Another year done, so what's next?

@Appleblossom, you are a deep thinker. i usually tend to think i am the only salient person on the planet (massive ego).

I will say that one can intellectualise and 'over-intellectualise' anything. I was brought up christian and neglected to pray or act christian for years excepting when i was in a 'fox-hole' until a miracle of healing occurred to me that my mother and i had both been praying for (unbeknownst to each other). it happened pretty much when i had my back to the wall and had no way out (and had actually given up). i don't want to upset you or 'freak you out' with whatever you're going through or dealing with 'tho.

no kids. wish i had some sometimes, and glad i don't at other times. from time to time i meet a nice bloke who seems to want to know if i can still have kids, but it's never worked out so far. and now i've said too much, probably (typed too much[?]).

one of my favourite albums, if not my favourite, is 'west side story'. and i LOVE nina simone. i should stop 'spiling my guts'. this is not a chat room! :0

Not sure about spilling guts ... mine are all over the place ...

How much is enough ... what is over intellectualising? Mostly I like my mind to be still.

It is great that you had a bonding experience with your mother that was healing, mystical and gave you hope.

I think there are a lot of ways of interpreting things.

I like ideas that bring out the best in people ... sometimes religious ideas do that ... sometimes its the opposite and I am ashamed of someone's dogmatic behaviour.

I also am over the old heart and head division ... I happen to have a head, a heart and a body and metaphorical heart as seat of the affections and a mind too. We shouldnt have to apologise for thinking ..that is often the start of MI.

@Appleblossom Hey! - don't get me wrong; i mean, i have NEVER bonded with mum! but we were both praying for healing for me a while back - things were VERY bad, and i got healed, instantly, when someone prayed over me. it was a miracle, and i'm very sorry to blast all your theories into the air! :0

intellectualising definitely has it's limits - analysis paralysis, and just the simple fact that people can and do say all sort of clever things, which can be utterly empty. i mean, people can and do argue anything and everything.

yes, i prefer pope francis to pope ratzinger, for example, re the failings of christians.

@Appleblossom i should go to sleepy-bo-bo's soon - my bunny rug is calling ...

Me too re the last 2 popes.

I am not that argumentative although I do like to write ... have been brain alive and brain dead and prefer the former.

I have no grand theories to go pouff into thin air ... just learning to engage with people and like those who are a bit different.

@Appleblossom thanks! yes, i can be as different and sensitive as i like at this forum and nobody has to know ... D'oh!

re: trust. the only person who you can trust is god. i realised that after everyone, including me, let me down.

i saw such a cute guy today ... BUT I DIGRESS(!) ... anyway, i am pretty new to my christian walk and probably not very good at it yet 😞

you sound like you maybe have things you still want to achieve? an australian man a few years ago set the world record for the oldest person ever to take up scuba-diving - he was in his 80s. you're not that old yet! ps. sorry none of my business. it isn't a chat room. i should go to bed soon anyway - i usually only open my mouth to change feet, and i fear it's the same when i blog!

Nighty night @Terry It has been good chatting. Why isnt it a chat room? I guess I only started going online regularly 2 years ago and dont really know what a chat room is! You often bring up religion and I know some on the forum are uncomfortable about it ... so I thought it might be good if we started to discuss it ... nice getting to know you ...

I am tired too and it will be good to know that I will be able to sleep.

cheers Apple

@Appleblossom Rene Fleming's 'the beautiful voice' album is wonderful, if you don't already have it 🙂

@Appleblossom night night, sleep well. lovely chatting to you too. as far as the definition of a 'chat room' goes, only the people 'chatting' can read it. everyone on the entire internet-viewing planet can read this. Hi y'all! A special hello to all mental health staff reading this. Hmmm.

catch you guys soon. i can't escape the notion that my enormous ego and preaching scare everyone away once i come online but i guess you don't have to read my posts if you don't want. love and prayers to you all 🙂

Thanks for explaining difference between chat rooms and forums @Terry Shows how ignorant I can be. My American in-laws spoke of chat rooms in the 90s while I didnt have real access to a computer. So I am doing catch up.

I see the authentic stories and the positive ongoing community interactions on this site as both an outlet for those with MI and activism for educating community about the nature of MI.

I can say as someone who grew up in the church:

that unthinking unfeeling preaching that "God loves us" is usually VERY counterproductive. As a little girl I copped it a lot. If one more person tells me my loved ones are in heaven ... I will scream. It can be an excuse or form of lazinness that is totally antithetical to the message of Christ ... an habitual mouthing that makes the person feel self righteous but achieves little and if it upsets people then is actually destructive.

You do have things to offer this forum @Terry as this is a site for those who are also vulnerable I would ask you to respect that and not keep pushing and evangelising like a bloody fundamentalist ... use your ego to actually distinguish between BS and goodness ...God gave us a brain for a reason ... egotism is another thing entirely ... I am pretty pissed off with cheap christianity and am someone on the list for the current Royal Commission. I actually take the good in christianity seriously ... BUT I never push it and am genuinely ok that my children are atheists ... they have ethics and will find their own way.

You are right .. people can ignore your posts but ... it is sad if people who can benefit from the unique offerings of this forum are turned off ... it is why this forum has been set up ... you probably would not feel too good if I patronised you ... I am more interested in why people believe what they believe ... so tell the story of your miracle ... that would interest me ... but you dont have to if you feel too exposed.

regards Apple