Posts by wearyowl29

quietranger14 said:You aren't being pathetic. I get it—everyone deals with their own baggage, and honestly, I’d love to just sit down for a coffee with my dad and actually talk, too. But I know deep down that wouldn't change a thing. I'm sorry you're going through all this—I was just reading your thread and 👍
He didn't just say those things to me once upon a time; he kept it up during everything, even afterward. I don't try to wrap my head around his logic because I feel like I'd end up becoming him just to understand... and that scares the hell out of me. He had to control everything—every single detail of my life. Where I went, who my friends were—he'd even wait for me after school just to watch who I hung out with, making sure there wasn't some guy nearby trying to steal me away. Now, I worry that I’m subconsciously trying to micromanage the people around me, even though I swear I'm not. I work so hard to avoid the kind of aggressive outbursts he had (including the physical stuff). I’m terrified I'll wake up one morning and realize I've turned into him.
That is the last thing I ever want to be.

If I had any kind of magic power, I’d hand out pieces of a simple pink eraser to every soul suffering like that...
If I held the power, I’d give all those hearts a massive dose of courage...
If I had that kind of strength, nobody in this world would ever have to go through that...

But, listen, we can't just rub out the past with an eraser. What we *can* do is shift our focus away from it. We shouldn't lean on those old memories like a crutch; instead, we need to stand tall and walk firmly on this American soil.
You can't just go to a store and buy personal bravery, but you can build it. You build it by stepping away from what was and actually living in the right now.
We can't stop evil from happening, but we sure as heck don't have to replay it inside ourselves like some endless horror movie loop. If we do, we risk becoming just like the people who hurt us—cold, selfish... just plain mean.

If I actually had a superpower like that... well, I’d patent it!

All I have is a bit of advice, which you can take or leave; whatever you're already good at—and I'm sure you have plenty of talents—do it even better. Aim to be the best version of yourself. Take what you love and dive deep, but don't get lost in it. Find that spark right next to passion: creativity. Be different. Be strong. Wake up those hidden potentials! Even if you feel less smart, less pretty, heavier, or more boring than everyone else, you are uniquely you. When the dust settles and everyone else is gone, you'll still be yourself—and that makes you special. Use that! One day, that desperate urge to fit in will feel like dead weight, and honestly, that's the first real step toward growing up.👍

Chris Peterson53 said:There are so many threads like this that they could all be condensed into one single question: to be a parent or not to be.

Those who judge others simply because they choose to be fathers—
I consider them completely unprepared for the realities of life, and frankly, selfishness is their defining trait.
If they hold these convictions, then by all means, they should go reject their own fathers—the very people who brought them into this world—
especially if that man was an irresponsible father who serves as their primary role model.

Calling parenthood "low" or "dirty" is nothing more than a hypocritical excuse—a convenient cover for pure selfishness and materialism. These are people incapable of sacrificing anything—anything at all—besides their own immediate comfort, just to give their lives some actual direction. And most often, their go-to justification is: "I can't afford to raise a child!"
But there is a certain poetic justice waiting for them: ending up alone in some lonely house,
where not even the neighbor's dog bothers to visit them during their lifetime or at the moment of their death—and that is precisely when the regret over not having children begins. And I'd bet 99% of them will feel it.
Regardless of what those children might have been like, the mere thought that they exist is the only comfort left.

That is such a misguided judgment... we aren't all cut from the same cloth, and we aren't all here to walk the exact same path.
You shouldn't judge parents who are doing their best to be responsible, nor should you judge those who choose not to have children. A person can be completely alone despite having kids (just try moving into an assisted living facility and see!), yet still lead a deeply fulfilled life in their old age. It’s about how much you tap into your own inner spiritual resources, how much you give to the world in different ways, and how much you're willing to receive in return.
Finding creativity and fulfillment is part of the quest for happiness, but everyone finds that spark differently... based on the specific experiences they need, not based on some "standard" lifestyle.
No amount of external comfort can truly soothe us if we don't find that peace within ourselves, because looking outward is just grasping at shadows when you haven't built anything inside.

Jonathan Brooks8 said:If we assume that the true wealth of a single lifetime is measured by the depth of one's experiences, then missing out on the experience of "being a father" represents the deprivation of a very specific—and entirely irreplaceable—human milestone; a void that is often clumsily compensated for, or perhaps disproportionately substituted, by the altogether different reality of "not being a father"...

👍

electricpanther4 said:It means waking up—or being resurrected, if we're using Richard Murphy6's phrasing—meaning you "reanimate" yourself. It’s about finding God within, accepting that presence, and refusing to drift through this world like some kind of zombie. Most people are just half-asleep, I guess. They spend their lives waiting for death—physical death, anyway—because it feels inevitable. Once the spirit is dead, physical death isn't even much of an issue; you just accept it, much like how one accepts the weather.
I assume Richard Murphy6 doesn't want to be that kind of zombie.
Neither do I.
I have no interest in being "disconnected."

Richard Murphy6, that concept sounds pretty compelling to me.

It’s not physical death that claims most souls. Most people aren't even thinking about that kind of passing; they're terrified of the physical kind because it hurts.
What you're talking about is a different sort of death entirely, and you hit the nail on the head regarding our metamorphosis. Honestly, very few people actually want to wake up. Most just want to sleep soundly in comfort and avoid any kind of pain in life.

Richard Murphy6 said:No way in hell am I doing that!!!!!!!!!!!😛
My old man always used to tell me, "Son, nobody ever does anything like this voluntarily!!"😳 🙄

They signed you up just to sabotage you, and now you're paying the price.😳

mistybison said:Technically, you "die" every single night when you go to sleep. 🙂

And honestly? An orgasm is just a little death... 😬

Richard Murphy6 said:Honestly? It's because I'm terrified of it and I'm just not ready to go!

But you will, whether you're ready for it or not.
Fear isn't going to help you escape it. Look, death is part of who you are. Everything between your first breath and your last is just part of the assignment you're working through right now. Just accept it! Live with the fact that you're mortal. Once you shift your consciousness, you'll realize there's actually nothing to be afraid of. It's all about perspective.
Death is just one clause in the contract you signed yourself, just like birth was...😁

Olivia Cook said:I hope I’m in the right spot here. Not really sure if this belongs in Psychology or maybe the Fringe section.

Anyway, my buddy and I have been going back and forth on something. We're wondering if it's actually possible—maybe through hypnosis, autosuggestion, or something else—to just switch off emotions? Like, to completely erase feelings toward everyone and everything (kind of like how the Vulcans are in ST 😬).
My friend thinks it's doable, though he can't really explain how, and I guess I'm more of a "maybe not" kind of guy 🙂.

Cheers...

Wipe away emotions?

If you strip away someone's ability to feel, you've basically killed the human being inside them.

You could do it with chemistry... or through certain methods that some government agencies have used in the past and still use today.

These are those little things that swell into massive milestones, etching themselves deep into your memory. It’s just like big life plans—they only really find their purpose when you actually live them out through travel. To kick off my good luck, honestly, that’s enough for me... I’m not greedy... or maybe, I am, but who cares?

Lately, life has gifted me this one strange, tiny little moment of bliss. I found myself waking up in a hotel room far away from my hometown, surrounded by the cries of peacocks roaming a massive garden filled with lush tropical greenery, all blending with bird songs I’d never even heard before.
It was this divine sense of peace achieved in a single morning. I often find myself playing that exact sound back in my head when I’m dragging myself out of bed on a workday, trying to make it to the office on time.
Like a small fragment of Paradise torn away, still cradled by the warmth of those hotel sheets, I cling to that song every morning. It’s my little bit of luck to help me get through the day, or at least to help me survive the wake-up call... just to make it from one dawn to the next.
And really, what could be bigger to me than that tiny slice of heaven?

Richard Murphy6 said:That’s a great question. Honestly, I’m not even sure why it’s weighing on my mind! Let's just say I've started leaning toward believing in the "supernatural." Yogananda touches on stuff like that, but things really started clicking for me after I read that interview with Castaneda. He was saying something along the lines of how nobody actually cares about the version of Jesus who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven... or something like that.
I’ve always felt like rising from the grave isn't the only way to "beat" death. For the longest time, I figured it was all just symbolic, you know? But now? I'm second-guessing everything. I figured I'd reach out and run it by the folks over at the IMF.
😎

But let's break this down: what does it actually mean to conquer death? And why is death even framed as something we need to defeat in the first place?

THANK YOU ALL so much for all the hard work you put into this....😍

darktinker9 said:Just send her to the gym; we have plenty of those types in America too.😛

Oh man, I am seriously counting down the minutes for this! I can hardly sit still. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about it all week—it's going to be absolutely massive. I'm just buzzing!😛

ironsurfer8 said:So, if I may ask, what on earth possessed her to think about clothing shopping here in the States? It’s notoriously difficult to find anything in larger sizes that actually looks decent.
I have a feeling you’ll have much better luck finding something sensible closer to home.

Perhaps you should just take her on a shopping trip over to Europe instead.

She’s actually home; she just headed out while she was still a bit younger. She’ll be hanging around here for a while until she sorts through some paperwork—estate stuff by the coast and all that. She probably just wanted to buy something specific. (Around here, being a stay-at-home mom means rocking a tracksuit as the local uniform...)
She probably thinks things are cheaper there...

Thanks so much, everyone! Honestly, you guys are the best...

Walter Ramirez3 said:Haha, depends on how many pounds she actually put on...

I mean, you can definitely find larger sizes at Top Shop. Plus, the whole city is crawling with tunics and those linen pants, so maybe take a stroll down Main Street... You can really find what you need there.

She mentioned hitting the hundred mark😲

I was honestly under the impression there was some sort of "Giant Size" department for women where we could just get everything done in one single shop... what a dream that would be!

A good friend of mine from Australia is flying in soon (she’s 40)... she mentioned she’s put on a few pounds, but she’s dying to hit up some clothing boutiques in the city while she's here in the States.

Now I’m wondering, where can I find shops in town that actually cater to curvy women? I'm not talking about stuff for grandmas😲 in their sixties and beyond!

Thanks!😁

Robert Murphy8 said:I know. Thanks. But I've always been this way. Maybe it's a lack of self-confidence, so I try to find it through others, attempting to build friendly bonds... hoping they won't turn on me. It's like I feel vulnerable, so I try to show them I have my own struggles too, trying to prove I'm not a threat so we can be friends. But the opposite happens. They just take everything I say out of context, and that's how it starts. That's how the downward spiral begins. I don't know why I can't just stay detached. I suppose I'm looking for some kind of strength in them. Maybe once I move on from these part-time student jobs to something more serious, I won't feel such a desperate need to socialize with coworkers. Then maybe I'll be able to keep my distance. But the truth is, I haven't quite mastered being "professional" yet.

Way to go!

The root issue here is definitely a lack of self-esteem (which, let's face it, often stems from not getting enough affection growing up). Focus on building that inner strength, and you won't feel the urge to tell
everyone your entire life story from A to Z.

Robert Murphy8 said:Look. I appreciate the advice, really, but being unapologetically rude, arrogant, or just plain obnoxious isn't in my DNA. It's not that easy. I was raised to be decent to people—to actually have some manners—and I don't know how to switch that off. I realize I should probably keep my guard up and stop oversharing with everyone I meet, but I can't help it. When I'm around people for too long, if there’s nothing going on, the tension builds up. Eventually, I start talking, and before I know it, I’ve spilled my entire life story. Then, a few days later? A knife in the back. That’s been the pattern at almost every job I've had. I just keep trying to find the good in people, even when it backfires.

You don't have to be rude or uncultured at all; you just need to set boundaries.
Keeping people at arm's length just lets them know they can't walk all over you. Even if they try, they won't have any "ammo" to use against you because they don't know anything!
The problem is you're looking for closenessand you aren't finding it because you're looking in the wrong places. Communication doesn't have to be constant. You talk when you need to, especially at work.
My best advice? Save your private life for yourself and your actual friends. In a culture where everyone is constantly nosing into everyone else's business, having some distance is your best defense against unwanted interference.

Robert Murphy8 said:I can honestly say I try to be a decent human being. I make an effort to stay respectful, polite, and kind in my interactions, genuinely trying to work well with others. But no matter where I go—and especially in the corporate world—it’s the same old story. Constant undermining, people trashing my hard work, and backstabbing. I always end up carrying the weight of their nonsense on my own shoulders. As a person of faith, I could never dream of pulling a stunt like that on anyone. I know I’m capable. I’m smart, I give everything I have to my job and to the people around me, yet it feels like absolutely nobody respects that. It’s even worse when they mock me for being transparent or for actually caring about projects that have some actual heart in them. Then I look at these "successful" types and I just don't get it. What makes them so much better or sharper than me? They get the accolades while I’m just left waiting for them to label me as the villain, because apparently, that’s the only role they think I’m fit for.

You’ve got to shake off that victim mentality! Focus on building up your own self-worth and stop being an open book for people who don't deserve to read it. If you don't have a reliable Peter around to back you up, you've just got to hold your own.
It's much better to stay a bit mysterious and keep them at arm's length than to leave the door wide open for people like that.

Christian Johnson53 said:Given the scriptural teaching that no one comes to me (God) except through my son (Jesus Christ), I find myself wondering what becomes of the souls who never placed their faith in Christ? Furthermore, is it even possible for a spirit to reach God at all without that connection?
hi

Why worry about reaching God when He’ll eventually call us home anyway?