Newbie who can't figure out how to post this in the Newbie Corner

[SlowBear]

Hello everyone!

 

My name is Johnathan. I'm a lifelong martial artist who has always held philosophical Daoism in high regard and would love to learn and integrate true Daoist practices into my life. 

 

I just got divorced last month and, despite being a pretty dang good martial artist and fighter, I'm quite honestly in poor health. I have found myself in a state where, though I interact with the world around me, I experience a profound disconnection with everything.

 

So I guess I'm here for a couple of reasons. First, I am hoping that by integrating Daoist practices into my life that my mental and physical health will improve. Secondly, I'm hoping to make friends and find community.

 

Can't wait to meet you all!

-Johnathan

[Trunk]

Welcome!

[Cobie]

Hi SlowBear. Welcome to the forum. 

[Nungali]

16 hours ago, SlowBear said:

Hello everyone!

 

My name is Johnathan. I'm a lifelong martial artist who has always held philosophical Daoism in high regard and would love to learn and integrate true Daoist practices into my life. 

 

I just got divorced last month and, despite being a pretty dang good martial artist and fighter, I'm quite honestly in poor health. I have found myself in a state where, though I interact with the world around me, I experience a profound disconnection with everything.

 

So I guess I'm here for a couple of reasons. First, I am hoping that by integrating Daoist practices into my life that my mental and physical health will improve. Secondly, I'm hoping to make friends and find community.

 

Can't wait to meet you all!

-Johnathan

 

But .....       

 

(you posted in 'newbie forum ' ; how do I post  in newbie forum ... ah well, maybe  it got from somewhere else to here .

 

Anyway , what sort of martial arts ?  I been doing them for a few decades too .

 

Feeling 'disconected ' eh ?   SOOOOoooo man people are feeling that (in western society , and its fringes) .    Got a cure for that !  But I suppose the divorce plays its part too .  You will get used to that .

[SlowBear]

15 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

But .....       

 

(you posted in 'newbie forum ' ; how do I post  in newbie forum ... ah well, maybe  it got from somewhere else to here .

 

Anyway , what sort of martial arts ?  I been doing them for a few decades too .

 

Feeling 'disconected ' eh ?   SOOOOoooo man people are feeling that (in western society , and its fringes) .    Got a cure for that !  But I suppose the divorce plays its part too .  You will get used to that .

To clarify, I was able to post in the Welcome section. When I clicked on the Newcomer Corner section, I couldn't find an option to post within that section.

 

As I tell people when they ask me about my martial arts practice, I've been a "jackass-of-all-trades" type of martial artist my entire life. I blame Bruce Lee. Started in highschool at 14 with TKD/American Kenpo for four years. Kickboxing in college.

 

When I moved up to Dallas for about two years off and on, I was doing Krav Maga and Bujinkan Ninjutsu. Off and on, I've also done some Wing Chun, Karate, Boxing, MMA, Kajukenbo, and Kali. Not enough to write home about with a lot of it(and I've probably left a bunch out), but enough to help give me context for my martial art.

 

One of the biggest lessons I've taken over the years is that it's all about context. It's not that the people who came before us were not great fighters, but rather that they were working from the context of dealing with or engaging in armed combat. That and commercialization over time.

 

My interest over the past couple of years has been with the internal arts, particularly with Yiquan. Though with no teacher at the moment (money and time), I've been left to what I can gather on my own via YouTube and books. I will say that Zhan Zhuang practice has definitely yield some interesting results with power and relaxed structure.

 

TLDR: DONE A BUNCH CRAP😛

Edited June 14, 2023 by SlowBear

[Nungali]

Cool , I did a  mixed bag , I have settled down to  arnis ( eskrima, kali ) though . No teachers around my place  .  So I too am 'alone' in that regard . But still, as you probably realize , with years and years of  eclectic experience  and understanding in a few traditions , it gives you a base to be able to understand and interpret things , to an extent, with out a teacher .  But if I found one, I would be in in a moment !

 

I have concern about your ' profound disconnection ' though .  At times I feel very strongly -  the opposite  ....  and I know the value of that experience .

 

Do you choose to go through this and see where it takes you , or do you feel you would like to 'connect '  ? 

[SlowBear]

My path is what it is, so if I must see it through, I must. It's not anything I have chosen though. 

 

The sensation of my interactions are a bit like having a sheet of plexiglass between me and everything else, some barrier mentally that keeps me from being able to fully engage with my environment. My suspicion is that my mind is unconsciously numbing to keep unpleasant feelings at bay. Hard to get going in the mornings.

 

I have a known norepinephrine deficiency and was given Wellbutrin. That was helping for a while, but now it's not doing the job and I don't want to go up in dosage if I can figure something else out.

 

Before this turns into too long of a ramble, I will end the post here. As a verbal (and apparently textual) processor, I will write forever if given opportunity.

[Cobie]

.

Edited June 29, 2023 by Cobie

[Trunk]

On 6/14/2023 at 6:27 AM, SlowBear said:

To clarify, I was able to post in the Welcome section. When I clicked on the Newcomer Corner section, I couldn't find an option to post within that section.

 

I gave you regular member security rights,

so you're set now.

- Trunk

TDB's admin

[Nungali]

18 hours ago, SlowBear said:

My path is what it is, so if I must see it through, I must. It's not anything I have chosen though. 

 

The sensation of my interactions are a bit like having a sheet of plexiglass between me and everything else, some barrier mentally that keeps me from being able to fully engage with my environment. My suspicion is that my mind is unconsciously numbing to keep unpleasant feelings at bay. Hard to get going in the mornings.

 

I have a known norepinephrine deficiency and was given Wellbutrin. That was helping for a while, but now it's not doing the job and I don't want to go up in dosage if I can figure something else out.

 

Before this turns into too long of a ramble, I will end the post here. As a verbal (and apparently textual) processor, I will write forever if given opportunity.

 

The last time I felt that , I didnt mind  ..... there was a polar bear on the other side  .  

[thelerner]

I had some rambling advice but nothing specific or overly useful.  But this came to mind-  Get a dog.  Having a dog makes you a member of the dog tribe.  They'll see you, talk to you and you'll have a built in subject.  It can be hard to ask people out for coffee and stuff, but it's way easier to hook up to walk your dogs.  Nobody gets to know a neighborhood and the people in it, like the dog walkers.  

 

For the introvert it means meeting one on one or in a small group.  Also mean learning from the dog.  Friendly, energetic, in the moment.  

[SlowBear]

On 6/15/2023 at 10:49 PM, thelerner said:

I had some rambling advice but nothing specific or overly useful.  But this came to mind-  Get a dog.  Having a dog makes you a member of the dog tribe.  They'll see you, talk to you and you'll have a built in subject.  It can be hard to ask people out for coffee and stuff, but it's way easier to hook up to walk your dogs.  Nobody gets to know a neighborhood and the people in it, like the dog walkers.  

 

For the introvert it means meeting one on one or in a small group.  Also mean learning from the dog.  Friendly, energetic, in the moment.  

This is excellent advice and some I may follow through with eventually. I'm not ready to get another dog yet. I had one that my ex-wife and I rescued a few years back. My ex kept her in the divorce. Honestly more sad about that than the divorce in a lot of ways. She was definitely my best friend.