was phenomenal. Its tone is like Star Wars for adults, it prequels the story of Cassian Andor from the movie Rogue One. It tells the story of the Rebel Alliance, its early formation as small bands of underground resistance fighters to the forming of the Rebel Army right up to the gathering of intel on the Death Star mentioned in the opening scroll of the first Star Wars movie.
Anyway, beyond the stand alone great story telling was an inversion of the whole Star Wars POV I've lived with my whole life. That of Luke and the Skywalker story as the focus and the rebellion being just a back drop for that. In reality the rebellion and these characters are the true story of the Star Wars universe and Luke was the great hope for that cause.
Its two seasons, 20 some episodes which ends right as Rogue One begins.
Rogue One
person
Re: The Plant Medicine Path
My only exposure to 'plant medicine' was through a girl at a long-term group-therapy, who suffered from depression.
She did ayahuasca with some shamans, and reported tremendous benefits.
As these things go, then she wanted more and to my knowledge did it two more times. After the second time, she visibly deteriorated. I don't remember what happened the third time.
Personally, I firmly stay away from such things, prefering lifestyle solutions.
But if anyone does do it, then I agree with Shunryu Suzuki: 'when you get the message, put down the phone'.
marcitko
Re: Quotes - discussion
“I’d like to keep growing as I get old.”
— Dr Gabor Maté
For me this quote was a timely call to action. I’ve noticed that as I get older I am no longer as quick or as versatile in my comprehension, and I think in part this has to do with my habits. I read a lot, it is true, but mostly spiritual books which don’t really keep me grounded in the real world or stretch my understanding.
I’m now 52, if I want to continue growing I’m going to have to add some new habits to my routines, I think. It’s difficult to honestly look at these things about yourself, but this feels true to me.
Jeroen