It's been said that if you die tomorrow you might have regrets about the things you have said to people and regrets about the peace you did not make in your lifetime. You might be in a position where you get to look back upon your life in the presence of a guardian angel or several angels and wince with misgivings at all that went wrong and all that strayed from your path of lovingkindness. I think about this a lot, actually.

I think there are people who I encounter on the internet...people who I would never spend a second moment with in real life...who I have been very upset with and who I let upset me. It seems quite ridiculous, actually...allowing myself to come into situations which I could easily walk away from and excuse myself from in my every day rational life...and yet...I invite it upon myself...and even embrace it at times. I'm thinking that we all do this to some extent. And there's some of you who are just wonderful sentient beings who enrich my life.

My thoughts are to walk away from my enemies...for they are enemies unto my mind and soul. They are hardened in their ways and I could never hope to change them...and they could never change me.

What exactly is this interchange we have here? I think it's my foolhardiness and the basest... lowest lower self within myself to allow myself to enter into these exchanges. These exchanges will go on without me and long after I no longer exist on this plane.

I've met some very bad people here...people who in my innocence of childhood I would have been protected from, by my parents, and should have protected myself from as I entered into my adulthood. I think it's a good thing that I know what they think and that they do in fact exist. But I think it's a bad thing that I spend time with them.

So, like many of us have said to ourselves on so many occasions...I need a break. I don't like a lot of you. Nothing personal, unless it's personal.

Holy Bhagworm

In other words, you can't discuss important issues with facts and logic.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I'm sorry to hear that, Holy. Be well.

quote:

What exactly is this interchange we have here?

We each decide the answer to that question on a daily basis. If it has become the "the basest... lowest lower self within myself to allow myself to enter into these exchanges." it is only that way because we decide it for ourselves. You can't try and foist the blame on others, others don't decide what you say at work, what shows you like, what food you eat, others can only be themselves and never can others decide your own self image.

Bagh,

Leave it just at "taking a break". We all do from time to time as time constraints dictate. Our lives are busy even in retirement such as myself and you are no different. You truly are a World of Mirth and I hate to see you saying you're leaving. Just leave it as "taking a break" and you'll be back. E-mail me.

The Bhagworm is a busy man with many other worlds to conquer. I value his input here tremendously. Go in peace, my brother. Your comments are heartfelt.

Chango's comments sucked elephant weenie.

Thanks foots, Dirigo, and Zoot. I'm not saying that I'm leaving for sure. I just need to replenish my positive energy for awhile rather than spend my time with angry loser-types. I know both of you have worked hard your entire lives and are able to handle yourselves very well. I'm just showing my vulnerable side...I'm tired of misplacing energy. Maybe I'll come back strong and ready to go...maybe I'll discover I don't need to come back strong. I think that facebook might seem more worthwhile for the time being, although I have a hard time getting into it. I'm practicing piano every day and always think that I'm not practicing enough. And I haven't been reading as much as I should. In the old Prodigy days, the bbs were a learning experience with lots of laughter and camaraderie. And it was a sociable place with lots of entertainment value. I'm not feeling that anymore on this bb. There's good comedy, there's good people, there's incredible stuff going on in the world...but there's something lacking. And there's unspeakable cretins who aren't funny or savvy. In fact, they are the absence of funny or savvy. They are the void.

Holy Bhagworm

Your Holiness, we all need a break from the negativity on this forum from time to time. Your absence will be noted and you will be missed. I look forward to your return to this forum for you speak truth and I've always felt you to be a positive influence for us.

I'll miss your commentary, your Wormness. Although I agree with you on most stuff, and even where we hit a fork in the road you always offered a cogent argument worthy of consideration. Do what you have to do and hopefully come back soon.

Rush Limbaugh is a big fat slob!

Everybody needs a break, Holy. Enjoy yours, and renew what you love best about life.

quote:

I'm practicing piano every day

That I know can be very therapeutic Holy. Use it that way!

HB,

I just want to let you know this is one of the bravest and most honest posts I've seen on this board in a long time. I might possibly be able to write something like it when I screw up, as I do frequently. But I'd be more likely to send it by e-mail to a close friend. I doubt if I'd have the guts to post it on a public board the way you did. I just want you to know that at least one person here appreciates your openness and courage. But I bet I'm not the only one!

Love and Light,
Linda

Your Holiness--

Wonderful! Now you can help me more with the laundry! And that garden of yours is gonna be taking up lots of time pretty soon, along with certain projects I have planned for us.

Your piano has sounded fabulous, lately, BTW.

xoxoxoxoxox

Last night I was half asleep on the sofa trying to listen to a woman being interviewed on public television. She was talking about the current lack of civility in our country, in particularly the political discourse. She had written a book about it and her premise was that without civility, we don't learn.

There is no lack of civility among my acquaintances. We are first and foremost, civil. We seldom talk about anything more than recipes, our children, our doctors, the price of eggs and how our gardens grow. For the life of me, I don't know what of consequence I learn from such civility.

The writer's basic premise was that we need to listen to each other. To consider the things in people's lives that cause them to form the opinions that they do. She says that will make us open to learning. I'm not sure I agree. Perhaps I should have stayed awake for I believe listening and empathizing might help us become more tolerant and even civil but I fail to see what I have to learn from people who's minds are shut like a steel trap.

I don't learn anything here from those not open to truth or proof. I hear the same among my ilk at times and yes I catch myself as well. I will listen if your premise is backed by proof and you are civil and tolerant of me as well. But I hear very little regard for facts here amongst my adversaries so how on earth can I be tolerant of that or learn from them? Having said ALL of that, I see nothing wrong with being passionate about your beliefs. That is quite a different process from digging your heels in deeply as a defensive response.....and I ENVY it.

Good discussions on this board are rare as hen's teeth. But when they happen, they are worth hanging around for. I love to read them. In the interim I play the games here along with the others and wonder at times, like Pro, what good that serves.

I live a very insular life in Frogville particularly. We don't even have a newspaper. I don't much trust television. Any of it. I do like it here at Aant because there is a dialog of varying opinion...A wonderful oppoturnity but alas a lot of it is lame (including some of mine, ) and there is a minimum of the type of trolling I've seen on other boards. I like the Internet because I can search and explore varying opinions. You can also read transcripts and discover facts! Imagine that! I do have to stay on my toes around here, not to engage but just to be able to keep up. That's a lot for a housewife in Frogville Georgia.

We do have a library and my husband prefers books. He has now read almost every book there. But he is less social than I.....And of course most of them have a point of view, if not a more researched one.......He gets annoyed with me because he thinks I should be painting....which I once did quite a bit and I love, but it's rather solitary as well.

I thank you all for the discussion about Israel and Palestine as wrenching as it has been for some of you. I'm reading more on the subject and trying to open my mind to more.

I realize this can't be interesting to many, if any, but hell, I typed it so I'm going to post it.

Let's remember JFK's words:

"So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.".

Peachy

I left for a couple of months, and didn't miss it much. Then felt it was time to come back. I hope you will, too.

I hope you just take a break and replenish, HB. Where would we be without your sense of humor? Answer me that!

Holy,

One thing I learned early on was not to take the boards too seriously. From time to time I walk away from a board and sometimes I come back and sometimes I don't. Several I have simply said were fine for some people, but did not pique my interest. In the case of this board and its predecessors, I have been around for (what?), about 16 years.

Main thing is not to let someone get into your pants. (Or maybe I should say hat.)

Regards,

Watch out for those enemies.

Holy Bhagworm,

Sorry to hear that you are feeling that way, though I am a new poster and don't know you. Thanks for the earlier comment about liking some of my posts. I don't get that comment very often! Actually I do not see you making a lot of enemies on here, so if you ask me you are doing ok in that respect. Really I suggest you should continue to branch out, but you can take a break if you want first. Rest is necessary to continue to function at a high level.

quote:

Rest is necessary to continue to function at a high level.

..I hear a Go-Gos lyric comin' on here...

And I couldn't agree more!

Your voice is needed Holy. If you can't make it, see what Bud Glass is doing. I know he's a bit of a hot-head because he's also very passionate....but like you, he's someone who can teach me a thing or two. I'm sure you know how to reach him.

Peachy

And if Bud can't make it, call Zooey.

quote:

Originally posted by Zoot House:
And if Bud can't make it, call Zooey.

Zooey? Zooey stayed in hot water.

Peachy

HB,

I've been through the same thing multiple times. A break is in order. Your contributions are necessary to bring about conversation and discussion. Not everyone agrees all the time (if that were true, there would be no reason to converse or discuss issues!). Know that in your absence, you shall be sadly missed.

Peace!
Michael G.

quote:

So, like many of us have said to ourselves on so many occasions...I need a break.

For the record, I don't want to see you go, but I understand why a break may be in order.

Breathe deeply, take your vitamins, do what you enjoy... and come back to us when you can.

Hugs,
  *CJ

And you ain't my enemy, Your Holiness!

quote:

Originally posted by Avenging Peach:

quote:

Originally posted by Zoot House:
And if Bud can't make it, call Zooey.

Zooey? Zooey stayed in hot water.

Peachy

Well, he stayed in the bathtub while his mother was interrogating him. His only choice to escape would be to bolt out of the tub exposing his schlong to his own mom - and he decided it was worth it to do so. But his mom had seen schlongs before and really wasn't that impressed - and certainly not horrified. Zooey was neither trying to be stage center nor annoy. I guess he figured exposure of his schlong long enough would get his mom to get off his case. And Zooey definitely emerged trimphant in this short story. Also Zooey got to be a prophet by clearing out the house sufficiently to let Frannie know that it's not over until the fat lady sings. And in this case, the information was not only welcome but was poignant. I've got more to say about this theme involving Zooey getting out of hot water and evolving into a prophet.

Holy Bhagworm

quote:

Originally posted by Gus Rodgers:
And you ain't my enemy, Your Holiness!

You and I are friends forever, I sincerely hope.


Holy Bhagworm