Dear Anita

It sounds like you’re having a wonderful day. A tattoo appointment, wine, a dog, childhood music, company and a warm fireplace. 🤍

Do you know what kind of tattoo you want to get?

The antibiotics seem to be helping. I can’t complain too much. 😊 The dog seems to be feeling a little better today. Ups and downs, but it generally takes a couple of weeks to heal. 1 down, half way through the next.

I’m sorry to hear that it’s difficult for you to talk to your sister. Is it partially because she stayed in your mother’s life? 🤍

I thought about getting in touch with my brother, but ultimately decided against it because it could open a can of worms with my mother and I just don’t want any drama.

You have suffered a lot, but you have always been a person. 🤍

I know it can feel-less than. The pain of trauma. As my therapist said, “It is natural for people to react in these ways when experiencing these kinds of difficulties.” It is human.

I hear you about the freedom from the pain. Day by day, I hope you feel a bit lighter. 🤍

I’m sorry to hear you’re having shoulder pain with the pulling on the lead. Is it getting bad? I think it’s a hard thing to heal because you walk them every day, so you keep re-injuring yourself. Anti-shock leads are really good and there are harnesses designed to prevent pulling. For training to walk without pulling, the key for me has been to stop and start. If they are relaxed on the lead, walk. If they aren’t stop. I hope that it helps. I know different dogs respond to different techniques though. 🤍

Hmm I didn’t know what to share about being alone. After having a think, it seems like I have difficulty being alone. I rely on others being a source of love. I’m trying to work on being a bit more self-reliant. 🤍

Hi Tommy

A cruise sounds like just what the doctor ordered! Is there anywhere you would like to go? 🚢 🌊 ☀️

I have faith that you will manage with the heater just fine. 🩵

Perhaps it’s not so much that she’s afraid of you messing up, just that she is afraid of being without a heater when it’s cold. Even a tiny, remote chance can put the fear in people.

Are you doing anything nice to celebrate? 🩵

Dear Tommy

It’s okay, your way of enjoying stories is valid. No need to pick anything apart. 🩵

Oh, not yet. The cat isn’t due for another month. You’re busy as ever! I like fixing things too. I’m not even as close to as good at it as you though. That’s pretty cool you are able to help others with your skills. 😊

I like the problem solving and it is nice to have something concrete out of it if all goes well. It almost feels creative especially when you start winging it.

Oh yes, got to keep the boy nice and toasty. Just paying the price for it. 😂 😭

I hope you and your family are well? Stay warm and have a Happy Lunar New Year! 🌙 🩵

Hi Everyone

I really loved this thread. It was a shame I didn’t have enough time to reply. It brought me a lot of peace. It was lovely watching the guys chat. 😁 🩵

The moon cannot be stolen is beautiful. It reminds me of a song by Nina Simone.

We are lucky. I was watching a medical show and they did a stint abroad in a place without access to doctors. So many people were dying of things that doctors help with every day. The doctors on a mission could only help so many people and had to decide who gets the chance to live. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are. 🩵

The silence story is a funny story. Taking it seriously, I wonder why the head monk gets so many words. Did he ever try to help the monk who was struggling? 🩵

The Christian story, I read online that the eye of the needle was the name of a gate to a city. Laden camels needed to be unburdened to enter. I think it adds nuance.

The Zen story about the diamonds. I wonder if the rich man was travelling around asking others people the secret to happiness? Did he even expect a satisfactory answer? Did at least a small part of him hope? I guess, when the master took the diamonds and ran away he might have believed he’d lost his only chance to be happy.

Maybe it is wishful thinking that the story is not really about diamonds. 💎 Just a desperately unhappy person who has everything, who would pay a lot of money for the answer.

A lot of people are reactive with their emotions and perception.

There was a story in a kids show called Bluey.

THE FARMER AND HIS HORSE
(OR THE OLD MAN OF THE FRONTIER LOST HIS HORSE)

Once upon a time, an old farmer living on the frontier lost his horse.

His neighbors in the village said, “What bad luck!”

The old man replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”

The next day, the horse returned with five more wild horses.

The neighbors came and said,” Wow! What good luck!”

The old man said, “Maybe. We’ll see.”

The next morning the old man’s son tried to ride one of the wild horses, but the horse threw him off, and the boy broke his leg.

The neighbors said again, “What bad luck!”

The old man replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”

The next day, soldiers arrived to take young men off to war, but the old man’s son didn’t have to go because of his broken leg.

The neighbors said, “What good luck!”

And do you know what the old man said?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Were each of these events good luck or bad luck?
What are some of the bad events in your life that led to something good?
Based on the story, how should you react to good or bad events?