Re: just being--another thought... then lots of rambling

[Guest guest]

>

....Everything is my fault or I didn't do enough or

> it's some flaw or whatever.

>

> Here's an example:

>

> I should get a new hobby: Nothing interests me right now, which

means

> I'm boring, lazy and wasting my life

>

> I should make new friends: I'm an introvert by nature, that's a

flaw.

> You should be surrounded by people and friends and a flurry of

activity

> all the time or your life is not rich.

>

> I should start a business and make a million dollars: Doing what I

> don't know and I honestly don't want my own business which means

I'm

> unabmibitous and wasting my life.

>

> See what I mean?

>

Press, I think it's a sign of character to be able to accept yourself

as you are and acknowledge and appreciate your good points - even if

what you are isn't society's current ideal. Not just talking about

the physical appearance here, but internal stuff such as personality

and ambition and " achievements " .

Why is being surrounded by people such a positive? Being an

introvert is no flaw. Being able to deal with (and be happy in) your

own company is pretty damn important. I know people who *always*

have to be with others, who are *always* in a relationship - even if

a detrimental one - because they are afraid of being alone or being

perceived as unpopular or unloved. I feel sorry for them. They seem

to live in such fear.

If no hobbies particularly interest you right now, that's okay. You

are entitled to wait and keep an open mind and if something presents

itself to you, you'll be ready. We don't all have to be fascinating,

multi-talented and dynamic types. There would be too many egos

crammed in the one place ... aaarrrgh! (Ka-boom!!!)

And what is so intrinsically superior about being rich

and " successful " in business or whatever? If you want to run a

business because you would enjoy the challenge and would thrive on

the competition, knock yourself out. But if you're doing it because

you think you're somehow obliged to make a lot of money and be seen

to be successful - why? Once you've dealt with your ongoing daily

requirements, what else do you need? More stuff? We are just

surrounded by people intent on acquiring *stuff*. Stuff doesn't

necessarily make you happy (otherwise we wouldn't keep having to buy

more new stuff). Realising that money and stuff don't automatically

lead to happiness can be very confronting to those who made it their

life goal without really understanding why. But it's hard to go

against the dominant paradigm, when society (or at least the more

vocal part of Western society) tells us that's what we *should* want.

I think some of the " richest " people I know are those who are content

with what they have, and can express gratitude for just being,

appreciating the little things which give them and others pleasure in

life. They have a peace and a grace which make them so ...

attractive. They are people whom you want to spend time with and

learn from. Yet they don't care what others think about what they've

achieved or what they own. They don't need others' approval. They

are happy accepting themselves as they are. They don't have to DO,

they can just be.

I hope you can be one of those people too.

End of rambling. (That didn't quite come out the way I meant it to -

hope it makes some sense. It's getting late here .... )

Love

S

[Guest guest]

Sigi:

So much " WORD " to everything you wrote. Thank you for all of it.

It makes total sense.

Some day I hope to be one of those lucky people you described.

Honestly, I think the rampant consumerism and the media machine of

our society has totally shifted our ideas of waht is important.

> Press, I think it's a sign of character to be able to accept

yourself

> as you are and acknowledge and appreciate your good points - even

if

> what you are isn't society's current ideal. Not just talking about

> the physical appearance here, but internal stuff such as

personality

> and ambition and " achievements " .

>

> Why is being surrounded by people such a positive? Being an

> introvert is no flaw. Being able to deal with (and be happy in)

your

> own company is pretty damn important. I know people who *always*

> have to be with others, who are *always* in a relationship - even

if

> a detrimental one - because they are afraid of being alone or being

> perceived as unpopular or unloved. I feel sorry for them. They

seem

> to live in such fear.

>

> If no hobbies particularly interest you right now, that's okay.

You

> are entitled to wait and keep an open mind and if something

presents

> itself to you, you'll be ready. We don't all have to be

fascinating,

> multi-talented and dynamic types. There would be too many egos

> crammed in the one place ... aaarrrgh! (Ka-boom!!!)

>

> And what is so intrinsically superior about being rich

> and " successful " in business or whatever? If you want to run a

> business because you would enjoy the challenge and would thrive on

> the competition, knock yourself out. But if you're doing it

because

> you think you're somehow obliged to make a lot of money and be seen

> to be successful - why? Once you've dealt with your ongoing daily

> requirements, what else do you need? More stuff? We are just

> surrounded by people intent on acquiring *stuff*. Stuff doesn't

> necessarily make you happy (otherwise we wouldn't keep having to

buy

> more new stuff). Realising that money and stuff don't

automatically

> lead to happiness can be very confronting to those who made it

their

> life goal without really understanding why. But it's hard to go

> against the dominant paradigm, when society (or at least the more

> vocal part of Western society) tells us that's what we *should*

want.

>

> I think some of the " richest " people I know are those who are

content

> with what they have, and can express gratitude for just being,

> appreciating the little things which give them and others pleasure

in

> life. They have a peace and a grace which make them so ...

> attractive. They are people whom you want to spend time with and

> learn from. Yet they don't care what others think about what

they've

> achieved or what they own. They don't need others' approval. They

> are happy accepting themselves as they are. They don't have to DO,

> they can just be.

>

> I hope you can be one of those people too.

>

> End of rambling. (That didn't quite come out the way I meant it

to -

> hope it makes some sense. It's getting late here .... )

>

> Love

> S

>

[Guest guest]

Ain't she great?

Sigh

>

> Sigi:

>

> So much " WORD " to everything you wrote. Thank you for all of it.

> It makes total sense.

[Guest guest]

Very well said!

--Alana

-------------- Original message --------------

>...Everything is my fault or I didn't do enough or > it's some flaw or whatever.> > Here's an example:> > I should get a new hobby: Nothing interests me right now, which means > I'm boring, lazy and wasting my life> > I should make new friends: I'm an introvert by nature, that's a flaw. > You should be surrounded by people and friends and a flurry of activity > all the time or your life is not rich.> > I should start a business and make a million dollars: Doing what I > don't know and I honestly don't want my own business which means I'm > unabmibitous and wasting my life.> > See what I mean? > Press, I think it's a sign of character to be able to accept yoursel

f as you are and acknowledge and appreciate your good points - even if what you are isn't society's current ideal. Not just talking about the physical appearance here, but internal stuff such as personality and ambition and "achievements". Why is being surrounded by people such a positive? Being an introvert is no flaw. Being able to deal with (and be happy in) your own company is pretty damn important. I know people who *always* have to be with others, who are *always* in a relationship - even if a detrimental one - because they are afraid of being alone or being perceived as unpopular or unloved. I feel sorry for them. They seem to live in such fear.If no hobbies particularly interest you right now, that's okay. You are entitled to wait and keep an open mind and if something presents itself to you, you'll be ready. We don't all have to be fascinating, multi-talented and dynamic types. There would be too many

egos crammed in the one place ... aaarrrgh! (Ka-boom!!!)And what is so intrinsically superior about being rich and "successful" in business or whatever? If you want to run a business because you would enjoy the challenge and would thrive on the competition, knock yourself out. But if you're doing it because you think you're somehow obliged to make a lot of money and be seen to be successful - why? Once you've dealt with your ongoing daily requirements, what else do you need? More stuff? We are just surrounded by people intent on acquiring *stuff*. Stuff doesn't necessarily make you happy (otherwise we wouldn't keep having to buy more new stuff). Realising that money and stuff don't automatically lead to happiness can be very confronting to those who made it their life goal without really understanding why. But it's hard to go against the dominant paradigm, when society (or at least the more vocal part of Western socie

ty) tells us that's what we *should* want.I think some of the "richest" people I know are those who are content with what they have, and can express gratitude for just being, appreciating the little things which give them and others pleasure in life. They have a peace and a grace which make them so ... attractive. They are people whom you want to spend time with and learn from. Yet they don't care what others think about what they've achieved or what they own. They don't need others' approval. They are happy accepting themselves as they are. They don't have to DO, they can just be.I hope you can be one of those people too.End of rambling. (That didn't quite come out the way I meant it to - hope it makes some sense. It's getting late here .... )LoveS