Sunnygal41

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Posts by Sunnygal41

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  102

  ARE YOU AN INTELLECTUAL? Why not?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think i heard the word "intellectual" for the first time when i was less than ten years old.. my grandmother said to me that the presidential candidate for the democratic party (adalai stevenson) was an "intellectual".. the way she said the word...the timbre of her voice...the look of admiration on her face...led me to believe this was a good thing indeed!.

  i think i may have asked her what the word meant, but, i don't recall exactly what she told me.

  perhaps enough to confirm that this fellow stevenson was a "thinker" of admirable stature.. fast forward.. by the time my teen years came along there was a kind of dichotomy in society between so-called "eggheads" and common folk.

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  Sunnygal41

  thinking is like drinking..........the more you do it, the less you understand.
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  102

  ARE YOU AN INTELLECTUAL? Why not?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think i heard the word "intellectual" for the first time when i was less than ten years old.. my grandmother said to me that the presidential candidate for the democratic party (adalai stevenson) was an "intellectual".. the way she said the word...the timbre of her voice...the look of admiration on her face...led me to believe this was a good thing indeed!.

  i think i may have asked her what the word meant, but, i don't recall exactly what she told me.

  perhaps enough to confirm that this fellow stevenson was a "thinker" of admirable stature.. fast forward.. by the time my teen years came along there was a kind of dichotomy in society between so-called "eggheads" and common folk.

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  Sunnygal41

  or, maybe i'm a witchaintella...........oh bother! is it really wednesday????
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  102

  ARE YOU AN INTELLECTUAL? Why not?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think i heard the word "intellectual" for the first time when i was less than ten years old.. my grandmother said to me that the presidential candidate for the democratic party (adalai stevenson) was an "intellectual".. the way she said the word...the timbre of her voice...the look of admiration on her face...led me to believe this was a good thing indeed!.

  i think i may have asked her what the word meant, but, i don't recall exactly what she told me.

  perhaps enough to confirm that this fellow stevenson was a "thinker" of admirable stature.. fast forward.. by the time my teen years came along there was a kind of dichotomy in society between so-called "eggheads" and common folk.

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  Sunnygal41

  hmmmm, guess I'd call me an "intewitchual"
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  131

  All Things Mystical - Real or Not?

  by Sirona in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  gareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.

  i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.

  some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".

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  Sunnygal41

  I think it is closed minded to base our whole concept of reality on things which are recorded and tested - because not all things can be recorded and tested.

  i would have to agree strongly with this statement. life cannot always be quantified, intellectualized.............to death, in some cases.........that applies to physical and non physical reality/life.
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  131

  All Things Mystical - Real or Not?

  by Sirona in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  gareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.

  i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.

  some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".

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  Sunnygal41

  i believe that ":mystical experiences" happen to us, whether or not we believe in them........and, when we are ready to explore past our own preconceptions, we will awaken..........
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  3

  DON'T REGRET, REFLECT

  by Sunnygal41 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  the longer you're around, the greater the chance you'll experience regret.

  for one person, it could be never having finished college, and for another, accumulating too many student loans.

  it could be never having pursued that dream to dance on broadway or not having told a loved one how much they meant to you.

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  Sunnygal41

  The longer you're around, the greater the chance you'll experience regret. For one person, it could be never having finished college, and for another, accumulating too many student loans. It could be never having pursued that dream to dance on Broadway or not having told a loved one how much they meant to you. Regrettably, it may not be possible to avoid regret, but it is possible to liberate yourself from its heavy chains and walk the earth freer and wiser than before.

  Those who are experiencing regret on a daily basis can take comfort in knowing that this is a common human condition (and emotion!) that can be dealt with constructively. It just takes a willingness to be honest and to practice reflection. By reflecting on the sources and causes of regret, we can, at the very least, strip it of its negative power and even transform it into something positive that will help us live a better life.

  So don't shy away from your feelings of regret, embrace them! Here's how:

  Journal itWriting down thoughts in a private journal is a safe and therapeutic way to explore the causes of regret. Although it sounds negative, reflecting on mistakes and accepting responsibility for them can actually be a step in the right direction. Only by acknowledging our errors and adjusting our priorities will we be able to move forward and make better decisions.

  Lesson timeIn every regret, there is a lesson, and it's our job as seekers to learn it. Ask yourself why you want to get over this regret. Is it negatively affecting your relationships, keeping you from achieving your goals, sapping your energy, disrupting your family life? Knowing why you want to rid yourself of a regret can be a motivating force. You might say to yourself, "I want to get over this regret so that I can spend more time having fun with my friends and less time feeling guilty."

  Be presentRemember, while past mistakes can't be altered, we can change our behavior in the present. If you regret not telling a loved one what they meant to you, start by changing that behavior today. Tell those you love how much you value them. Most of all, forgive yourself of the past and move into the now.

  Reality checkSometimes the source of our regret is rooted in the expectations we have of ourselves, as well as the expectations others have of us. While it's good to set your sights high, it's also important to be realistic - by doing so, you might be able to avoid finding yourself in a regrettable situation. Don't be too hard on yourself.

  Small stuffBefore tackling a major regret, start with a little one. Perhaps you regret never following through on lunch plans with a potential friend. Think about the circumstances (you were swamped that week). Consider whether or not it has any residual impact on the present (since then you've seen that person many times and the friendship has blossomed). Many small regrets that weigh us down from day to day are pointless - just extra baggage that gets in the way of our development. It's time to let it all go. Use this newfound perspective to help tackle some of the bigger regrets in your life.

  To never have a regret is to never live. Ironically, if we embrace our regrets, work with and learn from them, one day we'll be able to say with all confidence, "I have no regrets."
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  1

  UNTENDED PAIN

  by Sunnygal41 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  untended pain.

  pushing buttonsweve all had our buttons pushed to the point where we feel we cant take it any more, and chances are, weve all pushed somebody elses buttons, with or without knowing it.

  the button pusher may not be conscious of what theyre doing, but in the end the buttons belong to us, and we are the ones who must deal with what comes up.

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  Sunnygal41

  Untended Pain
  Pushing Buttons

  We’ve all had our buttons pushed to the point where we feel we can’t take it any more, and chances are, we’ve all pushed somebody else’s buttons, with or without knowing it. The button pusher may not be conscious of what they’re doing, but in the end the buttons belong to us, and we are the ones who must deal with what comes up. The more we take responsibility for our own feelings and reactions, the less tender these buttons will be.
  
  We’ve all had the experience of having someone snap at us, seemingly out of nowhere. This happens when we unconsciously push a button in someone else we didn’t even know was there. This can happen with a complete stranger and sometimes with a person we’ve known and been close to for years. We ourselves may have a relationship with someone whose buttons we secretly like to push. Buttons are just soft spots that have been touched one too many times, and they symbolize some pain that needs to be acknowledged and healed. This may be a wound from childhood, or some recent trauma, that we haven’t adequately tended. Whatever the case, when our buttons get pushed, the person who most needs our attention and caring is us, and blaming the button pusher only distracts us from finding a true resolution to our suffering.
  
  At the same time, if someone continually opens our wounds so that they never have time to heal, we are well within our rights to set a boundary with that person. Compulsive button pushers, who seem to find pleasure or satisfaction in hurting us, are not welcome in our personal space. In the end, knowing where our buttons are enables us to do the work necessary to heal. Freedom comes when we deal with the pain behind the button, thus disconnecting our automatic reaction to being pushed
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  20

  Interesting Phenomonena: "Weak" JWs Are Now The "Strong" Ones!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  years ago, the "weak family" were the ones that always were nice jws but considered "weak in the truth".

  they still went on their vacations, might've sent their kids to colleges, had plenty of "worldly" friends and so forth.

  but if they had to make a stand, let's say on the "blood issue", they'd rather die than accept a transfusion!

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  Sunnygal41

  i totally understand what you are saying, Mini........I see that in my mom's case.......she was considered weak for many years, and even my sis and i used to lecture her about regularly attending meetings, not hanging with her worldly family and friends........she basically did what she wanted all those years, and is considered today a faithful sister, and I a DF'd sinner and apostate..........lol........mom tells me that the organization has changed alot since the old days, it has become kinder, gentler.......personally, i think it's that the guys in charge are realizing that most people today WON'T abide by the strict, self denying lifestyle that was the "old style" of this organization. People want COMFORT today. They are too pampered and used to having things easy. So, to attract new ones and keep the few souls it has left, it is backing off the pressure.

  Terri
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  78

  Certain Expressions That Are Silly

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what expressions get you going?.

  i like "it's all good!!!

  ".

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  Sunnygal41

  journey on...........love your post..........journey on, GF!
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  14

  Zach realized something pretty cool the other day

  by AlmostAtheist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my 9-year-old son looked at the digital clock the other day and pointed out that the digits 4, 5, and 6 have something in common not shared with the other digits.

  can you guess what it is?

  dave.

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  Sunnygal41

  wow, i would love to meet and talk with your son............he's got an awesome mind.......unfettered by a box..........

  terri