I have a feeling that many of us have trouble reading this sentence, or will just opt to pretend they didn’t read it.

Who is going to sacrifice the opportunity to be proven “right” about everything they complain about and see coming?

Apocalypse = a term applied to the disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the mass of humankind

Posted by: Ian | 12/05/2006

Ian
It hadn’t really occured to me that people would react that way to that sentence, I was just hoping to highlight the need to inspire people but you’re probably right. The need for constant self-vindication is powerful, I know I have to contantly be wary of it in myself. As soon as I let my guard down I start doing stupid stuff like tailoring blog posts so that they will get a good response – it can be pretty powerful.

Posted by: Aaron | 12/06/2006

in the comments on this topic at the LIAVDBTR blog, Marcy made what I thought was the most succinct profound comment there. To paraphrase, she said “we all do what we feel is right at any given moment”. How about “at every given moment?” What else can ANYONE ever do, or has ANYONE ever done, besides what they felt/thought/believed was right at the moment they acted? To glimpse the full implication of really understanding this, even for a millisecond, i suspect would have a profound effect on someone. maybe I don’t really get it, but I have a feeling there’s something very profound there. and maybe I “get” that much, at least. This make sense to anyone?

Posted by: kyle | 12/06/2006

Yeah, Kyle. That makes a lot of sense.

What’s pretty amazing is that from that perspective, there is no room for judgment. People are where they are, people are who they are. We all do the best we can with what we’ve got. Period.

The point then becomes not convincing other people that they’re wrong or bad or evil and they need to change, but instead sharing your story with them and enjoying the play of a mutual relationship. It’s a pretty fucking amazing transformation, and relationships like this I’ve found to be exceedingly rare.

- Devin

Posted by: Devin | 12/06/2006

If anyone knows how to ’share your story’ with someone and ‘enjoy the play of a mutual relationship’ without feeling anxious about the differences please let me know. I’d sure be a nice thing.

Posted by: Aaron | 12/07/2006

Kyle said:
in the comments on this topic at the LIAVDBTR blog, Marcy made what I thought was the most succinct profound comment there.

Hey, thanks Kyle. Imagine that. I’m profound and succinct. :-)

Posted by: Marcy | 12/08/2006

marcy…. now you can put “profound and succinct” on your resume’ That alone should get you some good jobs!! But seriously, i think that one statement of yours says a lot, and Devins’ comment above is a nice extension of it. I just remembered that the 1st step of one 12 step group is “realized we were powerless over others”. Funny how we have to get so disillusioned and despairing before we(at least myself) become open enough to understand something like your comment and willing to risk living by it . And Aaron, I don’t know how to do what you asked because I still feel anxious most of the time when there’s serious conflict,still wanting to considered nice, etc. by others. i guess there is no how, or that everyones’ “how” is different and may only work for them, but we can adopt aspects of others’ “hows” that seem right to make our own “how”.

And I’ll second devins’ comment that relationships like this are exceedingly rare, which may be why there are so few people who are truly at peace. But better to have a clue than no clue at all.

this has been a good thread, it’s fun to see evryones’ take on it. It helps dispel the feeling of being “out of touch with reality” when I hear others’ validating these things.

Posted by: kyle | 12/12/2006