Peredhil

personally, I think this fits this chamber, 'specially if you build on it. And again, personally, I'd capitalize Staff when speaking of this particular Staff, and not when speaking of a staff in the general sense, or staves.

Good questions which can take a life-time to answer. Nicely done

At least he had the moment of happiness... Much of life's tomorrows build on the way we focus and extract todays.

Hmmm. Good questions all. I've always seen joy as an expression of the inner mental state, and happiness as being more feelings-oriented, dependent on circumstances. For me, it is possible to have joy without being happy.

The repetition echoes the inevitability of the subject - effective use. Well-written on a morbid subject.

When you described it to me, with all the imagery of your voice and waving hands, it seemed to come through better. I still think you should make this an illustrated piece, with text on one page and the picture facing it. Good to see you posting again.

Peredhil walks in and listens to her recital, surreptiously making big eyes at the pithy word. My Dad used to say swearing showed a lack of imagination... But when slipped and shoved his hand in the fire, I guess he wasn't feeling imaginative... I like the candid way you admit your love, your confusion, your giddy feel - but assert your own identity that was there before, and will be there after, him. You're getting better with every piece you write Hon'. I'm really proud of how you're using your poetry so honestly. I'll take a gut piece that shows a human heart over a meticulously crafted computer generated poem any day. Hugs

stands and cheers You go girl! That's what I'm talkin' about!

Hydrophobia, while technically meaning 'fear of water' is commonly used for the disease Rabies. What is my greatest fear? Good one. think think think I tend to attack my fears when I identify them - my sister has this neat sign over her desk: "What is fear holding you back from achieving today?" I suppose it would be failure to fulfil my responsibilities... I take that sort of thing pretty seriously.

hmmmm. I should quickly write (since I'm waiting for a server to reboot) on a distinction which bears on this. There are needs: water, food, clothing, shelter, emotional reassurance, etc. There are wants: Evian water, steak, Armani, mansion, drop all your pain to continually reassure mine, etc. Needs are needs. The selfishness occurs when one person's wants become, in their mind, more important than anyone else's needs. It's a glorious thing when we can all work together to get everyone's needs met, and then look to see how we can meet wants, but there must be proportion and balance. On a side note, when praying, get your wants and needs in parallel balance and pray to have your need met. That's why prayer requests for money are so rarely filled - the need isn't for the money, its for whatever the person was going to spend the money on. In my world-view/experience, I've seen God meet needs in some very odd ways that I couldn't have foreseen (and consequently, wouldn't have asked). That's enough sidenotes for now! Gotta run Hugs

I *like* these!

Change is always stressfull, whether good change, bad change or a mixture. You can visit, but it's hard to step into your future if you insist on keeping one foot in the past. Nicely done.

I remember you - welcome and well met again. Peredhil hugs him and leads him over to a table, with the hidden implication that he should stay for a while. You'll find many former Seekers of Babylon come around (when we have time). But don't just look for old AM friends - we have wonderful people for you to meet that have only heard of AM here at the Pen.

as the Moody Blues said, Question: Answer. I was discussing this with my wife a while ago, how someone can be evil without seeming to be - and it keys on selfishness. Selfishness at the most basic level, that tells them "I am the center of the universe, I deserve to have everyone dance on my attendance." Like a baby starts in life. But that emotional certainty, if not disciplined and trained, lends itself to treating people as objects. To manipulating like breathing, because wants ARE needs - and this person deserves a little more than anyone else. And no one else is truly real in the cult of certainty - your suffering is deserved because you failed them. You didn't totally stop existing to meet their wants (Of course no one could, these people are a bottomless hole, but we're talking cortex thinking here, down below the logical level (but their certainty and sincerity gives them a frightening power over the uncertain with a shaky self-image, I've noticed, it leaves the victim questioning and wondering if just perhaps it WAS all the victim's fault - I could've done more but I was weak, I WAS selfish on occasion - and the certainty that it's all their fault can lead to another star consumed in the black hole of Self)). Really, no one sets out to be evil in the morning. Everyone always has a reason (whether a very good one or not, in their mind and emotions, it's there) why they do anything. So a plea for understanding is really meaningless in this context: I've done selfish wrong, and if you understand why, you'll know it wasn't wrong. In it's essence, I'm coming to think that evil is always selfish. Now, our discussion concluded in this manner - she nodded, understood my points, and replied, "But once I love someone, I love them whether I should or not." To which I could only reply, "Flee?"

Nice...

Quietly sneaks up and hugs the blue mage happily before letting him leave.

Blaming others as the reason for choosing one's own actions is very common - you capture that well. I'd suggest that you change Some of you need to get a Live to Some of you need to get a Life as it scans better.

You need to love you. No one else will be with you as much, listen to what you say as much, or take care of you as much - as you. Graphic poem - it really gets the quantity and quality of pain you're carrying. Much better blood on the page than blood on the floor. Hugs Arwen tenderly.

Begins laughing at his depictation. A cap with a fuzzy ball tassle - perfect. Wow, you DID unearth some lost treasures. And I really like the description writing.

And Peredhil convinced the rest to make him a Bard of Terra... Who can forget his poignant tribute, summing up all of Lord Kendricke's posts in Haiku: "..." Or the dazzling wit in his reply to Knight's desire to consume him (in sonnet form no less, as copied here: "..." Shakes his head and hopes someday to express himself as well as Mr. Bunny

Once a Penner, always a Penner... Something about the ink gets into your blood I think. Just as a side note, there were also those of us who didn't think you were a liar. Interesting how we can choose to be offended, and choose who can offend us... Welcome back. Hugs Peredhil

I'd like to hear the music to this...

Awww. That's great! And well deserved.

Reads. Drools. Wishes he lived closer!

Very well written on a theme so very very many share - "I know my faults inside, surely they are obvious to the world, but when I look at others, I see how wonderful they are on the outside, with no obvious flaws." You'd be surprised... Peredhil starts muttering "Peredhil's Rules of Real People" as he wanders off... Real People look at insides, not outsides. Real People know everyone has flaws, and so accepts as given - freeing the Real Person to look for (and cherish) the strengths inside. Real People know they'll be hurt by misunderstandings if they have a relationship - and relate anyway. Real People communicate honestly what they think and feel, not using the communication as a weapon to place blame, but as a tool to help the other to know the Real Person better. Real People don't take criticism or judgement of an action as criticism or judgement of themself. They can be wrong or mistaken without being a Bad Person. Corillary: Real People don't assume they know what others are thinking - they ask. They don't assume that others will judge or think as they do - they give the others the freedom to make their own opinions and judgements. Corillary - Real People give themselves permission to think or judge differently than others - they aren't doormats. The voice fades still muttering...