Hi Anita

I’m not asking for anything unreasonable. Simply to not talk about others in this way. You are free to explore your feelings in a healthy way. You don’t need to tiptoe.

Hi Peter

Thank you for sharing your beautiful stories! I’m glad that I got to see them. ❤️

I believe that we are all already free, sometimes people don’t even notice it. 😊

Hi Anita

I appreciate that you’re going through something right now.

Boundaries are a two way street. If you don’t want replies. It is important to stop making painful assumptions about people that you don’t want to talk to you. You might not understand what you are doing is hurtful. It is. Which is why you have been asked to stop multiple times. No one has to stay quiet whilst you talk about them. It is a public space.

I am not criticising you. I am managing my own boundaries as someone you are repeatedly talking about. I am allowed to take care of myself, just as you are allowed to take care of yourself.

Honestly, I don’t need this stress. If you don’t stop I’m just going to leave because I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to deal with it right now. I really don’t like conflict because of my PTSD which is really bad right now.

On a side note, I don’t even understand why you got upset at me in the first place. You didn’t want to discuss it. I would like to work things out and listen to you when you are ready to talk. This might be the last thing I talk, so take care in advance. I wish you well and healing on your journey. ❤️

Hi Peter

I do honestly love esoteric metaphorical texts. I’m a fan of ancient eastern philosophy. I just find that I don’t understand very much. I like to reread it over the years and sometimes I will understand parts of it years later that I didn’t understand initially. I’ve always wanted to write in this style. Kudos for managing it successfully!

This is true. Thank you for clarifying your intention with the story for me. That is very kind of you to say. I think I have to be that way raising a child. 😊

You often remind me of those philosophy books I love so much. I might not always understand, but I do enjoy the experience and I’m always learning. ❤️

Yes, I do find that my relationship has changed with it over the years. I feel like compassion and self-compassion are inextricably linked. I find it takes a lot of self-compassion to be kind to others.

The self is a good interpretation. In Chinese yin translates to the shady side of a mountain and yang is the sunny side of the mountain.

Could you explain further the Sufi teaching concept at all? Apologies, I don’t really understand it. Perhaps if you could provide an example? ❤️

On a side note, I had an interesting experience foraging for stinging nettles. I wore gloves to protect my hands and my mind imagined stinging as I was handling them. Apparently it is a common experience. The mind expects things and creates the experience when it doesn’t occur. It makes me wonder about the role of the mind with pain and emotions. All of my experiences of being stung by nettles as a child have clearly done a number on me. 😂

I don’t think these things are about one person or another. For me, it is about morality and ethics. Trying to do the right thing is really important. ❤️

I find that a lot of people even those who try their best and are genuinely good people are completely unaware of unhealthy behaviours. It isn’t really possible to know something that hasn’t been taught after all. It takes a lot to seek to move past what we know and be open to learning a new style of communication. These things are genuinely hard because they are not taught unless you are in a helping profession or are simply interested in learning about communication techniques for whatever reason. It is a bit of a minefield learning to communicate in healthy ways. ❤️