AsheSkyler

Everybody has a good story to tell and no two are identical. Would anybody like to share how they first came across or got started in Taoism? Mine, oddly enough, was started from one of those wife swap shows. A Taoist family swapped with a Christian one. Eccentric, but peaceful folk. When asked what Taoism was, none were shown doing more than scratching their heads. Made me curious, so I started looking it up. My interest lay dormant for a few years after I got a basic answer. When it rekindled, I got a copy of the Tao Te Ching and here I am.

If I understand the concept of Wu Wei, how it's applied in my life is instead applied to my kid. I've been given many papers saying he should do certain things at certain ages and how his daily routine must be planned down to the minute. I don't force him into their mold. He feed him when he's hungry and let him sleep when he needs it rather than deny him because "it's not time". I never counted meals and I never counted diapers, much to the resent of many doctors with long lectures. I'm not weaning him, he's weaning himself because his appetite is calling for much thicker stuff. And so far, he's turning out to be very healthy and very happy.

"I didn't trip! The floor just does not like me." "The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with."

Your last line reminds me of tales my parents and grandparents would tale about the cows they milked. They said it was nasty to drink if the cow had been eating onion or "bitterweed". Only had fresh goat's milk myself. Pretty good. I've never had any other kind of raw meat, to my knowledge. Wouldn't mind trying sushi sometime. First you'll have to get me away from the little pastries that have cream cheese and crab meat in them. Those things are divine!

Ahhh, those are the details of it I couldn't remember. (Both the breathing and what parts it was bad for.) I think some try to counteract sitting all day at the office by using one of those big balls as a chair. Something about a ball constantly challenges your body to make minor adjustments to keep balance. Not sure if it's enough movement to make a difference, but I find the balls to be much softer to sit on than a cushion.

@ Marblehead: Would you believe I went and Googled both the pig and goat for giggles? @ zerostao: A few of the strip mines in Alabama. None quite so large as a few I've seen out in the desert, but big enough some have huge cranes.

Had deer sausage once. It was definitely different. Not bad, just different from the meat I'm used to eating. One thing I enjoy about my husband is that I get to try new food every so often! So far the only thing I won't touch again is raw oyster. He didn't tell me in time "don't chew". ICK. Like eating a balloon.

"We have a saying in my country. It says that you can put a tuxedo on a goat, but, it's still a goat." Did I miss a sentence in the Declaration of Independence that said "And, yea, all things in our new nation that were not of those icky British shall attach the word 'American' as a prefix or suffix to themselves and be known henceforth as either 'American-<insert title here>' or '<insert title here>-American'." Why is that? Our offical "seal of approval"? Or are we cultural cattle ranchers that have to burn everything on the butt when we get it? So please don't play dress-up word games with the goats anymore. Let them mingle and eat their grass in peace.

I have a mobile, curious infant who often pulls at my hair and clothes and nibbles on my feet. What is this "meditation" and "quiet thinky time" that you speak of? Rumours from the medical world say you should spend much of your day either standing or walking. Sitting around all the time kills you faster and is bad for your body all around. So say the rumours from the medical world.

I would have had to move when spider moved in. I feel guilty enough walking face-first into unseen webs, I wouldn't want to intentionally destroy one. It's like breaking another kid's Lego fort.

Thankie. =)

Hrm... Not logging in for a few days makes it embarrassing to reply to replies in fast moving topics. Yes, yes. One thing I might add that's made it easier to get along with others is not to be so arrogant to assume my religious, political, dietary, or other viewpoints are superior to another's. Peace and love knows no religion nor political viewpoint. Just like "crazy" and "hate". Same coin.

I made chickens! =D

I still don't have enough sense yet to keep my mouth shut at all times, especially around the devout. I don't even mind a difference of opinions between people. I enjoy it, in fact. The problem lies in the ones who believe they have a God-given right to nag and verbally bash you into becoming the person they want you to be when there's nothing wrong with who you are. Today I got a several hour mocking and insulting for not letting a woman put socks on me because my feet temperature was not to her liking, despite me feeling fine, not needing them, and generally don't like wearing things on my feet. Part of me says to be a pawn to people's wishes because they will always be more important than me, another says that I shouldn't be a doormat and they should learn to respect my wishes if they want me to respect their's. It's confusing, it's petty, and I don't understand why she made a big deal about me politely refusing in the first place.

True that. The only absolute is that nothing is absolute. I haven't done a proper study of other cultures in a long time to make a remark. I'd like to assume it has something to do with raising and the population focusing on the greater good for the community rather than best for the individual.