[dinopello]

This article posted in the news section is right on

The point of despair

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut, let's not hurry forward. Let's dwell on that despair for a moment. Does it have a function? I think it does. It is at the point of despair that people can feel deep down their connection to all that has come before them and all that will come after. It is not just their personal futures that are at stake anymore. It is the whole project of human civilization, the art, the literature, the philosophy, the great works of architecture, the great institutions of learning and research, the huge store of human knowledge, and the ongoing experiment in self-government.

[Tanada]

Change happens to everyone all the time, when we were young we reveled in it because every change was a new learning experience. As we go through our working years we still enjoy it bacuse in general the changes are positive, better income, better relationships, more stuff for leisure times. Then as we retire and grow old we learn to dread change because on average we are of fixed income with little abillity to increase our status and stuff, but the bills still get bigger and the future looks ever scarier.

All IMO of course.

[billp]

Change always occurs.

But this time change may be different than all in human history.

Change as a result of running low on energy.

Senior citizen is trying a avatar.

Purpose of this post is to see if my avitar post works.

[billp]

Success, more or less.

Spanish language version sold 4X more copies than english language version. And I got a fraction of the royalties.

[billp]

ns sherlock

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hen as we retire and grow old we learn to dread change because on average we are of fixed income with little abillity to increase our status and stuff, but the bills still get bigger and the future looks ever scarier.

[dinopello]

?WTF?

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 't')hat was just one more obvious symptom of depression. Others include increased self-masturbatory activities, on-line gun ownership discussions, and dressing in darker colors.

[Narz]

Despair leads to reflection, leads to self-honesty, leads to change.

The opposite of despair is the perpetual optimism of youth, the unexamined life.

I saw some kids smash into a mexican man walking his bike across the street (I was also walking my bike, on the sidewalk, about eight feet away) and send him flying thru the air. They were probably in the party mood, enjoying each other's company, their grandious ideas about the upcoming weekend, the music, the twilight. I'm sure all that changed in an instant. Hopefully they changed too, not into stiff, supressed and serious people but more aware ones. As for the guy who got hit, I don't know whether he survived. If he did, with consciousness fully intact, I imagine he's alot more aware as well.

[basil_hayden]

I find desperation quite energizing.

I haven't been so motivated since the early '90's.

Thanks Peak Oil! You frigging rock!

[auscanman]

I don't know about despair being necessary... but adversity definitely builds character (in the right dosage). I wouldn't be who I am if I hadn't faced various challenges and overcome them. Those who have faced little or no adversity generally have a sense of entitlement and poor work ethic. While those who have faced too much adversity are generally broken and unable to lift themselves out of their situation.

I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead!

[dinopello]

I thought it was like Narz said with the despair leading to reflection and self-honesty. Only I would seperate optimism from youth.

The country/world needs a lot of self-honesty.

[Newsseeker]

The depression makes the manic periods that much better. Whoops, did I just give away too much info? Now I've lost face!

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hen as we retire and grow old we learn to dread change because on average we are of fixed income with little abillity to increase our status and stuff, but the bills still get bigger and the future looks ever scarier.

[Ibon]

This thead is a good hint pointing to the potential for a massive consciousness change in humanity. The vast majority still unaware are actually missing out on all this virtuous suffering. Once we drop the dream and myth of eternal youth and energy there is a huge awakening possible.

People are actually really suffering and tortured in the current paradigm of consumerism because there is no place for suffering, death and disease which is swept under the carpet in an endless stream of new glittery objects. Constantly keeping us distracted and preventing us from dropping into reality.

Suffering is the nature of the human condition. It is in the avoidance of suffering that one suffers most

Buddha said so many a year ago.

[keehah]

The Path of Progressive Awareness

Because we've all arrived at our present awareness by different routes and at our own speeds, this simplified, seven-step diagram might not fit anyone exactly. However, this progression of awareness pattern seems to have emerged. Maybe a two-dimensional chart will provide a little direction and help us track the progress of ourselves and others.




"Bargaining" is a stage just before acceptance. ...

Just as people who know they are dying sometimes do, we could live the rest of our lives in the bargaining stage -- hoping for a miracle to restore ecosystems and stop extinctions.

It's up to each of us to grow beyond these earlier stages. No one can do it for us. A hopeful hopelessness awaits our increased awareness.

http://www.vhemt.org/philrel.htm#path

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newsseeker', 'T')he depression makes the manic periods that much better. Whoops, did I just give away too much info? Now I've lost face!