BS: Your place in the world

Subject: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 06:24 PM

The world tells us in subtle and powerful ways where we rank.
i.e.
When I get my dry cleaning it has tags that say 'defective before cleaning'.

As a kid I asked my guidance counselor "what should I strive for in life". He said unabashedly "Let me put it this way, you will never be a super star".

My car got sabotaged at Midas.

When I got a promotion everyone was shocked even though the job sucked.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 06:47 PM

In the ministry, we call this "Discernment", and there's a great little book called LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK.

Of course another component to look at is our friendships. ;-) Pls mark yourself higher, in that department.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 08:02 PM

We know what an unchained ego can do. Besides I am a fan of self deprecating humor - I don't get no respect, no respect at all...
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
On Halloween, the parents sent their kids out looking like me.
I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her
I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous - everyone hasn't met me yet.
A girl phoned me the other day and said... 'Come on over, there's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home.
I looked at my family tree and found three dogs using it.
When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 08:16 PM

Oh well we do seem to be good at condemning or making fun of others but not so much when it comes to ourselves.
When I was born I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 06:57 AM

Are we supposed to be making jokes or actually sharing telling things that show us our place in the world in the view of others?

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 09:01 AM

I began to understand my place in the world when I realized that, in any situation in which two or three are gathered together and are expected to present a report of their activities, I am usually the one picked to take notes and be the presenter.

Long ago, I decided to take it as a compliment.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 09:03 AM

As a nun friend of mine says:

Where two or three are gathered together,
there is conflict --
Jesus is in their midst also --
and there is conflict!

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 12:53 PM

I've realized over the last 10 years or so that as a woman reaches A Certain Age one becomes invisible. At first it feels rather insulting, but then you realize you can say and do more things and people may be surprised but you can get away with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 03:05 PM

Having reached that Certain Age precisely two days before you did, Stilly, I heartily agree with you.

That said, I feel compelled to point out that, when other people do not ignore us altogether, we women of A Certain Age have a place in the world as listeners and conversationalists, for we are talked to by everybody. Now that we are old enough to be deemed asexual (by the ill-informed), total strangers strike up conversations on the bus, in line at Tim's, in the grocery store, on the street.

Often those total strangers are also of A Certain Age. I think they are sometimes looking to be reassured that they have not actually become invisible.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: meself
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 03:44 PM

You know, a lot of people are invisible BEFORE they reach A Certain Age.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 04:27 PM

Exactly Charmion! I find, now that I'm elderly, benign-looking and (I hope) with a kindly face, no end of folk talk to me wherever I go. They start with the weather, then one or two polite questions, then out tumble their health problems, worries, family disputes, loneliness and so on.
I adore chatting, and try to encourage them to tell me whatever they wish. I have all the time in the world.
I learn such a lot doing this, about how people view the world, their joys and difficulties and so on.
I particularly like talking to folk from other lands and other cultures. I got chatting to an Algerian security guard called Yassin, and each time we went to the Nike store where he worked, he told us a little more about his family and his country (all in French - he had an excellent accent, better than mine which is a bit African-singsong)
It was obvious he was terribly homesick and sad, missed his mum and sisters, missed the sunshine etc.
I like to try and lift people's spirits in a small way.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 04:55 PM

Hey Donuel - are you channelling Stephen Wright? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Jos
Date: 17 Sep 18 - 05:16 PM

When I was younger it wasn't that older people were invisible, it was that they were indistinguishable. If I came across one, I had no idea whether or not it was someone I had met before. But I had no trouble telling younger people apart.
Suddenly it switched, and now I can tell older people apart - but the young ones all look the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Sep 18 - 05:38 AM

I used to know Stephen Wright when he hung out in Harvard Sq. Boston.
My jokes sucked back then too.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Sep 18 - 05:53 AM

I've been married 45 years so I know my place...

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Sep 18 - 06:38 AM

31 years.
Hey Dave my graduation performance was The Gnome by Debussy.
I recall the Pianist and I ended approximately at the same time.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Sep 18 - 08:37 AM

I can't find that one Donuel or I would have made it my theme tune :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Sep 18 - 09:08 AM

Its a cello Sonata. It really is gnomish and sprite like.

The place I have made for myself, probably out of necessity, is a place where I own my darkness and my light. If depressed owning my darkness seems to help and contrasts my light even brighter when it comes back around.
There is a saying that for art to be art it has to have a touch of death in it. I know Mahler would agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Sep 18 - 09:19 AM

The second movement is more gnomish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRBNS3PQkww

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Sep 18 - 09:50 AM

I see what you mean. It also led me into a Chopin sonata in G minor. Made me think anything in G minor could be Gnomish:-)

I always thought "in the ball of the mountain king" was quite Gnomish but I think that may be more Dwarvish.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: leeneia
Date: 20 Sep 18 - 11:30 PM

Nobody has a place in the world. We change, the world changes.

Always remember, just because there is a noun (such as place) doesn't guarantee that there is a thing which the noun is supposed to represent.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 05:00 AM

leenia, that is a touch of realistic nihilism which is as paradoxical as a factual fictional fantasy. ;^/
   
A snapshot will show you a place. A video adds another dimension and time lapse photography exaggerates a changing place.

Einstein used a snap shot perspective to demonstrate his theories for simplicity's sake.

there are some things we can't feel or think about under strict nihilism

Enter the paradox of nihilism

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 05:26 AM

The ball on the mountain king?

Damn you spill chucker!

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 11:11 AM

My place in DC is now called crazy town. Morals, Values and ideologies all changed at the flick of a switch. I am used to hypocrisy as the currency of politics but the incessant lies fantastique are too impossible to exist. The past innate trust of a passing waving neighbor is replaced by an eye narrowing glance while they gaze ahead walking their dog. There is a salient paranoia in the air like a rumor pledged to secrecy. It is like what a friend of mine told me about the Soviet Union.   

On the bright side it is amazing what a MAGA hat and side arm can do:^)

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 11:42 AM

Stilly, my good lady said exactly the same thing some years ago, she thought she had become invisible .......... I learnt Stan Rogers "Lies"

If you read the last verse it says all I need to say about my love for her.

Subject: RE: BS: Your place in the world
From: olddude
Date: 21 Sep 18 - 02:50 PM

Where ever I am standing at the moment, and in a short time I suspect what ever dirt I am forever laying in