Karen, I think that anyone who works with autistic children (or others with special needs) is doing something pretty amazing and worthwhile. It seems that you are getting so much out of this experience yourself. It seems that you have emerged from many challenges a much stronger person - and that is encouraging and inspiring for the rest of us. JY - you have taken big risks too, and it seems that you are still searching. You are right - I think many women - including me, stand in a place and wonder what is best, or what to do next. I'm working my way through Eckhart Tolle's latest book, "A New Earth - awakening your life's purpose," and finding it very helpful. He uses a lot of stuff written and spoken about before, but he does it in a different and fresher way. I sometimes wonder if reading/learning something important depends on what we are looking for ourselves, and whether it resonates with present struggles? I might have read some of this material - in other books - a few years ago, but it seems like I am more ready to explore it now, understand it, and learn from it. Has anyone else read and found this book helpful on the topic of finding direction?
I am sorry to hear of your mother's death, patmcq. I can understand how writing your mother's obituary during her dying process was comforting to you. I think newspapers need to decide whether they want to print "death notices" or "obituaries." I would have thought simple death notices should be free of charge, since they are a service to the community. If people write and pay for an obituary they should be printed without serious editing. I would like my obituary to say less about the things i've done and more about the kind of person I am/was. I like the 'tribute" section here on the Boomergirl website; maybe we need to start a "here's what I would like my obit. tolook like" section?
You are right. I know I should be really grateful for news that my eyes are healthy - no cataracts, cancers, torn retinas - all of the things I could have had. And, yes, poorer eyesight is not dependent on age. One of the young women I talked to in the spectacle store said: "Oh, you are so lucky; I had to start wearing glasses when I was seven." Others have been very encouraging in suggesting, like you did, that I see them as "cool." I've narrowed my selection down to three pairs, and Cathy H sent me details of some great discounts which are helping ease the shock of the cost a little bit. I'll probably dither for another day or two before I make my final selection.
Good for you for thinking of going to your salesperson first; I wish I had followed that path. I hope the lesson of the gas caps saves someone else from unnecesarry hassle and expense. So far, we have not received any benefits from our expensive warranties. The good side of this is that we have reliable cars.
I still pick up pennies, and I am very grateful for those people who place ones in register bowls. The Post Office staff I meet are pleasant, polite and offer excellent service - once I am able to reach the counter. Having over thirty people in line with only two people serving is NOT, in my view, the best customer service. This is something for management to change.
Some places in Lawrence offer first-class customer service, as well as good value for money. Like, Amazonratz, I comment on good service whenever I receive it. However, there are still too many places who are happy with mediocre or very poor service. When I am unhappy with something, I generally speak up and try to have it corrected. I am willing to give places a second chance, but if I feel my business or comments are not valued, I will simply go elsewhere. What do others think?
I loved your expression "We (women) are a wealth more precious than gold," Daphne, as well as your reflection on the symbol of the snowdrop. I wasn't aware that the "foxholes" dug during wartime were to hold two people. I have been blessed with women friends who have taken the risk of getting into the foxhole with me, and who have even dug them to protect me when I have been in the "emotional war zone."
One of the gifts of growing older, is the capacity to be more honest and vulnerable. When we take the risk of reaching out to another woman friend - to receive help or give comfort -the benefits are extraordinary.
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, Photogal. I have some friends who have become widows too young, and from what they have shared with me, it is a very challenging and painful process. Do you have contact with any women around your age who have gone through or who are going through the same thing? If any of you are out there, and reading this, I hope you will share some of your story.
Thanks, Amazonratz for your insightful comments. I, too, have heard that one about God not giving us more than we can handle. I wonder what kind of God sits around handing out near impossible things for people to bear? Suffering CAN make us stronger, but, like you, I have also seen people be crushed by it. I believe that part of our work on earth is to be available to support each other in times of trouble, and to celebrate with each other in times of joy.
Most times, when we reach out, we don't want people to fix us; we simply want them to stand beside us until we find our own answers and solutions.
I love your imagery of the ocean glass. I could just see it as you were describing it. It will be inteesting to see what others come up with.
Thanks, Daphne. I agree with what you say. Part of the family thing with me is tied up with expectations. Loving someone is risky because we open ourselves up to the possibility of hurt and pain, as well as the joy. Without forgivenss it is hard for relationships to be really authentic. Someone once said that lack of forgiveness is like trying to kill someone and drinking the posion yourself. The thing that surprises me as I grow older, is that there are so many layers to forgivensss. Incidents and people that I thought I had forgiven re-surface, and I have to do more work on it. I know there are some people who find forgiveness easy, but I am not one of them.
Thanks, Bigsheep. I was sturck by your phrase "so much hatred breeding in such a beautiful county." My niece has been working in Africa, and she had the privelege of visiting Rwanda a week ago. She said it was "the most beautiful place on earth." She visited the places of the massacres and was overwhelmed. When she walked through villages she said she was struck at how people who had witnessed such horror appeared to be outwardly normal.
eroddy (eroddy) says...
Karen,
I think that anyone who works with autistic children (or others with special needs) is doing something pretty amazing and worthwhile. It seems that you are getting so much out of this experience yourself.
It seems that you have emerged from many challenges a much stronger person - and that is encouraging and inspiring for the rest of us.
JY - you have taken big risks too, and it seems that you are still searching. You are right - I think many women - including me, stand in a place and wonder what is best, or what to do next.
I'm working my way through Eckhart Tolle's latest book, "A New Earth - awakening your life's purpose," and finding it very helpful. He uses a lot of stuff written and spoken about before, but he does it in a different and fresher way.
I sometimes wonder if reading/learning something important depends on what we are looking for ourselves, and whether it resonates with present struggles? I might have read some of this material - in other books - a few years ago, but it seems like I am more ready to explore it now, understand it, and learn from it.
Has anyone else read and found this book helpful on the topic of finding direction?
On Where do I go from here?
February 29, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
I am sorry to hear of your mother's death, patmcq. I can understand how writing your mother's obituary during her dying process was comforting to you.
I think newspapers need to decide whether they want to print "death notices" or "obituaries." I would have thought simple death notices should be free of charge, since they are a service to the community. If people write and pay for an obituary they should be printed without serious editing. I would like my obituary to say less about the things i've done and more about the kind of person I am/was.
I like the 'tribute" section here on the Boomergirl website; maybe we need to start a "here's what I would like my obit. tolook like" section?
On Deathly Matters
January 11, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
You are right. I know I should be really grateful for news that my eyes are healthy - no cataracts, cancers, torn retinas - all of the things I could have had. And, yes, poorer eyesight is not dependent on age. One of the young women I talked to in the spectacle store said: "Oh, you are so lucky; I had to start wearing glasses when I was seven." Others have been very encouraging in suggesting, like you did, that I see them as "cool."
I've narrowed my selection down to three pairs, and Cathy H sent me details of some great discounts which are helping ease the shock of the cost a little bit.
I'll probably dither for another day or two before I make my final selection.
On Attitude adjustment
October 24, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
Good for you for thinking of going to your salesperson first; I wish I had followed that path. I hope the lesson of the gas caps saves someone else from unnecesarry hassle and expense.
So far, we have not received any benefits from our expensive warranties. The good side of this is that we have reliable cars.
On Consumer challenges
May 24, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
I still pick up pennies, and I am very grateful for those people who place ones in register bowls. The Post Office staff I meet are pleasant, polite and offer excellent service - once I am able to reach the counter. Having over thirty people in line with only two people serving is NOT, in my view, the best customer service. This is something for management to change.
Some places in Lawrence offer first-class customer service, as well as good value for money. Like, Amazonratz, I comment on good service whenever I receive it. However, there are still too many places who are happy with mediocre or very poor service.
When I am unhappy with something, I generally speak up and try to have it corrected. I am willing to give places a second chance, but if I feel my business or comments are not valued, I will simply go elsewhere.
What do others think?
On Consumer challenges
May 20, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
I loved your expression "We (women) are a wealth more precious than gold," Daphne, as well as your reflection on the symbol of the snowdrop. I wasn't aware that the "foxholes" dug during wartime were to hold two people. I have been blessed with women friends who have taken the risk of getting into the foxhole with me, and who have even dug them to protect me when I have been in the "emotional war zone."
One of the gifts of growing older, is the capacity to be more honest and vulnerable. When we take the risk of reaching out to another woman friend - to receive help or give comfort -the benefits are extraordinary.
On Hit by an emotional truck
April 30, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, Photogal. I have some friends who have become widows too young, and from what they have shared with me, it is a very challenging and painful process. Do you have contact with any women around your age who have gone through or who are going through the same thing? If any of you are out there, and reading this, I hope you will share some of your story.
On Hit by an emotional truck
April 25, 2007 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
Thanks, Amazonratz for your insightful comments. I, too, have heard that one about God not giving us more than we can handle. I wonder what kind of God sits around handing out near impossible things for people to bear? Suffering CAN make us stronger, but, like you, I have also seen people be crushed by it. I believe that part of our work on earth is to be available to support each other in times of trouble, and to celebrate with each other in times of joy.
Most times, when we reach out, we don't want people to fix us; we simply want them to stand beside us until we find our own answers and solutions.
I love your imagery of the ocean glass. I could just see it as you were describing it. It will be inteesting to see what others come up with.
On Hit by an emotional truck
April 21, 2007 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
Thanks, Daphne. I agree with what you say. Part of the family thing with me is tied up with expectations. Loving someone is risky because we open ourselves up to the possibility of hurt and pain, as well as the joy. Without forgivenss it is hard for relationships to be really authentic.
Someone once said that lack of forgiveness is like trying to kill someone and drinking the posion yourself. The thing that surprises me as I grow older, is that there are so many layers to forgivensss. Incidents and people that I thought I had forgiven re-surface, and I have to do more work on it.
I know there are some people who find forgiveness easy, but I am not one of them.
On Opening the heart, Part three.
April 19, 2007 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eroddy (eroddy) says...
Thanks, Bigsheep. I was sturck by your phrase "so much hatred breeding in such a beautiful county." My niece has been working in Africa, and she had the privelege of visiting Rwanda a week ago. She said it was "the most beautiful place on earth." She visited the places of the massacres and was overwhelmed. When she walked through villages she said she was struck at how people who had witnessed such horror appeared to be outwardly normal.
On Peace at last?
April 12, 2007 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )