Jump to content


Blogs



Photo

trying to live...

Posted by Arthur114 in Through this world, 19 May 2013 - - - - - - · 7 views




Mikaylah,
I went for a run today... it was the first one since...
I passed the corner... you were not there...
The corner has become like the hill. It is somewhere I will go many times but it will never be like it was. It is like a dead spot in the world... A place that was once happy but now is sad... Because it is empty...
I ran all the way to the hill today. You and Adam were not there either...

I knew you wouldn't be but I couldn't help but look... and hope...
Your brother called today... He has been about the same as I have... He is going to come over tomorrow... so we can be miserable together...

You should come back



Photo

sage words

Posted by ♥♫UniversalSeductress♫♥ in Journey of Learning how to LOVE, 18 May 2013 - - - - - - · 16 views

Owning "choices made" is a lot of work.


The work is worth a Lifetime.



Photo

How to Help Someone Feel Loved and Understood

Posted by SnowQueen in SnowQueen's Blog, 15 May 2013 - - - - - - · 31 views
How To, Depression, Self Love

How to Help Someone Feel Loved and Understood
By Dhara Jani



“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”  ~Ralph Nichols

Did you know that one in ten U.S adults suffer from depression? (This is according to the Centers of Disease Control & Prevention.) How do I know? I was one of them. Starting in 2008, I suffered from depression for more than a year.

Many factors contributed to my depression—of course loneliness and lack of social support were the obvious factors—but the major contributor was that I didn’t feel understood. It was a transition year for me, as I had left my corporate job to find more meaningful work that was aligned with my core values.

With the time off, I started feeling and sensing how much past pain and resentments I had stored inside my heart. It was like the quieter I got, the more I heard how much of what was inside me. I felt a huge void, as if I was a failure in more than one aspect of my life.

During my depression, I felt like my family members and friends did not understand me and lacked the time, patience, or skills to listen effectively. I felt suffocated, isolated, and invisible.

The universe has a weird way of working things out in life; things appear or show up for a reason. What appeared for me was a powerful listener. Though this person was a complete stranger to me, I felt connected from the very first day.

When they listened so patiently and intently to my words and feelings—both expressed and unexpressed—it felt so incredible that I didn’t want to stop sharing. I emptied my entire heart, all my fears, disappointments, and pain. I released all of it.

It was a pure, non-judgmental, patient, and empathetic space where I got to express and feel understood and validated. I didn’t get any solutions, advice, or answers. Instead I got thought provoking questions, like “What does your soul really want?” “What makes you happy?” “What are you grateful for?” and “How can you forgive?”

It was this powerful listening that provided immeasurable healing. It was the first time in my life I actually felt like I had been heard, really understood—like what I had to say made sense. I felt important and visible again.
Like most depressed people, I lacked motivation and self-worth. Feeling understood is the most basic of human needs; during a time of depression it almost feels as critical as the need for air.

Being understood immediately shifted my perspective: from feeling invisible to feeling visible, from feeling down to feeling uplifted, from feeling contracted to feeling expanded, from feeling hopeless to hopeful.

It made me rise again and take care of my basic needs. Slowly but surely, I was able to walk out of the depression with the help of powerful listening, which has changed my life forever.

Have you ever been in a situation when you felt like your words weren’t being acknowledged? Like you were expressing yourself over and over again, yet what you were being misunderstood? Like you were fighting so hard to get your point across, but it only got worse?

This often leaves you feeling frustrated and angry, with doubts about yourself. It can cause you to hang onto negative emotions and resentments, which could become the building blocks of depression.

“Effective listeners remember that ‘words have no meaning—people have meaning.’ The assignment of meaning to a term is an internal process; meaning comes from inside us. And although our experiences, knowledge and attitudes differ, we often misinterpret each other’s messages while under the illusion that a common understanding has been achieved.” ~Larry Barker

When someone listens to you well, it makes you feel accepted, understood, important, valued and validated. It gives you a voice to help you find yourself again. It reminds you that you are not invisible or alone.

Although we hear with our ears, many of us don’t necessarily listen to what is being said. We don’t get the chance to listen when we are too quickly reacting, judging, providing solutions, and disagreeing, rather than being a good sounding board.

We also don’t get to see a lot of examples of real listening because it is so rare.

So what does it take to be a good listener?

It starts by realizing how important and powerful this practice can be. Also, realize that it’s all about the other person. If you can put aside your own agenda, you’ll be able to focus on really hearing.

That means 80% of the time you listen patiently without interrupting, and the remaining 20% you reflect what you heard and ask questions to get more information about the situation.

When you are an active or mindful listener, you are fully present, not thinking about the past or the future. With full concentration, you can recognize that, as Bryan Bell wrote, “It is frequently not what the facts are, but what people think the facts are, which is truly important. There is benefit in learning what someone else’s concept of the reality of the situation is.”

Check in with yourself: Are you aware of your focus level? How long can you concentrate without your thoughts drifting off?

Good listeners not only concentrate on the words, they also look for nonverbal communication like pitch, tone, and rhythm. Look for the hidden feelings behind the words, and find what might inspire, excite, and free them up.

Be curious and ask questions to get more information, “How do you feel about this? How would you resolve this?” Paraphrase what you hear to confirm you understand.

“Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.”  Phillip Stanhope

The best listening skill is to be non-judgmental. When you judge someone when they’re talking, the other person often shuts down. Non-judgmental listening gives the other person a sense of freedom and acceptance.

Listening benefits the listener as well. It helps build trust, avoid misunderstanding, and above all it’s a true gift which you can share to uplift people.

Take the time to really listen today, and see how it changes other people’s lives—and yours


http://tinybuddha.co...and-understood/

Photo

Learn Truth

Posted by Stranger in Dust In The Wind, 14 May 2013 - - - - - - · 23 views



Photo

Here comes the Sun

Posted by SineadRatti in SineadRatti's Blog, 14 May 2013 - - - - - - · 22 views



I think I'm learning how to not let shit get to me so much. The things me and my family have been through, the shit were going through, all the stress, I can let it go easier now. Some of it I struggle with, and I still have my bitchy and moany moments, and probably over react at times, but I can see the light a million times faster then I used to. My mom doesn't understand why I've been so slow to move on with my life by getting a real job and moving out, and even though I want to move out more then anything, I always knew that I just kinda needed to chill and figure some shit out for myself, get my mind in the right place before I can move forward with my life.

Photo

Busy Busy

Posted by Indigo in Don't Forget Indigo!, 13 May 2013 - - - - - - · 29 views

Busy weekend.  Busy Monday.  Looking to be another busy week too.

My car is finally 100% legal!  The last thing I had to do was get the state inspection done.  I dropped it off this morning on the way to the park with my aunt and the kids.

I was kinda shocked that my aunt wanted to take a picnic to the park.  It was a good idea though.  It was a pretty day, windy and cool.  We went to a "park" that is really just a playground surrounded by soccer fields.  It was fenced all the way around with only a few openings to watch out for.  That's always a plus if Oscar decides to run off.  There were a number of kids, some of them older...and that as well as some of the conversations I could overhear clued me in to it being a homeschool group gathering.  I chatted with some of the parents, but I realized it wasn't MY sort of homeschool group.  Classical Conversations....ick.  Not my bag at all.  I was polite and friendly, but I didn't drop the whole non-religious-hippie-unschooler bombshell....which is fine because I wasn't interested in joining anyway.  I need to make a point to go to home ed recess on Wednesdays though.  Also my bestfriend commented that a rink on the South Side has skating lessons for the littles on Thursday mornings.  That I NEED to do!  Dan loves her skates and needs more oppotunities to use them.

Anyway, after the park we got frozen yogurt and went home.  By that point I was rather tired since I'd been dragging Oscar all over.  He was out of sorts by the time we did icecream.....and when he is out of sorts it means a lot of picking him up and struggling to keep him from trying to leave the building.  Too damn strong for his own good....

Then I had to pick up my car when Aaron got home.....left straight from the auto place to meet Amanda for dinner.  That was a nice break for a bit.  When I got home it was still light out so I weeded the garden and trimmed the grass around it.  Tomorrow I have company so I need to clean.  Wednesday and Thursday are also booked.  Oi.

Photo

Stubborn

Posted by pulcherrimusnexastrum in stilus of an incompertus mens, 13 May 2013 - - - - - - · 12 views

So because I have an intolerance to UV rays gardening is very hard for me to do as one could imagine but gosh darn it I like flowers and no stinking intolerance is going to keep me from my passion.Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image

Photo

Wires totally crossed

Posted by Sum6Caribou in Sum6Caribou's Scrolls, 07 May 2013 - - - - - - · 30 views

I should have never been made into a human. Whoever's bright idea that was fucked up.
Human responses often baffle me. Everything I was told growing up has turned out to be a devastating lie.
As a result everything feels backwards to me.

I think someone likes me, they can't stand me. I think a woman is avoiding me, turns out they like me. I try talking freely with people, and I just scare them away. I don't know why I even bother anymore.

Photo

May 5,2013

Posted by Pam in Pam's Blog, 05 May 2013 - - - - - - · 24 views

Hey all! I've been working at the old telemarketing job I had 3 years ago. I quit like the 4th day but went back because I decided I need a job.... UGH lol! I got a phone call from a local grocery store here for another interview I called back told him I was working somewhere else but may quit there to work at his grocery store... Don't know for sure if I will though. Maybe I'll work there during the weekends see how I like it first. I guess it'll depends on if he hires me and will let me work only weekends... This weekend was pretty good. Had the Maple festival so I walked all day yesterday. My legs and feet are killin me and I got a sun burn. Really not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I hate getting hung up on all day and yelled at all day. I literally got screamed at just for calling someone and then someone said they were going to sue the company just cuz i called etc etc... I'm hooked up to an automated dialer people I can't control who I call. :( Anyways I need to make signs and stuff for my cubical saying Think Positive and stuff like that so I can look at those and think positive... lol I don't want to let these people beat me down all day. I know they aren't personally hating on me or anything it's the company I'm calling for but still it SUCKS! I can't wait to find a job I will enjoy doing! lol Oh and I was thinking this today... I wonder if I have called any of you... LOL I am sorry if I had... ha

Photo

Pissed

Posted by giabug in giabug's Blog, 04 May 2013 - - - - - - · 62 views

Had a bad day and was writing to make myself feel better. I hit backspace and it kicked me off the whole thing and now it's all gone. This is just the icing on the cake.

Photo

MORNING AT THE BEACH

Posted by olla in olla, 25 April 2013 - - - - - - · 59 views

there is a high mist this morning..

I could not sleep so we walked early..

before the sun was ready to say hello..

the time between night and morning

when the silence of the night

gives way to the hushed voices of early birds....

there were two boat far out

another one just on it's way to the fishing pools..

it's running lights bright against the pale grey/blue of the sea..

the cool felt good on my cheeks..


~~olla~~



Photo

Forever

Posted by ladykat in ladykat's Blog, 24 April 2013 - - - - - - · 50 views

We met amid a sunlit day
That set our hearts aflame
And vowed to each that we'd be true
Our love was not a game.

We'd keep our love forever, and
Would never, ever part.
I looked into your eyes and then
I gave you all my heart.

Forever, you would whisper and
Forever it became.
The word was tattooed on my heart
Became a living flame.

That set our love on fire then
One that could never die
My love was true and deep for you
I never thought you'd lie.

When last you said that word to me
I smiled and held it dear
And never even realized
That you'd be gone from here.

Forever's what you said to me
As you were on your way.
But you forgot to tell me that
Forever ends today.

Photo

The red or blue pill?

Posted by LexMorphic in Lex's Pond of Ponders, 20 April 2013 - - - - - - · 70 views

So I finally took my sad ass to the doctors and am now on antidepressants for the first time.

I've always been against the idea, thinking I'm stronger than that, or that they do more damage than good- but desperate times call for desperate measures.

My melancholic demeanour has been becoming too destructive and I had to do something about it.

Now, I don't know if its just my mind creating these effects or if its actually the drugs ( I know they generally take 6-8 weeks to kick in so probably the former), but I feel quite peculiar after I take them - like a sepia veil is placed over my eyes making me feel like I'm in a living dream...

....I do have an over active literary imagination, so I'm sure it's just my brain formulating this weird feeling - regardless of where its coming from, though, I don't like it.

Photo

Blog.

Posted by Aron in Aron's Blog, 14 April 2013 - - - - - - · 93 views

Why is Aron writing a blog right now, you ask? WHAT ELSE AM I GOING TO DO AT 3AM ON A SUNDAY? Not so much has changed since my last blog entry, my calves are still stunning and my facial hair is still exceptional, which are the only things that really matter at the end of the day. I'm trying to become more active on the board, but something seems to have just sucked my will to post, so I'm pretty much just lurking nowadays. Is this blog boring you? THEN STOP READING IT you big stupid jerk. Anyways I see that a couple of old posters have made their returns in the past couple of days, welcome back Pam, and if Snoops is still around, welcome back to you too, hope you'll both stick around for a while. I feel kind of bad right now because I got this whole book club thing started and a week in I haven't even started reading, gonna try to get started on that tomorrow and hopefully I haven't wasted everyone's time with this. Anyways I'm not sure why I've even bothered doing this blog because like usual I don't have anything worthwhile to say, so I guess I'll just end it now. I sure hope this blog hasn't inspired anyone to retire from B4U, that would be just terrible.

Photo

Today April 10th 2012

Posted by smitty41 in smitty41's Blog, 10 April 2013 - - - - - - · 98 views
stuff

Went scouting with my buddy this afternoon. Saw piles upon piles of moose droppings and deer droppings. Walked probably 5 miles through the woods having to cross a raging brook. Spring time melt really has the water flowing and high. Last deer season we were able to cross via rocks. Got to the other side and saw scrapes galore.  Those hills though, killer on the legs and lungs :P lol  Got to the snowmobile trail/ walking trail, and made it back to the car checking for ticks, none to be found, thankfully.  Good thing I didn't wear my sneakers though, otherwise I'd have very wet feet and may have lost a sneaker in the mud.  Know that suction audio thick mud makes when you full your foot out? Yeah,, sure glad I wore boots.    After that went to McDonalds, a place a very rarely go and got a hamburger and small fry, with 4 ketchup cups. I love ketchup with fries.  After that, we went to walfart as he needed his smarties candies. His vise now that he's been smoke free for 1 year and 3 months..   Dropped him off at his house, talked for a bit, going to give him a hand friday working on his truck.  We;ve always helped eachother work on eachothers vehicles. To damm expensive bring stuff we can fix to a garage, body shop, what have you. Out side of mounting tires on rims, we do pretty much everything else and save loads of money.   Anyways, got home and Candice was singing on American Idle. She's my favorite. That girl can sing anything and make anything sound good...  Now I'm having coffee.

Photo

Prelude to Love

Posted by WanderingMind in WanderingMind's Blog, 06 April 2013 - - - - - - · 94 views

Love’s Fear ...

When shadows of darkness falls upon me
Hours when no-one allows me to see
Tantilising demons of fear
Like Phantoms drown my ears

Sweetness captured in mindless dreams
Visions of laughter in crystal seas
Dancing in eyes shadowed by fear
Bleed the heart with flaming spear

Black of light in brilliance
Shading visions of romance
Flood memories of tenderness
Drown emotions of emptiness

If we should part …
Where will I find your eyes?
Who will look into my heart?
Tears in my heart the only sign
Of the longing deep inside
The hurt of yearning
Burried in my mind.


© TdeV

Photo

The Big Hurt

Posted by ladykat in Why can't I remember to forget you, 01 April 2013 - - - - - - · 48 views



Photo

If You Could Go Back In Time For One Hour.....where to?

Posted by Uncle Charlie in Ramblings of the mind., 22 March 2013 - - - - - - · 115 views

1965

Posted Image




If you could go back and visit your past for just one hour……where, when, and why?

If I was given the one time opportunity to go back in time, even for an hour, to any point in my life….where, when and why? To do this, I would gladly enter a “Time Regurgitator” and plunge back through the years and decades to the night I, (or I should say you), graduated from high school in 1965. I would find myself,(or I should say you), waiting out in a back parking lot of the high school next to our old 1954 Ford. I already know that you’re on your way out of the school’s auditorium heading to our car and then you’ll drive around to the front of the school to pick Celia up. I know you’re jazzed and ready to take on the world, and the last thing you’ll expect to meet is some old gray haired fart cruising the parking lot.

You finally show and I say “Hello, Chipper.” You’ll look stunned, because ‘Chipper’ is a nick name only your granddad uses when he sees you. You’ll stop and look me over trying to decide whether to call for help or just whip my ass. Wouldn’t be much of a fight, as I know about your bad right knee.
“How come you know that nick name?”
“Your granddad calls you that.”
“You a friend of granddad’s?”
“I’m related to him,”
I smile.
“You a pervert or something old man?” That’s when I’ll take out my wallet and remove my driver’s license and hand it to you. You look it over and then say “So what?”
“Look at the name.”

You shrug your shoulders and say “Big deal, same name.”   
“Look at the birth date.”

You look up a moment later and laugh, “You got to be 80, and this ID says you’re born the same year as me and that would make you 18!”
“Same day and month, too. What it won’t tell you is your Mom and Dad’s names, Joan and Phil….and I’m 66 nit wit.” You look troubled now and you start looking around for help in case I drop my pants. I quickly attempt to explain the phenomenon that’s taking place and that I have but minutes left before I vaporize. You’re still looking around for assistance. The more I try to explain, the more I look and sound looney.
“You’re a wacko, old man! I’m me and I ain’t you and you ain’t me…..or whatever.” At this point, I remembered how stupid I could get if I got too much information at one time.
“Okay, forget all that. What I’m about to tell you is for your own good…take it or leave it. First, in nine years, you’re going to be faced with making an irresponsible decision concerning a personal relationship with a coworker. Think and then don’t do it!  Next, spend the next forty years of your life listening more and talking less and never ever hesitate to admit when your wrong. Then, on your 1992 Tax Returns, take the standard deduction and skip all the bogus bull shit. Next, always make Mom and Dad a big part of your life. Always, make it a point to talk with your kids everyday of their young lives and encourage them in all the things they will do in life. Next, skip all the macho bullshit and openly accept your wife as an equal and vital part of your life.”

At this point of my rendering, you are now thoroughly convinced of my insanity and you’re looking over your shoulder at the rest of the people walking into the parking lot from the graduation.
    “Finally, teach your kids to save money, don’t buy that 1975 Dodge Dart, don’t buy all those leisure suits, don’t get that rose tattoo on your ass during your midlife crisis and don’t let one day go by that you don’t tell your wife you love her….and speaking of your future wife, she’s still waiting for you out in front of the school!”

The next thing I’m aware of is a sensation like gentle electrical shocks all over my body and now I realize I’m back from then to now. I step out of the regurgitator and then pay the guy for a few extra mushrooms to take home. Later, as I look around, everything seems to look the same, no changes. Then I drop my Dockers to see if the rose tattoo is still there. It’s not! But, in it’s place is a simple scrip tattoo that says…..'It was the 91 Tax Returns, Asshole!'

Photo

Sexy Women Who Dare To Be True

Posted by rodan44 in T or D Blog, 20 March 2013 - - - - - - · 225 views

List of women in the group Truth or Dare:
  • SnowQueen
  • Gerimerrymuffin
  • HHRLisa
  • Kaz
  • Moonflwr003
  • Sineadratti
  • Slackjaw
  • Veruka


Sultry
Naughty
Oral
Wet
Quickie
Uninhibited
Easy
Eager
Nympho

Gorgeous
Exciting
Raunchy
Impudent
Moist
Ecstasy
Raw
Romantic
Yummy
Moaning
Unquenchable
Fuckable
Foxy
Insatiable
Nude

Hot
Horny
Ready
Lickable
Immodest
Sinful
Arousing

Kittenish
Appealing
Zesty

Mischievous
Orgasmic
Open
Nubile
Feisty
Lustful
Wild
Racy

Seductive
Intense
Noisy
Edible
Alluring
Doable
Restless
Attractive
Tasty
Tantalizing
Irresistible

Steamy
Loveable
Affectionate
Cute
Kissable
Juicy
Available
Willing

Voluptuous
Exquisite
Ripe
Unabashed
Kinky
Angelic

Photo

Were You Really There +Haiku+

Posted by ladykat in ladykat's Blog, 14 March 2013 - - - - - - · 53 views

Were you really there?

Or was last night just a dream?

Gone forever now.



  • 138 Total Blogs
  • 1,532 Total Entries
  • 3,845 Total Comments
  • Don't Forget Indigo! Latest Blog
  • Indigo Latest Blogger

user(s) are online (in the past 60 minutes)

members, guests, anonymous users