Posts by Carl Rivera43

Congrats on hititng 2600 posts!

That wasn't exactly a classy move on his part.

@mistyjackal842 Honestly, it’s just heartbreaking when people act like that. Especially those who are nearing retirement or are already retired—you’d think they’d have more wisdom, right?

It’s such a blatant lack of respect. To an outsider looking in, it’s just baffling. Why is there so much unfairness out there?

I feel like this kind of behavior pushes people to stop respecting one another. It leads to these nasty stereotypes being forced on us, which I’d argue are actually pretty dangerous for society as a whole.

At the end of the day, we all just want to love and be loved. Those who block that connection or mock someone's hard work and genuine care... well, their opinions shouldn't carry any weight. They aren't worth following.

There's definitely too much negativity floating around sometimes. But hey, maybe one day we'll see more truly good people come along—people who actually know how to value hard work, knowledge, kindness, and a real, honest conversation.

Just take it easy for now. Once everyone settles in and gets into a better mood, we'll definitely be having more get-togethers like this one.

We should probably get something on the calendar for a Friday or Saturday soon. We just need to figure out what kind of vibe the crew is feeling.

I think it’s more of a philosophical question, really.

Personally? I just don't buy those studies. They don't hold water for me.

Well, if that's how it is, then I guess I'm a regular.

Let's aim for Tuesday afternoon somewhere downtown. Just keep an eye on this thread over the next few days and we should have all the specifics squared away by Monday afternoon.

It’s mostly on the weekends, though a weekday happens once in a while. We usually manage to get together at least once every ten days or so.

It’s always such a blast. We just dive into everything—sports, music, news, whatever pops into our heads. Usually, we end up chatting for two, three, maybe even four hours if we're feeling it.

Do you think this is a regular thing?

I'd say usually somewhere between four and seven.

So, I’m thinking Tuesday, November 4th, probably sometime in the afternoon, would be a pretty sweet chance for us all to hang out. If you happen to be around and feeling up for it—and hey, if you can find the courage—you should definitely swing by.

Seriously though, come through even if you're a little nervous.

I’m looking at this through a positive lens, and honestly, this whole post is proof of that.

So, whether they realized it or not, it seems like others—either consciously or just through vibes—pushed you to finally put this down in writing.

As for answering the title: you absolutely deserve opportunities, chances, and support from the people around you. But how do you actually make that happen?

Well, look, I’ve definitely had my fair share of whims and failures along the way, but if I look back over the last few months, I can see how much work I've put into myself. It’s been a journey.
Here’s a great link that touches on this topic:

http://www.nytimes.com/family/how-to-build-better-relationships-after-struggle

As Merlin says: I didn't know which God I knew when grapes turned into iron.

I catch myself being a little self-delusional every now and then just to make things easier in the moment. I used to do it way less often, though, which is actually why I ended up becoming such a massive introvert. I'm trying to work on that lately, but honestly? I'm still feeling a bit unsettled because so many things just don't seem clear anymore.

Sometimes I definitely overrate myself. But you know what? I think that might actually be an improvement. At least I’ve cut down on the constant self-doubt that really ate at me for a year or two.

Still, I know it’s all about finding that middle ground. I’m just hoping I can keep making progress and eventually get where I want to be.

So, yeah. In my book, using a little bit of self-deception in moderation does more good than harm.

Zurba just isn't it. I’ve noticed this getting particularly nasty with those workaholics lately. They get this desperate need to control everyone else, and they actually have the nerve to call people lazy just because they aren't sprinting at their insane pace.

At the end of the day, your health matters way more than any job. Why not just take a breather? If you slow down a bit, you'll actually get so much more done in the long run.

It’s coming, and it won't be long now.

We’ve all been the new kid on the block at some point.

And honestly? Being new is always a breath of fresh air.

Getting together is always such a blast! It’s a bummer that the weather has finally turned chilly, but we'll make it work regardless. We'll probably just grab some coffee, maybe hit up a bakery for dessert, or even swing by for some burgers and fries. We'll play it by ear.

Hey Ghosts, let's get together this Tuesday, November 4th.

It’s going to be a blast, for sure.

So, just head over to Times Square, right by those benches near the florist on 4th.

Anyway, welcome everyone! Let's keep the vibes high. Honestly, you can always count on a good mood when we hang out with the couch potato.

So, what if we went with something like Flower?

I honestly feel like those subtle, indirect jabs can actually be worse. They just slowly build up these bad habits over time, don't they?

Back in high school, I dealt with a ton of that passive-aggressive mocking. But hey, I was just a naive optimist back then, totally immature.
Now I’ve definitely grown up, though a little bit of that old-school optimism still pops up every now and then.

Alright then, fair enough! I'll sit on it and try to come up with a solid idea sometime tomorrow.

And hey, you're more than welcome to join the group. We keep things moving at a great pace here, and there's always plenty to talk about.