Ell

Dogs like chill people. Just be more chill.

I don't have an explanation, but I do believe there's something to the phenomenon. When I was a little kid, I was playing with my wrestling action figures and I stopped very abruptly and had the thought, "it's been awhile since a wrestler died." I know pro wrestling has traditionally been a fast lane, so that might not sound to auspicious, but it was more than that thought....it was like a stop-you-in-your-tracks "something just happened in the world" feeling. Sure as shit, that night wrestling was kicked off by an in-memorium graphic for "Yokozuna." When I was a teenager, laying up in bed one night, I heard the phone ring in the other room and my mind, out of nowhere, shot immediately and definitively to "my grandmother died" (she was not ailing). That was not what the phone call turned out to be about, but she had a stroke the next afternoon and died the next night. Surrounding that same incident, my uncle, who claimed to not have gotten sick in something like thirty years, had to leave work early with an unexplained headache that started right about the same time my grandmother suffered the first symptoms of the stroke.

Bumping this thread because I'm just now getting into the overwhelming supplements game....For anyone that has/is taking turmeric, what brand do you use/find most effective?

Feeling a little frustrated/lost right now after some recent readings I've done....Just as a back story to this, and something I've alluded to in a few other threads, I'm in the process of trying something new with my fitness routine. My goal is to transition from: a) Lifting heavy weights 3x+/week, occasional but not regular hockey or yoga for cardio, and eating pretty much whatever I want (but not necessarily in excess....I'm currently of normal weight) to: Swimming training (with end goal of doing mile+ long summer lake swims), yoga, and much cleaned up diet. So here's my vent session/what I'm looking for your approaches on: I've been reading about different eating plans and diet approaches from a few different sources lately. My idea was to not follow just one plan or "system" but to take the best approaches from several that interest me. But this is what I feel like I'm running into time and time again: Start of the reading: 'this isn't like some other readings out there where diet suggestions are hard to follow or cost a lot of money...." End of the reading: You should pretty much only eat twigs and rare berries. It kind of makes me want to pull my hair out. I don't mean to sound as if I'm looking for an excuse; I'm really ready and committed to try something new that will lead to an all around healthier lifestyle, more energy, etc. I guess my point is....do you know how the workers at my local grocery store would look at me if I started inquiring about the types of antibiotics that were used in the raising of their chickens? Does anybody else find this hard? How do you all navigate this "eating better" jungle?

The following is an excerpt from the I-Ching by Alfred Huang, which I'm just really beginning to delve into: "In Chinese history, the greatest prime minister was a Taoist sage named Chang Liang. Chang Liang assisted the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Pong, who overthrew the tyrant emperor of the Shin Dynasty. Chang Liang then withdrew from his active life, becoming a hermit. Where did he go? No one knows. This is the true spirit of taking no credit for success, but bringing everything to completion. Chang Liang followed the instruction of this yao: After succeeding, resign. He embraced the Tao of I: When things reach the extreme, they alternate to the opposite. Chang Liang realized that with success his prestige ws at its highest, just short of the emperor, but sooner or later he would fall. As he predicted, the emperor became suspicious and after a time had all the other ministers killed one by one. Chang Liang has come to be regarded as the wisest person ever known in China." I'm interested to learn more, particularly of any legends surroundings his later life seclusion....Does anyone know of any good readings on this Zhang Liang?

I don't know if I'm "right" in this suggestion, or it's just me/my mindset, but for many who post here about their struggles with different aspects of Taoism, the last of the "three jewels" is the first lesson that comes to mind: "Not daring to be first in the world."

Hello all, hopefully sixty-something posts buys me enough street cred now to unleash a little meditation on everybody....I've been wrestling with something kind of vague, and wanting to leave it to this place for open discussion, but every time I start to write it out I find I'm having trouble articulating exactly what I mean. But at this point, I'm just going to follow KISS (keep it simple, stupid), first draft it, and hope something good comes from it. -------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- When I journal, I often almost superstitiously try to avoid actually writing out the word "plan." It's my least favorite word in the English language. It just seems to me that it's very contradiction is inherent in its definition. If we can't know the future, we can't really know a plan. However, I do believe - and want to believe - in one creating their own life, manifesting things using the power of mind, if you will. How can I bring these two seemingly competing notions into harmony? Or just think about them a little differently than I am? For the last several years I feel like if I were to write out a set of goals, or a "to-do" list for, say, the coming six months, or year, the Universe will make it a point to slap that list out of my hand the very next day. Switching gyms & starting a new workout regime? Nope, broken foot. Planning a move for a new job? Nope, that falls through, different job comes about.... That being said, I'm cognizant of that fact that things I think up, or put my attention to, do in fact manifest themselves, almost uncannily so, just not on my time or the exact way that I imagine. Sometimes years later. Sometimes after twists I couldn't have thought up even with my very healthy imagination. The Plan is very powerful; the plan isn't. And I guess what I'm struggling with is...the short term plans I talk about, writing out new goals, planning, sometimes seems so futile that you almost want to give it up, or change the way you approach it, but yet, it does play some role in a bigger scheme that isn't futile. ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------- You know what I'm saying?

An issue where I genuinely believe do-gooders like the ones behind this ad do much more harm than good....building a culture where people think they have to treat & talk to young men as if they were bloodthirsty savages and at the same time can never say anything to young women about common sense safety practices for fear of being labeled a rape apologist.

Super fascinating....this may be naive of me, knowing as little about it as I do, but, because of the way those mummies looked to me and the below videos I was really into a few months back, the connection that immediately popped to mind was not of white Europeans but of the sect that would go on to cross Siberia & become North America's Native Americans. Check out the timelines....not exact but pretty close. It would make sense to me....it's always struck me as weird how, for me personally, Taoism was the system that most screamed of truth and, yet, human migration-wise, being in Massachusetts, I'm literally as far away from it as one can be. Maybe I'm using my imagination a bit but, again, what a cool thing to look into further.

Welcome to the party, Tremblay. Your post brought two things to mind which I personally believe are true. 1) "That which is to give light must endure burning." 2) Never forget that all life's "bigger" or "loftier" ideas, religions, even Taoism, aren't exempt from the accomplishment/achievements game themselves. I find that, a lot of times, if people are prone to falling into that trap in the world, they're prone to falling into that trap in whatever "system" or religion they find to escape the world, too. People want to be the best at all things but being themselves. So, let these things guide you to find peace, absorb what is useful as Bruce Lee would say, but don't ever let them frustrate you too much, because what do these silly systems really know anyway?

Some dude's digging up human heads and performing rituals with them. Some of his followers were surprised, even though his temple had been a mobile home the whole time. And I guess the twist is that it all might be untrue.

Who the fuck is Max Christensen?

Interesting you should post this....a few months back, someone that I trust deeply recommended me this book, specifically raving about how gut microbes affect our mental well-being: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brain-maker-david-perlmutter/1120058384 I just finally went through with ordering a copy yesterday....I was hesitant a) because I don't fully "get it" and I'm kind of scared of some doctor scaring me out of soda or the occasional trip to Popeyes Chicken. But, as further evidenced by you posting, the topic keeps popping up in my life....time to move towards what scares me....

So....here's a story. About a month ago, five minutes into the first game of the men's street hockey league season, I rolled my ankle really bad. Being the tough guy/maniac that I am, I kept playing on it....and walking on it....and living with it....I thought it was a simple sprained ankle, after all. About two weeks passed before I started to really pay attention to it and noticed that the pain wasn't in my ankle but in my foot. Well, I went and got x-rays yesterday and, yep, broke a bone in my foot. Ouch (it's actually way worse stress-wise than pain-wise right now). Today, I'm in this really awkward splint. I'm assuming that soon I'll be in some kind of boot (I truly, truly hope crutches aren't necessary for too long....). I can't sit how I usually do for meditation in either, so I was wondering....what other positions should I try? It's going to be a real time of exploration for me this next little bit....but I'm thinking staying to my meditation routine as best as possible will help. PS If anybody has had a similar experience, please, feel free to hit me with the good news. PPS If anybody knows how I can heal the bone using my mind, please, hit me with the good news.

Just to update everyone, I caught a break (no pun intended). Upon visit to the specialist, she informed me that, despite me not seeking doctor's assistance immediately, and walking on it, and running on it, and pretty much doing everything "wrong," the bone is somehow in the stage of healing it would have been had I had a cast put on the day of the injury and I'm pretty much good to just carry on as usual (but take it easy). I fully credit the act of not paying much attention to it....a metaphor for Tao, perhaps?

I think your (and the newspaper clip's) measured response kind of hits the nail on the head here. The over-simplified, too straightforward "red wine is actually good for you" argument has always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. One because people in general LOVE to drink - it's deeply, deeply ingrained into so many cultures - and I can't imagine any study not being somewhat biased (whether to that side of the spectrum or the other i.e. mine). But I think a lot of it has to do with stress, too. Stress is a bigger killer than anything. So anything that relaxes you in an otherwise stressful life is going to reflect as being "good for you." My brother eats a lot of grilled-cheese sandwiches....if they were as prevalent (and perhaps as "effective") as alcohol, I'm sure there'd be a myriad of studies saying that grill cheese sandwiches reduced disease, too.

I'm 27 years old and have never had a sip. People hear that and go straight to, "must be religious, must have had alcoholic parents, must have debilitating social anxiety, must...." but, nope, I just observed from adolescence how it made people act, how it changed people, and decided it wasn't for me. I committed to a "straight edge" lifestyle, but even after that "label" kind of wore off in adulthood, it still remained a vow I'd made to myself that was important to me. Coming at it from that unique perspective, here's three takes that I have: Firstly, from a place of compassion to those who have a problem with it, it's something that I wrestle with a lot, and an area where my attitudes are always seemingly in flux. In my more idealistic teenage years, drinkers bothered me a lot. I'd hear my dad describe alcoholics as "poor guy," etc and I really struggled to understand why people had any sympathy for them such as he did. These people were killing themselves, so who cares? But then as I grew up, and I continue to grow up, I've had to come to grips with a funny thing about myself which, again, I've yet to figure out: many - an uncanny amount really - of my closest relationships over the years have been with heavy, heavy drinkers and/or people who seem to have "the gene." The lifetime non-drinker somehow attracted to his direct opposite in that regard, and vice versa....what does that mean? And so I remain still a swinging pendulum between as harsh, stoic, and uncaring of an attitude as one could have, and the most interested, compassionate one can be towards the situation. That being said, and, again, from my outsider's perspective, here are the two most corrosive things about alcohol, to me: 1) It's dangerous because it's socially acceptable. People look at me like I have two heads when I espouse the opinion that alcohol is a worse drug than heroin, but I guess what I really mean is that alcohol is a more dishonest drug than heroin. The abuse of either is going to take you to the same place, eventually but at least the use of heroin in our society is like calling a spade a spade. 2) Alcohol is the opposite of creativity. I find that people often put away pursuing their real dreams, or making weekend adventures to explore life, because they just "can't miss" the Saturday party, the bar scene, one night out with the guys/girls....it's complacency juice and that's always made me really sad. I feel like we're losing brilliant, unique individuals to the allure of being just like everybody else. Anyways, curious to see where the thread goes....a topic I'm always interested in...

One of the biggest reasons Taoism makes sense to me, and works for me, is because of how much I perceive it to be about balance. So, I can meditate twice a day, and generally seek serenity, but still work out like a mad man if I so choose. I've done weights 3x/wk (supplemented with some yoga/hockey/other activities) pretty religiously (no pun intended) for about 3 1/2 years now. However, I've recently decided that over the course of the the winter I'm going to transition to a program of swimming, yoga, and better diet. I'm nervous about it, but also sure. It's time for a change. It's good to mix things up. Plus, I'm goal oriented when it comes to this stuff and so in my mind getting in the pool will be "training" to eventually do a long-distance lake swim or two.

What's annoying for me, personally, right now (during a time of insurance change) is that there are a couple things I do need to go to specialists for....and I can't do that without having a PC for referrals. Otherwise, I'd completely cut off general visits like some posters above me have mentioned. I just haven't met many doctors I really trust and that's an important thing for me. They're rushed, they can never figure out what's wrong with me, and most of the time their medicine just makes me sick. A chiropractor once actually said to me, "Nine out of ten patients that come in here are horses; you're the zebra." Such is life I guess.

I'm pretty sure a higher percentage of violent tragedies stem from guns being around than of people being on medications. And I've got to disagree with you on the "equally disturbing way" comment, too. It's a facet of gun defender's argument that has always baffled me - the "they'd just find another way to commit the acts." Yes, maybe some would, and certainly some have, but putting it like that too easily glances over the fact that pressure cookers have a use other than killing things. Guns don't. The lot of people who tout the dangers of psyche meds and I would probably find common ground on several things: over-prescribed? Yes. Needs to be dealt with carefully, considerately, and often isn't? Yes. But the reason I make a point to speak up when it's brought up is because a) regardless of our opinions on them, they are used in modern psychiatry; that's just a fact. b)thus I believe to make too sweeping a generalization of them could discourage people from getting any help at all and that certainly does nothing for the problem.

I like Bill Maher a lot, but I'm not quite ready to get on board with this wholesale. Much the same as the often stated argument that antidepressants have something to do with it all, it opens up a chicken-and-the-egg type deal: Do killers kill because they're on meds? Or are killers more likely to be being treated at any given time because they are obviously very sick? Do killers kill because they can't get laid? Or can they not get laid because they have the personality of killers? As several of the others have mentioned, many, many others who don't have the average sexual experience go through life perfectly healthily, just as many who take meds are greatly helped. I've also never bought the whole manhood/tough guy thing being put on a pedestal in our country as a chief factor. It always makes me think, "as opposed to what time in human history? The Aztecs? The Romans?" Now, all that being said, can any of these contribute to the cocktail? Yes, sure (though I would argue that psyche meds are never these crazy pills that put homicidal ideas into people's heads....I think it's far more likely that the stress and stigma around the actual taking of the pill trigger something already there) I've said this in other posts: America had a rough start. A collective PTSD lingers. In so many pockets, the country has a predominantly imperial/racist attitude intermingled with a absolutely sexual fetish for guns. Really think about that: there's a couple of good 'ol boy dads in every white neighborhood who are teeming to kill a "bad guy." Or at list think they are. Not the easiest environment to grow up in if you're a sick kid, never been exposed to anything, and with an undeveloped brain. They almost don't stand a chance.

I would just bring a little portable speaker and play the sound effects from the first two minutes of this movie as I walked around.

Here's my somewhat related thought. And I'm really just thinking out loud, so bear with me/my apologies if I say anything offensive here: I've been reading at length lately about both the Old Testament and Catholicism. I like studying religions; I find that there's something one can take from all "big ideas" that have come to have great meaning to people. But, man, some of the stuff in the Old Testament is just so wacky, so backwards....very, very clearly derived from a very early people of this planet, with very specific daily realities and yearly needs. Anyways, following the train of thought right along, that got me to thinking about why exactly, if most religions were kind of this original source of coping with existence for the peoples that came up with them, was Taoism closest to truth (**important: from the worldview of me, at this specific moment in time). For instance, perhaps it factored in heavily that the earliest proponents of Taoism had the benefit of more pure isolation, or a greater closeness to nature, whereas those of the old Testament were very preoccupied with farming and warring tribes. So, the tie-in here for me is that maybe the closeness of truth has something to do with the closeness of the start....of us.

Somebody DM me when you guys get to the bottom of this.

The question now having been put to me, I'm suddenly feeling as though I'm not as knowledgeable on the subject as maybe I'd like to be, but three I would feel ready to plug would be To Write Love On Her Arms (mental health), The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation (general/children; New York based), and NEADS (service dogs for deaf/disabled Americans).