Reflections

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  1. TofuLove75790
    TofuLove
    22 hours ago

    That optimism and positivity are really good signs that someone is going to be a good person long-term in my life. When someone has more that happiness and joyfulness — they add more to your life and even more when times get rough, there is a way higher chance of their sticking around through it. I never really understood that until recently, how happy and optimistic people make really good friends while sort of the reverse is true — those who tend to be more negative, more pessimistic, more self disliking and lower confidence really are not good through the hard times. I made lots of friends when I was up and things were going really well who always needed a lot of help, always seemed sort of low in mood and I think on some level I thought they were the safer choice — like oh if I have down moods, if I have setbacks, they’ll be there for me and actually no, the people who stuck around were happier and had this confidence and zest, they were more independent, more confident, more outspoken, more communicative, it didn’t intimidate them to have someone who was going through negative stuff. They could pick-up the slack and allow me to lean on them too.

    If you are in a crowd, the person to look for to have a conversation with is the person who seems the most happy. That seems so obvious but like I only recently understand it’s because that person has a higher probability of being a good friend long-term. So going forward I have changed who I am looking to become friends with and spend time around. Hard lesson when you have all these people disappear on you but well worth it — never too late to learn! I also learned from this to appreciate my own optimism and positivity instead of view it as so odd.

  2. Ose
    Ose
    5 days ago

    About the deep loyalty and love of my sister and her unconditional listening. About allowing beeing guided by love and not fear and the freedom of this sometimes possible shift within, for which i am deeply grateful. Thank you!

  3. barba
    barba
    5 days ago

    I discover the world of haikus. Haikus are 3-line “poems” that show a moment – and can still tell a whole story – in the reader’s head
    I love old haikus but above all new, modern, and there are first attempts to “discover” haikus in my everyday life

  4. J
    Jose II cecillano
    5 days ago

    I can be spontaneously be romantic even though i just mimic some of it from my favorite movies.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      5 days ago

      Too funny.

  5. L
    Loc Tran
    5 days ago

    The 2nd thing new I just learned recently is that the Vikings are a pretty good team. They beat the New York Giants 28-6 in their first game last Sunday. They beat the San Fransisco 49ers 23-17 this afternoon. They’re currently leaders in their division.
    Coming from the Twin Cities, lets make it to the Superbowl, Vikings Nation!!!!!!!!!!

  6. j
    Jake
    5 days ago

    I’ve been exploring the website and like what I’ve found thus far. I’ve sent a few eCards using the new system. Thank you for all your wonderful work, and please keep it up.

  7. J
    Jessica Wang
    5 days ago

    I learned to challenge my fear of heights doing an intermediate level Sky Walk. The 3rd course left my knees weak like jelly, I was shaking as I stepped out onto the wooden plank and it swayed beneath my feet while 30 ft up in the air. I almost gave up. But my friends ahead of me and behind me gave me an encouraging smile and told me I could do it. So I pushed and made it through. After that the challenges were increasingly more difficult, but I grew the courage to embrace the difficulty and move past my fears! I really want to apply this to other things I doubt my own ability in.

    I’ve also spent the past week in Germany. I totally came in blind not knowing any German, but it’s been an awesome experience talking to locals and learning bits and pieces of their language/culture from them and from my surroundings! For example at the parking garages I’ll see “Eingang” as I’m entering and “Ausfahrt” with arrows pointing to the exit, so I won’t explain what they mean because I’m sure you guys have picked it up as well! That’s a little snippet of something cool I’ve picked up lately.

    1. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      5 days ago

      I’m such a child. Every time I would
      see Ausfahrt, I would have to smile.
      😃

      1. Mary
        Mary
        5 days ago

        😂

    2. j
      Jake
      5 days ago

      Congratulations on challenging your fear of heights! That must not have been easy. I’ve never been to Germany but would like to go sometime.

  8. Barb C
    Barb C
    5 days ago

    Usually I read poetry before coming to the question. I’m doing things out of order today because of the need to pick those tomatoes before rain returns. Hence I’m back to share a poem that seems to fit the question.

    “The Edge of Doubt”
    By Albert Huffstickler

    There is always
    that edge of doubt.
    Trust it.
    That’s where
    the new things come from. If
    you can’t live with it,
    get out because,
    when it’s gone
    you’re on automatic,
    repeating something
    you’ve learned.
    Let your prayer be:
    save me from that tempting
    certainty that
    leads me back
    from the edge,
    that dark edge where
    the first light breaks.

    https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2015/09/albert-huffstickler-edge-of-doubt.html

    1. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      5 days ago

      So good. Thank you 🙏

  9. Barb C
    Barb C
    5 days ago

    I attended an active transportation conference last week and learned about some wonderful projects that are involving youth in planning street improvements. They were asked to draw a circle around their neighborhood on a map (the old-fashioned way, with physical paper and crayons), circles around where they like to go, and very importantly (and the first time I’ve ever heard this in transportation planning) which places they *avoid*. They gave insights into why they avoid those places. The city is using this information to plan where to make improvements, not just for walking and bicycling but for other issues raised about personal safety.

    One of the people on my team organized this whole panel on engaging youth and it was fantastic. I get to learn how much each of them can do when something like organizing and presenting comes along.

    On the home front I learned that when I don’t pick tomatoes for 3 days due to conferences and heavy rains I have a lot of catching up to do! Yesterday I picked 14 pounds. I dried cherry and grape tomatoes on my dehydrator, did a slow oven roast of the romas and San Marzanos, made spicy tomato jam with some, and I’m giving some to a friend. I just picked today and I have another 5 pounds that will become marinated dehydrated tomatoes (https://foodinjars.com/recipe/marinated-dehydrated-tomatoes/). Not really new information but somewhat astonishing that my garden is so prolific this year. I’ve also come to realize that I need to plan ahead more for next year’s garden.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      5 days ago

      That is certainly a lot of tomatoes Barb!

  10. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    5 days ago

    As I sit here and try to think of something
    new that I have learned recently, it seems
    that I am constantly re learning things.
    Things have to be consistently reenforced.
    One thing that I have learned recently is
    that, the way I handled conflict, trauma,
    or adversity as a child, is the way in which
    I tend to operate in those situations as an
    adult. And it’s interesting to catch myself
    doing that (now inappropriate) thing again.
    Going back to that coping method that may
    have worked for me as a child, but is no
    longer effective or even appropriate and
    probably damaging to me and those around
    me.

  11. Jenifer
    Jenifer
    5 days ago

    Weightlifting! I’ve been attending this class for 3 weeks and I’m getting noticeably stronger! It had me reflecting on the importance of strength, not just physically, but emotionally as well.

  12. Mary
    Mary
    5 days ago

    I have frequently learned and relearned to take care of my body.
    My husband and I walk 5 days a week and before walking I do physical therapy exercises.
    With various commitments and appointments walking became inconvenient,
    so for about 3 weeks we walked infrequently and I stopped my exercises on non-walking days.
    It felt pretty good, like a nice break, until it didn’t.
    So now we’re back to walking,
    and I’m back to doing my exercises,
    after feeling that old familiar discomfort in my knee.
    I’ve learned it before, and I just learned again.
    Take care of my body.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      5 days ago

      Doing my mindful standing yoga along with some other stretches, push-ups and some sets with the resistance bands has helped me deal with the aging process. I like to treat them as a daily ritual.

  13. Butterfly
    Butterfly
    5 days ago

    The most recent thing I have learnt is that I had 4 pots of homemade butterbean and roast vegetable pate that I didn’t know I had! They were found in the bottom of the freezer when my carer was defrosting it on Thursday morning. At first I was disappointed as I was looking forward to starting on soups now that it’s getting cooler but after having one pot for lunches this weekend I remembered how tasty it is! It’s the little things 😁

  14. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    5 days ago

    I have learned that the reason and purpose why humans are born into this world is to live to live eternally and in order to do that we must get rid of our karma,habits, and body.
    So this is a joyful moment of letting go of the false human mind that knows nothing but this false self!
    Here is a link showing the over 350 centres in the world learning how to let go !
    https://onlinemeditationevents.com/locations/

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      5 days ago

      Thank you Antoinette.

  15. Yram
    Yram
    5 days ago

    This is a good question. I recently said to myself that I have not learned anything new. On Wednesday our complex will have a trivia night on the country of Cambodia. I will learn about that country.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      5 days ago

      That sounds like fun!
      Such a great way to learn about places around the world!

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