Sidewinder
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2021
- Messages
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Not being judgmental in ANY way here, as I know some folks suffer from severe depression & loneliness, but I have to make this observation: after reading some of these threads, it seems like some folks are allowing too much negativity to affect their lives. And believe me, I know a little about negativity...
My pop the submarine commander abandoned us overseas when I was 10 years old, placing us in dire financial straits (i.e. ******* poverty), and I never saw him again either, which led to a truckload of grief & anger which I had to process over a number of years. Factor in hardcore antisocial behavior---as a teenage skateboarder, I was raised on the Pistols, DK, and other punk rock groups, so my attitude was pretty ******* ******.
In my late 20s, I realized that carrying around all that anger was ******* KILLING me, so I took steps to change my ways. I studied Behavioral Science in community college, just to learn more about myself and what made me tick. I also stumbled across those Zen Buddhist proverbs & principles I've mentioned elsewhere, and THOSE helped me IMMENSELY... far more than ANY organized religion ever did.
I even walked into a counselor's office at school (because visits were free, so why the **** not?), and that hand actually helped me understand the underlying cause of all my anger, which was SADNESS. He told me anger is a secondary emotion... once I grasped that concept, I began to realize that it was OKAY to feel that sadness. Process it and move on... ya know? And it IS a ******* process, that's for ****** sure.
Fast forward to modern times, and yeah, the world can be an ugly place, full of greedy swine and self-centered ******** who don't give a **** about you. Thing is, I reckon too many folks here let that negativity creep into their lives and undermine their potential happiness... who gives a flying **** what some ******** think? Live your OWN ******* life, and start enjoying the little things that add up to make living worthwhile.
Moi, I enjoy sitting on my view deck under the metal awning on the east side of my home, and taking in that spectacular view of the Dragoon Mountains & Cochise Stronghold. I like seeing the wild birds which flock to the birdbath & feeders in my yard. I enjoy quality time with the cats every single ******* day, they help keep me balanced and sane during a tough time.
When I interact with folks in the course of my everyday life, I TRY to remain positive and friendly, rather than being the hostile antisocial ************ I was in earlier years. It's a conscious choice, you understand, and as adults we ALL make choices. Sure, there are some folks who are on medication and whatnot, but I view that as part of the problem, since I've NEVER trusted Big Pharma... **** that ****.
My body is the temple of my soul, and I've been fortunate to enjoy good health for most of my life, but I also got the **** outdoors and DID ****, I didn't just sit and mope in my home or apartment and cry in my beer. Again, who cares what others think as you're doing your own thing outdoors? Don't focus upon them, focus upon your OWN enjoyment and know that a little exercise is good for you.
Moi, I was lucky enough to have fellow skateboarders, dirt bikers, climbing partners, et al as friends in my younger years, so that helped, but now that some of those friends have died untimely deaths, and now that I'm standing alone in Arizona's high desert, I often find myself flying solo in the wilderness. NO ******* PROBLEM, it's still my 'happy place' and I'm gonna enjoy it, I even meet like-minded folks out there, aye?
Here's something else which I meant to address in that thread by Finished, about volunteering... you wanna do something cool and really worthwhile? Go to the nearest animal shelter and volunteer to walk the animals, they'll surely appreciate it and you'll have a companion for the duration of your walk(s). You'll benefit from the interaction, and you won't have to pay the costs associated with pet ownership.
Political hate mongering and glorification of violence removed.... Posts of hatred and or violence towards an individual or group no matter their race, creed, religion, or political beliefs is not the function of this forum.
Instead of thinking, "I'm an ugly loser who'll NEVER know happiness!"---try thinking, "Hey, it's a beautiful day outside, maybe I'll go for a walk or a bike ride!" The constant negativity is wearing, and I know, I lived it for a number of years... I've seen my share of hardship, perhaps more than my share, and yeah, there were times when I felt like going postal, but I PERSEVERED and worked my way through that ******* ugliness.
That's another thing, the negativity of thinking that your life is NEVER gonna change... complete and total ********, since a person's world can change at any given time, especially if that person INITIATES the change. Yeah, it's ******* work, nobody ever said it would be easy, but if a hardcore antisocial ************ like me can do it, surely some of you good folks can.
Again, I'm not DOWN on any particular person here, I'm speaking in general terms to those who seem mired in self-pity and low self-esteem. Try changing your thinking and focusing upon the positives, yeah? Those scumbag politicians haven't figured out (yet) how to tax the sunshine, fresh air, etc., so make use of those things. If you're living in the Big City ghetto, find some aesthetic place elsewhere as a sanctuary...
For me, it was always the crags, or small craft sailing (not a rich man's sport), ANYTHING to improve my frame of mind and allow me to focus upon positive aspects... meeting a hummingbird high on a crag, and sharing a voyage with dolphins or sea lions. Having a gray whale surface offshore immediately ahead of my old Laser, which scared the **** out of me at first, but after tacking away I felt privileged to see such a magnificent creature at close range.
Little things like this are what can change your outlook... if you don't have money, find free ways to enjoy your outings. I used to walk through Balboa Park in San Diego, visiting the Botanical Gardens (free) and tripping on the exotic flowers. I'd walk along the Embarcadero too, or ride my beach cruiser... didn't cost me a penny, while the views and exercise did me some good.
If you're not very athletic, well, make up for it by choosing primo venues, places where you'll WANT to spend a little time, aye? I've spent much of my life in the field, hiking and climbing and camping and dirt biking, and I wouldn't change a minute of any of it... sure beat looking at Compton, North Philly or the Lower Bronx. And as a former long-haul trucker, I've seen all those shitholes, so I know the difference.
Well, I reckon I've beaten this dead horse long enough, I sure hope somebody gives it a try and changes his or her way of thinking, making a conscious choice to focus upon more positive things and less negative crap. Again, I know it ain't easy, but if I can do it, then YOU can do it, straight the **** up. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... tell yourself you're gonna take that first step today. Cheers!
My pop the submarine commander abandoned us overseas when I was 10 years old, placing us in dire financial straits (i.e. ******* poverty), and I never saw him again either, which led to a truckload of grief & anger which I had to process over a number of years. Factor in hardcore antisocial behavior---as a teenage skateboarder, I was raised on the Pistols, DK, and other punk rock groups, so my attitude was pretty ******* ******.
In my late 20s, I realized that carrying around all that anger was ******* KILLING me, so I took steps to change my ways. I studied Behavioral Science in community college, just to learn more about myself and what made me tick. I also stumbled across those Zen Buddhist proverbs & principles I've mentioned elsewhere, and THOSE helped me IMMENSELY... far more than ANY organized religion ever did.
I even walked into a counselor's office at school (because visits were free, so why the **** not?), and that hand actually helped me understand the underlying cause of all my anger, which was SADNESS. He told me anger is a secondary emotion... once I grasped that concept, I began to realize that it was OKAY to feel that sadness. Process it and move on... ya know? And it IS a ******* process, that's for ****** sure.
Fast forward to modern times, and yeah, the world can be an ugly place, full of greedy swine and self-centered ******** who don't give a **** about you. Thing is, I reckon too many folks here let that negativity creep into their lives and undermine their potential happiness... who gives a flying **** what some ******** think? Live your OWN ******* life, and start enjoying the little things that add up to make living worthwhile.
Moi, I enjoy sitting on my view deck under the metal awning on the east side of my home, and taking in that spectacular view of the Dragoon Mountains & Cochise Stronghold. I like seeing the wild birds which flock to the birdbath & feeders in my yard. I enjoy quality time with the cats every single ******* day, they help keep me balanced and sane during a tough time.
When I interact with folks in the course of my everyday life, I TRY to remain positive and friendly, rather than being the hostile antisocial ************ I was in earlier years. It's a conscious choice, you understand, and as adults we ALL make choices. Sure, there are some folks who are on medication and whatnot, but I view that as part of the problem, since I've NEVER trusted Big Pharma... **** that ****.
My body is the temple of my soul, and I've been fortunate to enjoy good health for most of my life, but I also got the **** outdoors and DID ****, I didn't just sit and mope in my home or apartment and cry in my beer. Again, who cares what others think as you're doing your own thing outdoors? Don't focus upon them, focus upon your OWN enjoyment and know that a little exercise is good for you.
Moi, I was lucky enough to have fellow skateboarders, dirt bikers, climbing partners, et al as friends in my younger years, so that helped, but now that some of those friends have died untimely deaths, and now that I'm standing alone in Arizona's high desert, I often find myself flying solo in the wilderness. NO ******* PROBLEM, it's still my 'happy place' and I'm gonna enjoy it, I even meet like-minded folks out there, aye?
Here's something else which I meant to address in that thread by Finished, about volunteering... you wanna do something cool and really worthwhile? Go to the nearest animal shelter and volunteer to walk the animals, they'll surely appreciate it and you'll have a companion for the duration of your walk(s). You'll benefit from the interaction, and you won't have to pay the costs associated with pet ownership.
Political hate mongering and glorification of violence removed.... Posts of hatred and or violence towards an individual or group no matter their race, creed, religion, or political beliefs is not the function of this forum.
Instead of thinking, "I'm an ugly loser who'll NEVER know happiness!"---try thinking, "Hey, it's a beautiful day outside, maybe I'll go for a walk or a bike ride!" The constant negativity is wearing, and I know, I lived it for a number of years... I've seen my share of hardship, perhaps more than my share, and yeah, there were times when I felt like going postal, but I PERSEVERED and worked my way through that ******* ugliness.
That's another thing, the negativity of thinking that your life is NEVER gonna change... complete and total ********, since a person's world can change at any given time, especially if that person INITIATES the change. Yeah, it's ******* work, nobody ever said it would be easy, but if a hardcore antisocial ************ like me can do it, surely some of you good folks can.
Again, I'm not DOWN on any particular person here, I'm speaking in general terms to those who seem mired in self-pity and low self-esteem. Try changing your thinking and focusing upon the positives, yeah? Those scumbag politicians haven't figured out (yet) how to tax the sunshine, fresh air, etc., so make use of those things. If you're living in the Big City ghetto, find some aesthetic place elsewhere as a sanctuary...
For me, it was always the crags, or small craft sailing (not a rich man's sport), ANYTHING to improve my frame of mind and allow me to focus upon positive aspects... meeting a hummingbird high on a crag, and sharing a voyage with dolphins or sea lions. Having a gray whale surface offshore immediately ahead of my old Laser, which scared the **** out of me at first, but after tacking away I felt privileged to see such a magnificent creature at close range.
Little things like this are what can change your outlook... if you don't have money, find free ways to enjoy your outings. I used to walk through Balboa Park in San Diego, visiting the Botanical Gardens (free) and tripping on the exotic flowers. I'd walk along the Embarcadero too, or ride my beach cruiser... didn't cost me a penny, while the views and exercise did me some good.
If you're not very athletic, well, make up for it by choosing primo venues, places where you'll WANT to spend a little time, aye? I've spent much of my life in the field, hiking and climbing and camping and dirt biking, and I wouldn't change a minute of any of it... sure beat looking at Compton, North Philly or the Lower Bronx. And as a former long-haul trucker, I've seen all those shitholes, so I know the difference.
Well, I reckon I've beaten this dead horse long enough, I sure hope somebody gives it a try and changes his or her way of thinking, making a conscious choice to focus upon more positive things and less negative crap. Again, I know it ain't easy, but if I can do it, then YOU can do it, straight the **** up. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... tell yourself you're gonna take that first step today. Cheers!