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Roberta

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Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 338 total)
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  • in reply to: Am I judgmental? #439845
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Evfran

    Looking at it from a different angle. You are doing a brilliant job of looking after your uncle and you know that once he breathes his last breath then control is handed over to a relative stranger, at least you know this in advance rather than it being slammed into you at one of your most vulnerable moments. Death & its aftermath often brings out the worst in people & families often get hurt & squabble for years over the most trivial of things as well as the big stuff.

    Are you in touch with his son?  does his son know that his father does not have long to live?

    What is your uncles belief system & how do they view the death process?

    A visitor has just arrived so I will sign off

    regards Roberta

    I pray that you & your uncle have a peaceful time together and that his passing will also be peaceful.

    in reply to: Am I judgmental? #439827
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear EvFran

    https://youtu.be/Mna5a_NRlK8?si=LCdwSVxcNp5ZFjs_  this is the vid I watched this morning called When Someone doesnt value you. I found it quite insightful.

    What is the difference between being at peace with something & denial? As for your uncle it is his right to deal with his terminal illness his way as long as it is not illegal. Maybe he is just trying to enjoy what little is left of his life & not spend every minute being dragged down by something he can’t change.  It your right to choose if you want to be around your uncle whilst he walks this journey.

    Roberta

    in reply to: Undisputed, universal truths? #439824
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Danny

    Not only to remind us of our own mortality, but also others. Most of us has lost touch with an old friend & thought about reaching out, but left it too late (this has happened to me in the last few days). The first & last things I say to my aged father each & everyday is “I love you”. The old saying of “never put off what you can do today until tomorrow” or “Don’t go to bed on an argument”.

    in reply to: Son came out as bi-sexual #439793
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Arie

    So glad that your relationship has healed & I hope it goes from strength to strength.

    in reply to: I feel lost and helpless.. #439677
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Rising Flower

    making unreasonable requests like asking for kids whne I was not ready nor the circumstances areabsolitely not suitable, trying to control me whol to speak and what to speak, stopping me from doing my hobbies so I could love him.more or avoid making new friends). These are all red flags and signs of abusive & coercive behaviour.

    Please try to spend more time with supportive family & friends building fun & strong relationship with them to help fill the void that you are currently in. Nature animals hobbies & volunteering are healthy pursuits, yes it may take some  considerable time to detox from L, but it will be worth it . I hope you meet someone who will allow you to flourish and that you are emotionally & physically attracted to so that L becomes a distant memory which is more in line with your statement  I’m emotionally strong and independent .

    in reply to: I feel lost and helpless.. #439525
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Rising Flower

    Just because we love someone it does not mean that they are a good match & will enhance our happiness & that we should be with them.   In what ways do you love him? Is there trust, respect, compassion & support in this particular relationship?

    Please reread the thread you have submitted as if it was someone else writing their story, what conclusions do you come to?

    Roberta

    in reply to: what is a sisterhood #439448
    Roberta
    Participant

    Hello Arden

    I found my sisterhood thru concentrating on my spiritual life, all my close & supportive friends have the same priorities/outlook towards a spiritual life even if it is not the same religion. We laugh & support each other & are at ease with silence between us.

    I hope that you can find a group of like minded people to spend time with and that it develops into a gentle & supportive friendship.

     

    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Lulu

    I guess your mum & Aunt are very protective of you because you are autistic and now that your sister has tragically passed away they will be even more protective.  Which makes it hard for you to have a voice of your own when it comes to romantic relationships.  Secrets put us in a mind state of fear and the guilt is putting a barrier between you & your family  It maybe productive to have a general conversation with them about how hard it is for people with your condition to have a relationship as many people do not understand your needs & modes of thinking. This may get them thinking about how compatible M17 is for you.

    Roberta
    Participant

    Hi Lulu

    Whether you stay with your boyfriend or not is up to you. I guess you are now taking stock of the way you communicate. Things said out loud or written as obvious but there is also the tone & content of internal dialogue. Most people especially when we are young are not actively circumspect about what they say. Think Say Do is how we operate a lot of the time, this chain reaction can happen in seconds. ie tummy rumbles Think I am Hungry, Say internally I fancy a sandwich, Do make & eat the sandwich.

    If we are glib about hurting ourselves & others it can slowly erode our ability to be kind & compassionate to ourselves & others. Words do have power.

    Roberta

     

    in reply to: Feeling so lost after leaving #439323
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Louise

    I am sorry that your mum passed unexpectedly. You have had a lot on your plate dealing with her estate and your yearning for freedom from a relationship that was not fulfilling  you and now you are feeling adrift.

    There is not a lot of point discussing should have, would have as this will only pile on the misery.  When you notice one of these disturbing thought/feeling  arise gently tap your heart & say it is okay & it will be okay. This way you are not suppressing or ignore those feeling, your acknowledging them but not adding to them. The other technique to bring you back to the present is the 54321 technique Name 5 things you can see 4 things you can hear 3 things you can smell 2 things you can feel the touch of 1 the taste in your mouth.

    If you want to continue with your travels checkout the workaway site where you exchange food & accommodation for about 25 hours work. This will give you built in companionship and save you money and have new experiences.

    Roberta

    in reply to: Son came out as bi-sexual #439272
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Arie

    Would you prefer your son to conform to your expectations and live a miserable unfulfilled life or for him to be a happy loving human being? Your son did a very brave thing coming out to his family about his preferences. We fall in love with the person not their gender.

    in reply to: Will I ever be free of this fear of people? #439238
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Jana

    Ideally we all would be able to lhelp everyone with thier lives. You set good boundaries with the older lady, some seeds of kindness take longer to germinate than others (it can even take lifetimes) There are teachings about gift giving,  you gave her the gift of your companionship, what she chooses to do with it is up to her. When we give any gift we relinquish ownership of it otherwise it is not truly a gift. Likewise when some one is angry with us, we have the choice whether to accept their  unpleasant gift.

    You certainly cant go wrong with any of Thich Nat Hans teachings. He was a deeply wise & compassionate person.

    As for the Diamond Way as I understand it when the 16th Karmarpa passed 2 people were “found”  as the 17th Karmarpa this led to a spilt in the lineage. Though both were ordained one has since disrobed and married. My friend follows one and I follow the other, the way we choose to see it in our limited simple way that keeps the harmony between us is like the 16th Karmapa is our grandfather and he had twin sons our fathers. Also truth like gravity does not belong to anyone, but to all.

    Keep on with the intention to heal & grow. Think how extraordinary Helen Keller was. It took just one person to see possibilities for her and act upon them, the rest is history.

    Best wishes

    Roberta

    in reply to: Cancer sucks #439220
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Me

    I am sorry that your father has terminal cancer ( I looked after my mother at home up to a few weeks before her passing from cancer) my relationship with her had been rocky in the past,  I managed to put aside our past hurts.  I was with her when she passed peacefully.

    My comment on this is not meant to be a critisim So I must live it by getting into extremly good shape, make as much money as I can and experience life.  Any statement using words like extremely can cause oneself a problem ie. if you dont meet the high standard of extremely fit how are you going to feel about yourself? Money does not necessarily equate to happiness ( how many rich & famous people have committed suicide or drank & drugged themselves to death). Would you be willing to compromise your health, friends and or ethics to get rich? What kinds life experiences are you looking for?

    I pray that your father has a peaceful & pain free passing and that you go on to have a happy & fulfilling life.

    Kind regards

    Roberta

     

    in reply to: Will I ever be free of this fear of people? #439219
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Jana

    What a lovely & inspiring thread.  So many people are deeply damaged by their childhood and go down an unhelpful path like alcohol for many years just adding more harm on top of the initial circumstances. Congratulations on all that you have achieved so far. I came across Buddhism in my forties and it has helped me grow and nourish the gentleness inside me everyday since.

    I see  from the net that there are about 7,000 Buddhists in your home country and that there are a couple of dharma centres in Prague.  Is it possible for you to check them out in person where you would meet people who are on your wavelength & allow your inner life flourish. As I am unable to get to teachings in person, I enjoy watching offerings from the sangha at Sravasti Abbey in USA and I also did their on line study course which was very enjoyable.

    You are gentle being who wishes to be in step with nature and the natural rhythms of life and have few fellow spiritual companions.  The hectic hedonistic Western  lifestyle  is not really conducive to long term happiness, health & well-being, so don’t beat yourself up for not wanting to conform to a shallow life.

    best wishes

    Roberta

     

     

     

    in reply to: Big Step, widower #439008
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Omyk

    I get that the task of sorting thru your late wife’s things can be overwhelming when you have so little down time due to work pressures. If you can come up with a clear outline before you start, the task will be quicker & easier. ie what kind of photo you want to keep and roughly how many ie a wedding photo, a picture of your wife holding your baby with a loving look upon her face and one with her with your child for each year as they grew up etc. Ok at this moment your teenager is not that sentimental but as the years pass especially if they have children of their own these pictures will become precious connection to their roots.

    A dozen photos nicely displayed can bring comfort and assurance that your wife is actively honored over the coming years.

    Best wishes

    Roberta

     

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 338 total)