tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post6320200943617834911..comments2023-10-05T06:20:40.173-04:00Comments on Quaker Pagan Reflections: GracelessnessCat C-B (and/or Peter B)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10002916434676859262noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-53187767707013282552010-01-19T21:09:14.880-05:002010-01-19T21:09:14.880-05:00Ditto what everyone else said--and you'll prob...Ditto what everyone else said--and you'll probably want to reach out and hit me in my virtual face for saying it--but, you're way cool for injuring yourself while wielding a sword!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-81774731004627428592010-01-19T06:04:39.984-05:002010-01-19T06:04:39.984-05:00I think you should give yourself a pat on the back...I think you should give yourself a pat on the back for being aware of your crankiness - it shows mindfulness.<br /><br />It also reminds me of the concept of First Thoughts, Second Thoughts and Third Thoughts in Terry Pratchett's <a href="http://shereadsbooks.org/2009/review-a-hat-full-of-sky-by-terry-pratchett/" rel="nofollow">A Hat Full of Sky</a> - thus showing that you're a proper witch ;)Yewtreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-77174800138289177692010-01-18T15:08:18.467-05:002010-01-18T15:08:18.467-05:00Cat, thanks for the honesty - and for continuing t...Cat, thanks for the honesty - and for continuing to be part of your community, even when feeling it hard to take. I find times of grumpiness (and the self-dislike that can come with it) to be good lesson times, if I can detach a bit from the situation. It's helpful when I know others face the same kinds of struggles. (Physical suffering that isn't obvious to others is certainly one of the hardest conditions to detach from!)Mary Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06476814211173076515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-43598927455457392742010-01-18T13:14:31.690-05:002010-01-18T13:14:31.690-05:00Cat, I so know what you feel. I think my curmudge...Cat, I so know what you feel. I think my curmudgeon button has been jammed for some twenty odd years. In fact, even as a child, when people say encouraging and helpful things to me, my gut reaction has been a great desire to hit them in the face. Still, even depressives like me realize that we are surrounded by love. It manifests itself in a thousand undeniable ways (although some of them are annoying). For me, it humor that keeps me going in the face of my own crappiness. You have a generous sense of humor which is why even grumps like me are fond of you.Hysteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02044678910937934731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-62779242135118253582010-01-18T12:31:40.961-05:002010-01-18T12:31:40.961-05:00Cat, this was such a great post for reminding all ...Cat, this was such a great post for reminding all of us that no matter how "enlightened" or in touch with the Divine we try to be, we're all human, which means we come custom-made with a whiney little mental voice that is alternately complaining about life or making excuses for why we are as we are. And it's like an ugly lamp from a beloved relative that we can't get rid of--it's there, it's always part of the scene, we just have to acknowledge it and work around it. <br /><br />PBS just did a series "This Emotional Life" and the segment on happiness had a portion about an elderly lady who discussed staying happy in the face of losses, including in her case the death of her husband of 60+ years. I had just commented to my partner that the one challenge I consistently see in even my most gracious elderly patients is physical pain, and then the lady referred to it herself. <br /><br />I was at a lecture of Zen teacher Cheri Huber recently and a woman in the audience challenged Cheri's assertion that in the present moment everything is perfect by saying, "I have an earache at the moment and that is NOT perfect, it is wrong!" To which Cheri said, "How do you know that's wrong?" Meaning, it's often not the pain, per se, that is the problem--it's the scary, frightening internal dialog by our whiney/defending voice that really messes us up ("I will never get better"; "This pain means my leg will fall off"; "Maybe I have an infection and am going to die!" etc.) I think that's probably right, but have to admit that the times in my life when I was REALLY frightened or overwhelmed was when I had an illness of some sort and felt out of control of my body.Rick Loftus, M.D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-64736291120078825452010-01-18T10:40:22.494-05:002010-01-18T10:40:22.494-05:00I come to your blog through my son "thurman&q...I come to your blog through my son "thurman". I have also dealt with some pain, although not as bad as some.<br /><br />I had a hip replacement in mid-2007, after about 10 years of gradually worsening pain (doctors call it arthritis, but I don't know what that really means). Anyway, right after the surgery I started going to an alternative medicine physician, who helped me a lot. In December I had a doctor visit and (unplanned by me) I got on a rant about when was I going to be better and back to normal. Dr. looked me in the eye and said--I can't tell you that, but just consider how far you have come. That hit me hard. Then he suggested that, when I went to bed each night, I repeat "Every day in every way I'm getting better and better." That also hit me as an excellent idea and I have done it ever since. Maybe I'm just very suggestible, but it really seems to help. My body will never be perfect again, if it ever was, but I can do what I want and need to do.<br /><br />Sorry about going on so long; hope my experience will be helful to you and anyone else who reads it. Positive thinking really works!<br /><br />Brenda (fiddler)fiddlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202181046628287947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-7574522642292964742010-01-18T06:29:16.470-05:002010-01-18T06:29:16.470-05:00Cat, I had about two years of feeling like this. ...Cat, I had about two years of feeling like this. I was barely able to contribute to my spiritual community, so centered on my pain had I become. The good news is, like everything else in life it did pass, and is reduced now to an annoying little pain that I can put aside most of the time. Now it is only a reminder to be grateful for what hand I have been dealt.<br /><br />I relate so much to this part of your journey, I guess I just wanted to write and say, "have faith, this too shall pass."<br /><br />Blessings,<br />LindaLinda J Wilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307531394723506106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-83261019703593610832010-01-18T03:32:51.672-05:002010-01-18T03:32:51.672-05:00It's a good discovery for everyone to see that...It's a good discovery for everyone to see that they are only human. And selfish, nasty little humans at that. (^v^) Once you get used to it and accept who (and what) you are, it becomes a lot more easy to be nice and relaxed about people around you, even if they may be stupid.<br /><br />(Believe me, I am the nicest bitch you ever met.)Diandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570498251611083259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-10694862648328055832010-01-17T21:56:46.859-05:002010-01-17T21:56:46.859-05:00Illness and pain are so difficult. I know my react...Illness and pain are so difficult. I know my reaction to them exposes the bits of me that I would rather hide and deny, than bring into the Light, accept and embrace. Pain is really difficult, and as I have read your own experience with it, it has helped me to feel not so alone. So thank you for your honesty in writing.anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25987874.post-67868021618251624712010-01-17T20:11:46.919-05:002010-01-17T20:11:46.919-05:00i read this and it resonated so much, and i'm ...i read this and it resonated so much, and i'm not even going through pain. i'm in a totally selfish period right now and i'm not happy with it. but reading your writing and seeing your awareness and... actual nonselfishness, really... come through... was so good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com