If you want a good laugh, please go and look at the comments on my post "My turn to try it".
It's a hoot (if you get it).
Monday, 29 September 2008
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Out of touch
I'm sorry to be so out of touch with everyone recently. I am reading a great book that Hunter checked out of the AB-Tech library called "The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert world." I have also been reading a book someone lent me called "Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand, and Deal with People Who Try to Control You" .
Does anyone remember me writing a post one time about being self-centered or self-absorbed and how I wanted to try to change that? Well, according to this book about Introverts that is really a trait of introverts. A trait that is not necessarily bad. Here is what the author, Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D, says: "Let's now take aim at two of the most common charges lobbed at introverts--that they are self-centered and unsociable. It's easy to see why introverts can appear self-absorbed or uninterested, because we shut down external stimulation when we have had enough. Why? We need to compare external experiences to our own internal experience, attempting to understand new information. We think "How did that experience affect me?"
Rather than being self-centered, introverts are often really the opposite. Our ability to focus on our internal world and reflect on what we are feeling and experiencing allows us to understand the external world and other human beings better. What appears to be self-centeredness is actually the vary talent that provides the capacity to understand what it's like to put ourselves in someone else's shoes."
This was very affirming to hear for me. I have felt guilty for too long for being what I have considered to be self-absorbed or self-centered. It is nice to hear that in this case this trait is not "selfish".
Another interesting thing, an analogy, is that only about 25% of the population is introverted. One doctor quoted in the book said that the introverts are like the advisor class and the extroverts are like the warrior class (the doers). The warriors need counsel from the advisors, and the advisors need warriors to take action and make things happen. (there is much more to this than I am including here)
They later say that introverts often feel unheard or unseen. I think this is because an extrovert will run with the idea of an introvert and because of their nature of getting attention the idea will get noticed more. I totally identified with that.
The book is written for introverts to understand themselves and recognize they are OK being the way they are and that there are positive aspects to being introverted. But the author recommends that extroverts read the book as well, to help them understand the minority population and what they have to deal with living in an extroverted world. If you are extroverted you might well be saying "Give me a BREAK!" but that is exactly why you should read this and try to understand a little better.
Anyway, as has been mentioned by someone in the family already (Bonnie or Tag) when this was brought up before, there is a continuum of introversion and extroversion and people fall somewhere on that continuum and not everyone is extremely one way or the other.
I found it interesting also that not all introverts are shy and some extroverts are. It is a fascinating topic in my opinion, but then I'm an introvert and I like to understand things in great detail. Extroverts = breadth, introverts= depth.
Fascinating! All this reading and reflecting recharges me!
Does anyone remember me writing a post one time about being self-centered or self-absorbed and how I wanted to try to change that? Well, according to this book about Introverts that is really a trait of introverts. A trait that is not necessarily bad. Here is what the author, Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D, says: "Let's now take aim at two of the most common charges lobbed at introverts--that they are self-centered and unsociable. It's easy to see why introverts can appear self-absorbed or uninterested, because we shut down external stimulation when we have had enough. Why? We need to compare external experiences to our own internal experience, attempting to understand new information. We think "How did that experience affect me?"
Rather than being self-centered, introverts are often really the opposite. Our ability to focus on our internal world and reflect on what we are feeling and experiencing allows us to understand the external world and other human beings better. What appears to be self-centeredness is actually the vary talent that provides the capacity to understand what it's like to put ourselves in someone else's shoes."
This was very affirming to hear for me. I have felt guilty for too long for being what I have considered to be self-absorbed or self-centered. It is nice to hear that in this case this trait is not "selfish".
Another interesting thing, an analogy, is that only about 25% of the population is introverted. One doctor quoted in the book said that the introverts are like the advisor class and the extroverts are like the warrior class (the doers). The warriors need counsel from the advisors, and the advisors need warriors to take action and make things happen. (there is much more to this than I am including here)
They later say that introverts often feel unheard or unseen. I think this is because an extrovert will run with the idea of an introvert and because of their nature of getting attention the idea will get noticed more. I totally identified with that.
The book is written for introverts to understand themselves and recognize they are OK being the way they are and that there are positive aspects to being introverted. But the author recommends that extroverts read the book as well, to help them understand the minority population and what they have to deal with living in an extroverted world. If you are extroverted you might well be saying "Give me a BREAK!" but that is exactly why you should read this and try to understand a little better.
Anyway, as has been mentioned by someone in the family already (Bonnie or Tag) when this was brought up before, there is a continuum of introversion and extroversion and people fall somewhere on that continuum and not everyone is extremely one way or the other.
I found it interesting also that not all introverts are shy and some extroverts are. It is a fascinating topic in my opinion, but then I'm an introvert and I like to understand things in great detail. Extroverts = breadth, introverts= depth.
Fascinating! All this reading and reflecting recharges me!
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Painting again!
I enrolled in a watercolor painting class again and went to MY first class yesterday, I missedTHE first class due to a previous commitment. This was a different teacher than last time and she does things totally different from the last teacher. I actually like her a lot. Paula Parker is her name. We did more actual painting and learning techniques in this one class than I remember doing the whole time in my last class. It was fun!
I remember one of our first projects in the class before was a still life and you have to be able to draw the things you see in front of you. And then we painted them but hadn't really done much experimenting first and I got soo frustrated that it was supposed to look like something when we didn't yet know what we were doing.
Yesterday's class was more abstract. In case you don't know, watercolor is one of the harder mediums to work with, but also one of the most versatile in the things you can do with it. You can paint light and watery, or dark, you can paint exact lines or blurry lines. One thing you must do if you don't want your colors to bleed into each other is to let an area dry first and then you can paint next to it.
We did a resistance thing where we drew on the paper with a white crayon and then painted over it, but the paint doesn't go where the crayon is, so it leaves whatever design you drew or makes it appear magically.
Pretty cool.
I remember one of our first projects in the class before was a still life and you have to be able to draw the things you see in front of you. And then we painted them but hadn't really done much experimenting first and I got soo frustrated that it was supposed to look like something when we didn't yet know what we were doing.
Yesterday's class was more abstract. In case you don't know, watercolor is one of the harder mediums to work with, but also one of the most versatile in the things you can do with it. You can paint light and watery, or dark, you can paint exact lines or blurry lines. One thing you must do if you don't want your colors to bleed into each other is to let an area dry first and then you can paint next to it.
We did a resistance thing where we drew on the paper with a white crayon and then painted over it, but the paint doesn't go where the crayon is, so it leaves whatever design you drew or makes it appear magically.
Pretty cool.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
One heck of a day
Ok, it is after midnight so even though technically it is Saturday and this will post as if written on Saturday, to me it is Friday night. This day started off with me not even getting to bed till 2:30 in the morning. I had spent some miserable time alone (had declined an invitation to play games with S and K and N and B thinking at that time I had to be at work by 8:30am) and was still awake when E got home at about 12:30am. He consoled me for about an hour and a half which is why I didn't get to bed until 2:30am.
I feel so lucky to have him for a son and to have had him with me last night. What a blessing. The people who understand depressed people the most are ones who have been there. I won't go into detail about how I'm feeling now or then as it just doesn't need to be talked about here (or maybe anywhere). I have things I need to do. Thoughts I need to think and a few I don't need to think.
I awoke at about 7:50 am with my eyes still a bit swollen. I didn't need to be at work until 9:30 this morning. I had a short day at my main place of work. I ran two errands with Pookie in tow (one was grocery shopping) and cooked three things for the people I work for and washed two loads of clothes for them. Left at a little after two to swing by the bank and go to my second job for a few hours.
My car, which has been dying on me and/or not starting for the last couple of weeks died on me and didn't restart right before I got to the bank. I walked to the bank to make my deposit hoping that the car would start when I got back (it usually does after sitting for a little while or whenever it decides to). It didn't and I was supposed to be in North Asheville by 3pm to pick up my charge from her school. Her parents, who actually work not too far from where I was stranded, had known about my car situation and had told me to call them if I had a problem so I did. The dad came to pick me up, I dropped him back off and took his car to pick up his daughter.
I planned to get help from one of the kids with the car after I got off work or call AAA if necessary. I called H on the way to P's house to see if he would be able to help me later and he said yes. So, I get to the school, pick up P and take her to her house. I called the dealership to ask them some questions about my car and while I was talking to them a restricted call came in which I didn't answer. I got off the phone with them and got another call, didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway. It was the police who had found my car and wanted me to get it moved right away as it was "in the middle of the road and a busy intersection" (it was not in the middle). If I couldn't get it moved they would have to tow it which would be a pain in the butt as well as expensive to retrieve.
I explained that I had planned to take care of it as soon as I got off of work and due to the nature of my work would not necessarily be able to drive back over there in their car (the parents) and on their time and with their child (which I decided already I would not charge them for). I said I had AAA and could get it towed to the dealership, but he said it takes too long sometimes for AAA to respond. I asked him if I could find out how long it might take and get back to him. He said OK. Maybe he suggested it, I don't remember. So, at one point I was on both phones at the same time (on hold with AAA and calling the police officer to make sure he didn't tow my car from it taking me so long). I got emotional with the AAA person (I've been very emotional lately anyway) and she was willing to make calls to see how quickly someone would be able to get to my car. In the meantime, P had to go potty and was telling me she wanted to change her clothes and on the way to the bathroom I noticed a pile of dog poop on the carpet. Later I realized there were two piles.
I am still negotiating on the phone with AAA and the police. AAA said they would need my keys to tow the car. So, I had to get a hold of the parents to ask if I could use their car and take their child back over to my car which they agreed to. C had called me during the other phone calls. I called C on the way back to my car to see if he could meet me there. He had called me to say that AAA had called the house saying they would need my keys and I told him I had already talked to someone and was on my way there. If anyone called back tell them I was on the way with the keys.
The parents had already determined or decided that they would leave work at 4:20 which was about the time the tow truck was loading my car. C followed me to their work and I gave them their daughter and their car. I got in C's car and on the way to the video game store I noticed he was close to empty and I had heard about two hours before that Asheville was running out of gas and the price would go up to $5 /gal on Saturday so I told him I'd buy him some gas (he had said he didn't have any money and would get it later). I encouraged him to do it now at the first place that didn't have a long line. It was $3.99 a gal.
We went back home, he left shortly to go to the school for marching band (football game). I walked and fed the dog. Then L, H and W (L's girlfriend's son) came by with a new microwave for me (L got a floor model real cheap for me, very thoughtful). We went to the game and they came by afterwards to install it. It was almost exactly like the other one, just a different color of white, and a few less bells and whistles, but the price was right.
While they were installing it, a dear friend, M, called and offered a car for me to use until I get mine back to running. I was going to use the one C has been driving, which was one of L's, and that was nice, but when school starts on Monday he will need it since there is no bus from either of our houses to the school. So, that is one less thing to stress about.
Oh, we lost the football game 33 to 3 or something ridiculous like that against Charlotte Christian School or Academy.
I cleaned my kitchen, washed and dried some clothes and began to write this post. I know I left a lot out, but that's ok. You get the gyst (sp?) of it all and now it is 1:10am (I began writing at 12:15).
E is hanging out with his longtime friend T and they are looking at funny videos online.
Guess I'll close for now. Bad, stressful things and good, thoughtful things all combined to form my day. I guess I should count my blessings.
I feel so lucky to have him for a son and to have had him with me last night. What a blessing. The people who understand depressed people the most are ones who have been there. I won't go into detail about how I'm feeling now or then as it just doesn't need to be talked about here (or maybe anywhere). I have things I need to do. Thoughts I need to think and a few I don't need to think.
I awoke at about 7:50 am with my eyes still a bit swollen. I didn't need to be at work until 9:30 this morning. I had a short day at my main place of work. I ran two errands with Pookie in tow (one was grocery shopping) and cooked three things for the people I work for and washed two loads of clothes for them. Left at a little after two to swing by the bank and go to my second job for a few hours.
My car, which has been dying on me and/or not starting for the last couple of weeks died on me and didn't restart right before I got to the bank. I walked to the bank to make my deposit hoping that the car would start when I got back (it usually does after sitting for a little while or whenever it decides to). It didn't and I was supposed to be in North Asheville by 3pm to pick up my charge from her school. Her parents, who actually work not too far from where I was stranded, had known about my car situation and had told me to call them if I had a problem so I did. The dad came to pick me up, I dropped him back off and took his car to pick up his daughter.
I planned to get help from one of the kids with the car after I got off work or call AAA if necessary. I called H on the way to P's house to see if he would be able to help me later and he said yes. So, I get to the school, pick up P and take her to her house. I called the dealership to ask them some questions about my car and while I was talking to them a restricted call came in which I didn't answer. I got off the phone with them and got another call, didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway. It was the police who had found my car and wanted me to get it moved right away as it was "in the middle of the road and a busy intersection" (it was not in the middle). If I couldn't get it moved they would have to tow it which would be a pain in the butt as well as expensive to retrieve.
I explained that I had planned to take care of it as soon as I got off of work and due to the nature of my work would not necessarily be able to drive back over there in their car (the parents) and on their time and with their child (which I decided already I would not charge them for). I said I had AAA and could get it towed to the dealership, but he said it takes too long sometimes for AAA to respond. I asked him if I could find out how long it might take and get back to him. He said OK. Maybe he suggested it, I don't remember. So, at one point I was on both phones at the same time (on hold with AAA and calling the police officer to make sure he didn't tow my car from it taking me so long). I got emotional with the AAA person (I've been very emotional lately anyway) and she was willing to make calls to see how quickly someone would be able to get to my car. In the meantime, P had to go potty and was telling me she wanted to change her clothes and on the way to the bathroom I noticed a pile of dog poop on the carpet. Later I realized there were two piles.
I am still negotiating on the phone with AAA and the police. AAA said they would need my keys to tow the car. So, I had to get a hold of the parents to ask if I could use their car and take their child back over to my car which they agreed to. C had called me during the other phone calls. I called C on the way back to my car to see if he could meet me there. He had called me to say that AAA had called the house saying they would need my keys and I told him I had already talked to someone and was on my way there. If anyone called back tell them I was on the way with the keys.
The parents had already determined or decided that they would leave work at 4:20 which was about the time the tow truck was loading my car. C followed me to their work and I gave them their daughter and their car. I got in C's car and on the way to the video game store I noticed he was close to empty and I had heard about two hours before that Asheville was running out of gas and the price would go up to $5 /gal on Saturday so I told him I'd buy him some gas (he had said he didn't have any money and would get it later). I encouraged him to do it now at the first place that didn't have a long line. It was $3.99 a gal.
We went back home, he left shortly to go to the school for marching band (football game). I walked and fed the dog. Then L, H and W (L's girlfriend's son) came by with a new microwave for me (L got a floor model real cheap for me, very thoughtful). We went to the game and they came by afterwards to install it. It was almost exactly like the other one, just a different color of white, and a few less bells and whistles, but the price was right.
While they were installing it, a dear friend, M, called and offered a car for me to use until I get mine back to running. I was going to use the one C has been driving, which was one of L's, and that was nice, but when school starts on Monday he will need it since there is no bus from either of our houses to the school. So, that is one less thing to stress about.
Oh, we lost the football game 33 to 3 or something ridiculous like that against Charlotte Christian School or Academy.
I cleaned my kitchen, washed and dried some clothes and began to write this post. I know I left a lot out, but that's ok. You get the gyst (sp?) of it all and now it is 1:10am (I began writing at 12:15).
E is hanging out with his longtime friend T and they are looking at funny videos online.
Guess I'll close for now. Bad, stressful things and good, thoughtful things all combined to form my day. I guess I should count my blessings.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
My turn to try it
There once was a mother so dear
Who said please lend me your ear
I have limericks for you
Oh yes I sure do
But you may not read them I fear
Who said please lend me your ear
I have limericks for you
Oh yes I sure do
But you may not read them I fear
update
Hello, I still don't have any grandchildren.
The boys are going to work and school.
I go to work. It's a boring job.
My car is still not working.
My laptop has a virus.
My neck still hurts.
Dazey chewed the corner off a sofa pillow.
I got to sleep till 8:30 this morning.
Yesterday I walked and talked with Sherry after I got my haircut.
I picked up Asaka food for Hunter and myself at 8 pm after the walk and talk.
The boys are going to work and school.
I go to work. It's a boring job.
My car is still not working.
My laptop has a virus.
My neck still hurts.
Dazey chewed the corner off a sofa pillow.
I got to sleep till 8:30 this morning.
Yesterday I walked and talked with Sherry after I got my haircut.
I picked up Asaka food for Hunter and myself at 8 pm after the walk and talk.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Death
Do you ever wonder? One of my enneagrams is thinker or questioner. I think it is my number one trait. I sometimes wonder why certain things happen certain ways. Perception and perspective are all relative. So, here are some ironic things for me recently. First, maybe it is because I am getting older so my friends are older and the people we know are older, etc, but I am more aware of many people I know who have cancer and many who are dying or have died recently. More than at any other time in my life. I already mentioned in an older post on my other blog about all the people I know who have some serious illness. In July, a Bahai I had known since I was a child passed away from complications of diabetes. I attended his memorial service. Several weeks later, maybe a month, the step-father of a dear friend passed away. I attended his funeral. The next weekend, the people I work for had their old dog put down. I got to say goodbye to him just a few minutes before and then took care of the daughter that weekend while the rest of the family grieved. Four days later, this past Tuesday, another dear friend of mine's father passed away. Then my car starts dying while I drive it. I also need new tires. I call the tire guy about tires and he asks me what size, so I pull off the road and park in front of the home of a friend nearby who is not home. While I am looking on the door to see my tire size I hear a noise behind me and turn around to see a rabbit fleeing a cat. The rabbit spastically jumps off the bank onto the road and flops around trying to get away. I wonder if it has broken its leg from the jump. I feel bad for the rabbit, but don't know what I can do. The cat disappears. I manage to follow the rabbit and get close enough to see that it has been injured on its neck. Most likely it is dying. I cry. I don't know what I should do if anything. It is a wild animal. Should I let nature take its course? Was I there to intervene, or was I there just to witness? What is the lesson? I left in tears. Left God to take care of it. Thursday I went to "the wake" for my friend's father. Friday, my car is still dying and I cannot go to work. Saturday, while cleaning the Baha'i Center, I find a dead hummingbird on the floor in our meeting room. I guess it had gotten in somehow and couldn't get out. Once again, I cried. I cry a lot these days.
So, I wonder. I wonder why I am being exposed to so much death and grief and pain so much right now. What is the lesson?
Maybe I am supposed to get the message that I am supposed to die. I don't mean my body, though I have felt sad enough recently to wish it so. I posted those thoughts briefly on my old blog. Took them off right away. I mean literally a minute didn't elapse before I removed it. Didn't really want anyone to worry about me.
No, I think my "self" needs to die. My insistent self. My ego, in other words. Did you know that is one of the hardest things to kill? One of the hardest things to let go of? One of the hardest things to surrender? I wonder if I can do it? I feel like I have been trying for years. Have not had success yet. How long will it take? It is not going without a fight. I believe I will not have true peace until I do. Until I release myself from self.
Is writing about myself, self-centered? Should I stop writing? Stop blogging? How do I stop thinking about myself yet take care of myself? These are all rhetorical questions. I am not asking for answers from anyone, though comments are welcome. Just don't feel like you have to respond just because I am asking questions. They are things I ponder. Maybe you do, too.
If I think about it, I am actually sick and tired of my self. It is depressing. Self consumes too much of my time and energy. Unproductive use of time and energy. Gonna keep trying to replace it with thoughtfulness of others.
Well, wish me luck!
So, I wonder. I wonder why I am being exposed to so much death and grief and pain so much right now. What is the lesson?
Maybe I am supposed to get the message that I am supposed to die. I don't mean my body, though I have felt sad enough recently to wish it so. I posted those thoughts briefly on my old blog. Took them off right away. I mean literally a minute didn't elapse before I removed it. Didn't really want anyone to worry about me.
No, I think my "self" needs to die. My insistent self. My ego, in other words. Did you know that is one of the hardest things to kill? One of the hardest things to let go of? One of the hardest things to surrender? I wonder if I can do it? I feel like I have been trying for years. Have not had success yet. How long will it take? It is not going without a fight. I believe I will not have true peace until I do. Until I release myself from self.
Is writing about myself, self-centered? Should I stop writing? Stop blogging? How do I stop thinking about myself yet take care of myself? These are all rhetorical questions. I am not asking for answers from anyone, though comments are welcome. Just don't feel like you have to respond just because I am asking questions. They are things I ponder. Maybe you do, too.
If I think about it, I am actually sick and tired of my self. It is depressing. Self consumes too much of my time and energy. Unproductive use of time and energy. Gonna keep trying to replace it with thoughtfulness of others.
Well, wish me luck!
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Hi, I went to an expensive doctor today to get a biopsy of the lump in my neck. $310!!! Turns out the reason the lump is tender or painful to the touch is because it is on or around a nerve. So, when he stuck the needle in there I felt nerve pain in my neck and back and arm A LOT and I screamed.
He is thinking he did not get enough tissue to get an accurate pathology report, but he will send it off anyway. I am due to see him again on Dad's birthday. But in the meantime I will get in touch with the health department again and see if they can assist me. Last time I went I still made too much money to get any kind of break. But maybe since I may need MRIs and other things like that they might be able to help me.
Cause I think I will skip an MRI depending on how much it costs and just live with the lump and the pain and hope it eventually goes away or at least doesn't get worse. It usually only hurts when I touch it or sometimes turn my head. I can live with that for now.
Maybe I should also see about the eye exam at the health dept too. I need new glasses or something. I can't see anymore. But good news. While I was at the Head, Neck and Ear surgeons today he removed a huge chunk of earwax from one of my ears and I can hear better! That is nice. So, I ain't got no money, but I bribed my kids to read the book I said I was going to demand they read by telling them I would give them $20 each after they read it. Hunter started it right away. He is halfway through and says he is about to give up on the $20 because it is not worth it. He is just being difficult. He's just getting to the good part!
I went straight from work to a visitation an hour away for my friend whose father passed on Tuesday and as I arrived back home I got a pix message of Bonnie's newest grandbaby. Bonnie hadn't even seen her yet, was only passing along the picture she had gotten on her phone. Baby weighs 7 lbs. 7 oz. born via c-section due to pre-eclampsia and butt first breech positioning.
I'm sure Bonnie will have more details on her blog soon. Check it out.
He is thinking he did not get enough tissue to get an accurate pathology report, but he will send it off anyway. I am due to see him again on Dad's birthday. But in the meantime I will get in touch with the health department again and see if they can assist me. Last time I went I still made too much money to get any kind of break. But maybe since I may need MRIs and other things like that they might be able to help me.
Cause I think I will skip an MRI depending on how much it costs and just live with the lump and the pain and hope it eventually goes away or at least doesn't get worse. It usually only hurts when I touch it or sometimes turn my head. I can live with that for now.
Maybe I should also see about the eye exam at the health dept too. I need new glasses or something. I can't see anymore. But good news. While I was at the Head, Neck and Ear surgeons today he removed a huge chunk of earwax from one of my ears and I can hear better! That is nice. So, I ain't got no money, but I bribed my kids to read the book I said I was going to demand they read by telling them I would give them $20 each after they read it. Hunter started it right away. He is halfway through and says he is about to give up on the $20 because it is not worth it. He is just being difficult. He's just getting to the good part!
I went straight from work to a visitation an hour away for my friend whose father passed on Tuesday and as I arrived back home I got a pix message of Bonnie's newest grandbaby. Bonnie hadn't even seen her yet, was only passing along the picture she had gotten on her phone. Baby weighs 7 lbs. 7 oz. born via c-section due to pre-eclampsia and butt first breech positioning.
I'm sure Bonnie will have more details on her blog soon. Check it out.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Someone named Amir took this picture of Jamie and me when I went to the singing devotional in "a nearby town". I was saying something when he snapped it, so my mouth is not smiling. I had a really good time drumming, but my hands are not conditioned for it. They are not calloused enough and I felt like I was going to pop a blood vessel. I have actually done that before when playing. So, I played easy rather than all out like Jamie did and does. I broke a blood vessel in my finger recently just trying to open something. It doesn't seem to take much.I am looking forward to going again in a month. I can't believe how much I look forward to it. It is weird really. Weird, but not. Because those folks are so warm and reading the prayers while someone plays the piano (it could be any soothing instrument), is soo moving! People just spoke or prayed from their soul. We sang some spirituals (I call them that). You know, the call and response or echo songs. The one that I remember the most is called "Done made my vow to the Lord!" I wish it was the last Sunday already!
Monday, 1 September 2008
Best Book!
I am in the middle almost exactly, of one of the best books (and I have read many) on the subject of dating/courtship/finding a marriage partner, etc. It is called Conscious Courtship: finding someone to love for the rest of your life by Raymond Switzer. In fact I think I will demand that my sons read this book as soon as possible. If I had had access to this book when I was a teenager I think it would or could have made such a difference in my life. I cannot say that I have read a book or anything else that I can say this about. Maybe I'm just in a place in my life where life experiences help me to see the wisdom in it. I don't know.
But if you or someone you know is wanting to eventually get married, I highly, highly recommend this book. I could have been saved some heartache if I had read this book a year ago.
I think. I would hope anyway.
I guess that's all for now. I'm going to get back to my reading!
Oh, but before I do, I also wanted to say how my trip to the nearby town went yesterday.
I went to "a nearby town" about an hour drive from here to visit their Bahai community. I had such a wonderful time. I took my African drum with me and we did drumming and singing and praying to piano music. It moved me to tears. It fed my soul! It was sooooo nice! They do that type of devotional once a month and I plan to try to go every month now, even though it uses a lot of gas for me. I will see if anyone wants to go with me next time and we can maybe share the gas (petrol) expense.
Surprisingly I was more outgoing than I usually am at new places with new faces. Anyway, the people were very warm. They had several newly declared Bahais in their community and I enjoyed meeting them and hugging them. I was so high on the way home. So happy and then I got back home or work I should say and a headache came on and knocked me down or else I would have written about this yesterday.
Interesting thing, many people from their community had been up here the weekend before attending the Goombay festival. I wish I had known they were all here, I might have tried to see them, but then I remembered I was doing funeral stuff. That was more important.
Ok, NOW I'm gonna go and read. Or maybe I'll get something to eat first.
But if you or someone you know is wanting to eventually get married, I highly, highly recommend this book. I could have been saved some heartache if I had read this book a year ago.
I think. I would hope anyway.
I guess that's all for now. I'm going to get back to my reading!
Oh, but before I do, I also wanted to say how my trip to the nearby town went yesterday.
I went to "a nearby town" about an hour drive from here to visit their Bahai community. I had such a wonderful time. I took my African drum with me and we did drumming and singing and praying to piano music. It moved me to tears. It fed my soul! It was sooooo nice! They do that type of devotional once a month and I plan to try to go every month now, even though it uses a lot of gas for me. I will see if anyone wants to go with me next time and we can maybe share the gas (petrol) expense.
Surprisingly I was more outgoing than I usually am at new places with new faces. Anyway, the people were very warm. They had several newly declared Bahais in their community and I enjoyed meeting them and hugging them. I was so high on the way home. So happy and then I got back home or work I should say and a headache came on and knocked me down or else I would have written about this yesterday.
Interesting thing, many people from their community had been up here the weekend before attending the Goombay festival. I wish I had known they were all here, I might have tried to see them, but then I remembered I was doing funeral stuff. That was more important.
Ok, NOW I'm gonna go and read. Or maybe I'll get something to eat first.
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