Today has been a difficult emotional day.

[4-2-7]

Originally Posted by Zeke

SERIOUS: perhaps I was a bit more lit than I realized, last evening?

I was lamenting missing the dog!

It is unusual for me to be overtly emotional but -- completely on accident and without conscious thought -- I drove by my old house last evening.

Nostalgic deja vu was nearly overwhelming about a life long gone.

Fear that someone would "use anything against me?" It's not as high handed deep thought self-righteous as it sounds, I was just embarrassed by what seeing that former home did to me. My instinct in such things is to not acknowledge that such feelings/thoughts occur. What I have found, is that to accept it occurs is a strength, not a weakness.

Zeke

I'm sorry about your turmoil with the emotions of the past. But I feel the strongest word in our language that I can't master, ha ha ha

Acceptance

With that we can enjoy the past for what it is, a learning experience. The good always outweighs the bad.

[4-2-7]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Zeke my friend, my heart hurts fo you. When our last little dog passed it was tough, we still keep his ashes. When my first marriage failed I wondered if I had screwed up. Then I met Florence or rather Divine Providence put us together in that blizzard. I hope it has someone out there to bind your wounds.

I think as we get older we can see the reason for pain. It elevates joy to new heights.

[JJIII]

Rough stuff Zeke. I'm sorry about your pain.

[bobabode]

Sorry to hear about the dog Zeke. That's a tough one.

[Zeke]

Overall, I am well.

I was just disturbed by the distance from what used to be my life.

Think about it: I drove by where I'd lived for ten years without it registering that I used to live there.

It was..."odd."

[mpholland]

Fortunately for me, my memories of "those days" aren't pleasant. I don't register the same feelings.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Overall, I am well.

I was just disturbed by the distance from what used to be my life.

Think about it: I drove by where I'd lived for ten years without it registering that I used to live there.

It was..."odd."

Maybe that is a sign that you have moved on. Here's to hoping that you continue to move on to experiences that bring happiness.

Regards,

D-Ray

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by HarmanKardon

Ahh Dave you know what I mean - being some sort of "outcast" if one has no own family. That's all.

Yes, I am painfully aware of that. People assume you're a homosexual or a pervert of some type. Yes, it is aggravating.

My own mother told me "You're just a bunch of nothing.", not long before she died. But, then again, she had Alzheimer's and even before that she was always saying mean things, so it could have meant anything.

It still hits me hard when I think about it, though.

Dave

[HarmanKardon]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Yes, I am painfully aware of that. People assume you're a homosexual or a pervert of some type. Yes, it is aggravating.

My own mother told me "You're just a bunch of nothing.", not long before she died. But, then again, she had Alzheimer's and even before that she was always saying mean things, so it could have meant anything.

It still hits me hard when I think about it, though.

Dave

Non married people are actually adequate members of the society and even more - serving as a good example concerning many issues - for instance like integrity and tolerance - if they want.

"Be fruitful and multiply" is not the only justification in order to exist. Definitely not.

[merrylander]

I hate to sound as if I am delivering a sermon here but this is summat I did learn from life, albeit rather later on. The commandment love thy neighbour as thyself finally registered. You cannot love others if you don't love yourself. I am not speaking of blind love but true love, a love that can see faults but that concentrates on virtues. I am probably my own worst critic but I now recognize that I also do have virtues, that I am worthy of being loved. That also enables me to work on my faults, to erase them or lessen them. In my first marriage we were both too young and in our hearts we, neither of us, really loved ourselves. Some lines from William Congreve can describe such a situation.

“Heaven has no rage, like love to hatred turned,
Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorned.”

Fortunately I have learned that I can truly love myself and because of that can love others.
Offered in a spirit of friendship.