Posts by hollowviper72

key_4 said:There you go again, getting all philosophical 😁—but fine, I'll let it slide... purely because you're a philosophy major 🙄

Oh, forgive me! My apologies—it’s just a professional hazard at this point. 😁 Don't be like that. Philosophy is actually quite good... 😁 😉

key_4 said:Oh, please, don't get all philosophical on me.🙄 😁
I truly believe that anyone who takes a serious look at their own suffering will eventually realize two things: first, there’s really no reason to suffer, and second—they simply don't have the time for it! But most importantly, they'll find that suffering doesn't actually exist. Pain is real, sure, but suffering? Not so much.

If pain exists, then suffering exists too—"suffering" is just the word we use to describe feeling that pain.🙂 I'm not being philosophical here.

While I basically agree with you that suffering mostly stems from how we perceive things, there are very real circumstances that cause a person to suffer—meaning, to feel pain, whether that's physical or emotional. What you're describing sounds a lot like that Buddhist concept of detachment...? But let's be honest, achieving that without falling into a trap of self-delusion—kind of like a sketch on Saturday Night Live where someone yells, "This is NOT happening!"—is easier said than done.😁

key_4 said:That’s a smooth way to put it, Rachel Bishop 🙂
but it could also serve as an answer to the Master's question. 😁

Master, I honestly feel like most of us are actually quite happy—it's just that we either don't realize it or we're actively trying not to admit it.

I have to agree there. Not on a massive, global scale, obviously—because some people truly have valid reasons to suffer—but so often, people struggle simply because they fixate on the negatives while completely overlooking the good things in their lives.

Karen Sanchez19 said:Come on, why don't you be a dear and explain to us exactly what’s going to happen once she finally decides to leapfrog over her own shadow??
😁

And where on earth did you get the notion that I’d have the answers to that? 😛

Krinka said:The thing is, there's nothing I can actually do about it. I can't just bypass who I am or my own nature. I was really hoping someone could walk me through how they managed to pull it off—but apparently, these kinds of experiences aren't something you can just grasp through logic or words. 🙂

I’m not going to be pretentious and pretend I have some magic formula for stuff like this. To put it simply... from what I realized today, there’s a distinct phase where a person talks about something, and then a completely different phase where they actually *live* it. For instance, I’ve been talking about compassion for ages, but it wasn't until today that I truly understood what it actually *means*.

Maybe it's the same for you. Maybe you're just waiting for that specific window of time when you'll finally feel ready to "move past" your old self. Perhaps this feeling of being stuck is exactly what you need to better recognize when things start moving again. These are those subtle realizations and shifts that leave you fundamentally changed—and honestly, I don't think there's any recipe for that kind of growth...

Krinka said:I honestly feel like that might be the only reason I’m even here. To be truthful, I’m starting to lose hope that anyone can actually give me an answer or pull me out of this headspace.😢

I think you’ve probably heard this before... but you really shouldn't hold onto the idea that someone else is going to hand you an answer or rescue you from where you are right now—mostly because that hope just isn't grounded in reality. I don't mean to sound harsh, truly, but they say "God helps those who help themselves." So, please, don't go looking for answers in other people; look within yourself instead. Don't sit around waiting for a hand to pull you up—grab a shovel, pick up a pickaxe, and dig your own way out. There—that's my sincere, well-intentioned take on things.🙂

hollowviper72 said:Maybe they don't... but there are plenty of people out there who would trade love for just about anything else in the world...

That’s certainly possible—though, honestly, I’m not sure if anyone truly exists who has never felt love, even if they kept it tucked away deep inside. But hey, what do I know? I shouldn't get too philosophical here; everyone carries their own unique set of life stories and baggage.

I personally consider myself lucky to have the capacity to love deeply and extensively. Like you mentioned, being able to feel that much is actually quite a significant thing to possess.

Does anyone actually exist who fits that description?

I honestly think we’re looking at a bit of an anomaly here—mostly because there are so many examples of Westerners who have successfully integrated Eastern spiritual practices and lifestyles into their daily lives. If this were some kind of widespread, regular phenomenon, then sure, you could take that psychiatrist’s statement seriously. But as it stands? I’d be more inclined to call him a psychiatrist with a bit of a bias... 🙄

Mr. Pes said:To me, a leech is anyone—period—who drains someone else's energy. 🙂

But if they’re doing it with your permission? Well, then they're just a "dear little leech." 😁

I’m willing to bet you have some pretty eccentric pets at home... 😉

Oleander said:Well, it isn't all just black and white. Nobody is entirely bad, nor are they completely good. And besides, it really depends on how you define good and evil in any given moment or specific situation—it’s all very subjective, you know? 😉

No, I don't think it's strictly black and white. However—and this is where I draw my own line—I do make a distinction between good and evil, and between good and bad people. I truly believe that within every single individual, there is a constant internal tug-of-war between various principles of "light" and "darkness." The result of that struggle—which, frankly, goes much deeper than anything we could ever put into words here—is what we perceive as a person's character. To me, a "good person" isn't necessarily some flawless paragon of virtue or a shining knight in armor; rather, they are simply someone who, at the end of that internal battle, ends up on the mostly untarnished side of the spiritual spectrum. In my view, good people are those who manage to overcome their inner darkness, regardless of how successfully or easily they navigate it. That’s why I tend to see people as either good or bad—or perhaps it's more accurate to say "tainted" or "pure." I don't subscribe to the idea of good and evil as absolute cosmic constants. It's more about... well, it's about principle.

And I certainly don't believe someone spends their *entire life* being purely good or purely bad. Let's not get carried away! But in any given moment, we are precisely either good or bad... there isn't a third option.

I assume by *leeches* you mean those chronically dissatisfied people who have no idea how to deal with their own negative psychological makeup, so they constantly hunt for attention and drain everyone else's energy?

Actually, you described leeches almost exactly how I framed them at the start of my post. 🙂 I don't think leeches should be judged simply for existing. However, I've never been one to accept excuses, and therefore, I don't believe we should tolerate them out of mere pity—after all, we all choose who we want to be. Leeches are emotional "black holes" that, by their very nature, suck the positivity right out of others. There are plenty of reasons why someone might become that way, but as long as there is even one person who has walked through hell and still managed to reach the stars without losing their warmth, then those who have fallen... well, they have no one to blame for their condition but themselves.

Honestly, it’s always the same routine—I only head to bed when things have truly gone south. 😛 I make sure to keep my pink safety pins tucked away with me at all times, just in case.

Being a leech is about who you *are* at your core—and you're only a leech if you possess that specific, inherent void, that "leech-like" quality. To have that void means you are perpetually a leech, plain and simple. You can't exactly be a part-time leech, any more than you could be a part-time good or bad person. It’s binary: you either are, or you aren't.

Oh, hold on just a second! A leech is primarily defined by what she *is*—it’s baked right into her very essence. And the whole essence of being a leech? It’s the act of leeching itself. What you’re describing doesn't necessarily have to be "leeching"—the real point here is that we shouldn't dump our burdens onto everyone else; rather, we need to make it clear to those around us that their role in solving our personal issues is strictly passive. In other words, "a shoulder to cry on" isn't meant to be an "emotional trash bin," but precisely that—a support system. Leeches don't lean on people; they extract from them. And asking for support isn't the same thing as saying, "Hey, carry me/drag me along."

The distinction between a true leech and someone who simply confides in a friend because they need a listening ear is subtle, yet absolutely vital—a leech doesn't give a single damn about the impact they leave behind.

P.S. I don't do coffee; I'm a tea person. Earl Grey if it's available, otherwise I'll settle for some tropical trash. 😛

I have to respectfully disagree with Pesičin's claim that we’re all just energy vampires. Honestly, I tend to have quite a massive reserve of energy myself... in fact, I haven't met a single soul who hasn't felt at least a little bit more revitalized after spending some time in my company. I can say with absolute certainty that I’ve never noticed anyone leaving a hangout with me feeling drained. On the contrary—when *I* actually run low on steam, or when I'm feeling truly exhausted, I just stay tucked away inside my own four walls and sleep it off. 🙂

It isn't like I feel depleted if someone happens to draw from my energy. It feels more like there’s an inexhaustible volcano inside of me... sure, I’ve dealt with my share of depressions and bouts of sadness, but nothing has ever been able to put that fire out. 🙂

So, how do you actually send someone energy? I don't want to get too bogged down in mysticism here... but what Pesica is saying is actually spot on. And it doesn't have to be via email, either. It could be a phone call, a quick text, or even a handwritten letter if you're feeling old-school. Positive energy is essentially just a positive thought; we can top up someone else's "tank" most easily simply by letting them know that someone is thinking of them and wishing them well. Without getting too philosophical about it, that’s something pretty much all of us can do. Anyway, that’s just my take on it.

Look, I honestly don't think it's even possible for someone to drain my energy without choking on it themselves... I just have far too much of it to spare. 😉 But you know what? My *environment* can definitely pull it off... for instance, if I spend more than twenty minutes wandering through a massive Home Depot, that... predatory... vibe starts sucking the very thoughts right out of my head through a straw. A thin, long straw. Complete with spikes. That’s usually my cue to make a break for the exit on the left. 😁

But here’s a bit of a philosophical question for the group: do these leeches actually *show up* because we're overflowing with energy, or do we only start *noticing* them once we finally have something worth taking...? In other words—maybe they've always been lurking around us, but when we're already running on empty... how exactly do you pour from an empty cup into another empty one?

I have to disagree with you there. There are plenty of people out there who are acutely aware of how fleeting life is, yet they don't let themselves get swallowed up by melancholy.
Actually, I’d argue that melancholy isn't necessarily about the transience of *oneself*—it's more about the realization that everything, absolutely everything, eventually reaches an end.

But then again, maybe melancholy is just a symptom of a spirit that can't see what's right in front of it... or perhaps it's a spirit that stares too far into the distance? In focusing so intensely on those vast, distant horizons, we might miss the beauty of what is sitting right here, in this very moment. And honestly, no life is ever truly wasted if it was lived well... the ripples we create in the waters of time echo on toward eternity. Isn't that its own kind of immortality?

Go ahead, keep digging if you want. I see you’ve decided your location is "the underworld" too—brave move, I'll give you that! 😉

Scarlett O'Hara said:It’s just a little reminder. 🙂...and perhaps there’s still more to add to the conversation?

She really did take me right back to "the good old days." And now...

Is there anyone else hanging out here?

Is there any more left? Are there even any countries remaining?

Does anyone have any recommendations for decent wine left in their cellar? I’m looking for something actually worth sipping on—any suggestions for what’s still good? 😁

Well, I don't know about all of you... but I’m definitely raising a glass tonight! Here’s to good spirits, fertile lands, the deep blue sea, and—most importantly—to wonderful people! 😉

Maleficent, you absolute necromancer... just how deep did you have to dig to exhume and resurrect this thread? 😁

But hey, go ahead... you’ve actually gone and stirred up some old memories and reminded me of some other folks from way back when... 🙂

Are you thinking: deficio excreta spiritualis is the principle? 😛