Comments on: Inspirational

By: Kyran

Kyran — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:30:20 +0000

I *thought* I felt a tug on my pigtails Hi, Neil!

I’ve often wondered if blogging is slanted toward the negative side of life. Traffic and comments spike when bloggers are in a bad place, and while sometimes that’s an honest offshoot of human empathy, there is also a baser, come-and-look-at-the-train-wreck aspect to it that dismays me.

But if you think of blogging as an emerging genre of literature, which I do, it only makes sense that it becomes a bit dull when there is no drama or conflict.

It’s nice to be in a good place at the moment, especially after a hard year. If blogging about it triggers yawns or eye-rolling, well, there is plenty of drama and wreckage elsewhere.

How funny would it be to just put up a shop closed sign on the blog, saying, “sorry, all out of pain, check back later”?

Thanks for the interesting thoughts and the great compliment!

warmly,
k

By: Astrogirl

Astrogirl — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:12:33 +0000

My response to this post is too long to put in a comment, but if you’re on IM later I’ll tell you.

I’ll say this – the day you are able to cast off your doubts and over-thinking, and just do, and be, and live, is the day that we are all going to be absolutely blown away. I know that day will come.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:56:28 +0000

Thanks, Gwen. That’s the kind of reality check I need when I start letting that magical thinking (especially now that I’ve quit Zoloft) creep in.

You know what’s weird (well, to me)…when I wrote, “I have really been fighting my tendency towards seeing the glass as half full.” I meant half empty. I’m a happy pessimist at heart, and I want to be a happy optimist.

By: mommyknows

mommyknows — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:06:13 +0000

Wow! A blogger after my own heart. I think I am positive too, but I am NOT sweet. Filling a post with sweetness and blessings really isn’t in me. I’m nicer on my blog than I am in real life too. I don’t think people would come back if I wasn’t.

By: sarah g

sarah g — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:58:58 +0000

wow. firstly as a catholic, I tend to see things as ‘half full”. Always. I dont believe that denomination is a factor; but I do think faith helps. To believe in something ‘unseen’ or rather, to see what others dont; can help to see the silver linings in the dark clouds.

I wrote a post once, about how I can see the angels painting the silver linings on the storm clouds. You remarked then about it.

My grandfather told me many times, we have the choice of how we will feel that day. we are the only ones allowed to make that decision for us. He chose to be splendid. Regardless of what the day dealt. You play the cards you have; its your choice to play or to bail.

By focusing on the light, the good and the blessing. Every single day, has a blessing. Find one a day, and soon you wont be able to help but see them.

So, may your day be full of unicorns and rainbows, skittles and moonbeams and whatever happy silver linings you need!

As for inspiration; inspire yourself.

By: churlita

churlita — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:47:04 +0000

My mom died at the age I am now. I think growing up, thinking I could die young like my mom, has made me appreciate and love my life while I have it. I never feel guilty about having fun. I’m also such a dork, I don’t feel weird about being grateful, out loud, in front of god and everybody. I’m sure plenty of people find that very annoying about me.

By: better safe than sorry

better safe than sorry — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:11:23 +0000

i find this very sad. happiness/joy is a choice, sometimes a difficult choice, but still, a choice. that you think of it as a concept you don’t understand, i don’t get that? i think what would make you happy would be to be with your beloved sophia, but on your terms, not hers, which would make her into a person she’s not, so would you still be happy with her? this post and these comments, it just breaks my heart that someone is struggling so much.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:37:53 +0000

Not everyone needs magical thinking. Some of us need mystical hats, potions and blessed Spanx.

By: Gwen Bell

Gwen Bell — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:14:59 +0000

Christine, I wouldn’t call referencing death “tempting fate” I’d call it “getting comfortable with uncertainty” – and, for lack of a more squishy term – reality.

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:11:38 +0000

Well, as a female who was raised Catholic, I will tell you that I vacillate between cringing with embarrassment and wallowing in envy when I read a “gratitude” post such as these.

I also consider myself a pretty happy person, and I have really been fighting my tendency towards seeing the glass as half full. I don’t know why that is, and frankly I wish it weren’t so, but there you go. I think it is somehow related to my issues with organized religion.

One thing I noticed is that two of the posts that you quoted mentioned that they would die happy. *shudder* Several years ago a couple of friends of mine were skiing…the weather was perfect, the snow ideal, it couldn’t get any better. One of my friends turned to the other and said, “This has been the best day. If I died today, I’d die happy.”

A few hours later he was dead of a bizarre, unknown heart condition. He was in his late 20′s.

So there’s that aspect of my reaction as well…I know it’s illogical, but a part of me doesn’t want to tempt fate. Which makes no sense and flies in the face of what I see sometimes propels voicing gratitude…put good stuff out there, draw it back to you.

So how’s that for messed up? I roll my eyes at (and am envious of) the positive being put out there, but get the heebie-jeebies when “fate is tempted.”

Right now I’m rolling my eyes at myself.