sad that i only seem to be able to find time to write at midnight...ah well, i'll do my best. please forgive the grammar.
life is really very sweet these days. lots of moments to treasure...kaya zooming down the ski slopes (see the video on my page if you don't believe me), my wonderful wife seems to be in a good place, zade's new infatuation with girl's books (pinkalicious!). everyone's mostly happy and healthy, and work is deeply stressful, but in the best way possible.
some of you may have noticed that i COMPLETELY fell off the diet wagon that i had started a couple of months back. you know it's bad when you start pretending that you don't actually own a scale. i guess my one place for improvement is my personal health and personal time, as i've devoted so much to my family and this project, and i'm just too spent to pick up yet another task.
lately i've found that i'm more and more impressed by my friends, and that i guess i underestimate them, because they all have some very amazing talents. i've been floored by the quality of the journals that some of my friends are keeping on the site, and also at their ability to open up their lives. i get this odd joy out of going to dinner with someone, and feeling like i know so much more about them because i've read their journal. it's not invasive...it's like a deeper level of friendship than you'd otherwise get to over the course of a simple meal.
one big concern i have for DS these days is the growing negativity across the site. we created this site to be a purely positive place, and for the first few months it truly was that way, but now it feels like the sniping has begun, and i find it strange that a number of folks seem to forget that this is a place of healing and wellness. i've tried taking a VERY hard stance against folks who insult others, but oftentimes it's just disparate beliefs that end up spiralling into an all-out conflict....i don't want to take sides, but, in the words of Rodney King, "why can't we all just get along?".
i'm open to anyone's advice on how we can continue to keep this place totally positive. we all have issues with other people...but i want folks to rise above that here, and focus on getting and giving support. perhaps i aim too high.
life is really very sweet these days. lots of moments to treasure...kaya zooming down the ski slopes (see the video on my page if you don't believe me), my wonderful wife seems to be in a good place, zade's new infatuation with girl's books (pinkalicious!). everyone's mostly happy and healthy, and work is deeply stressful, but in the best way possible.
some of you may have noticed that i COMPLETELY fell off the diet wagon that i had started a couple of months back. you know it's bad when you start pretending that you don't actually own a scale. i guess my one place for improvement is my personal health and personal time, as i've devoted so much to my family and this project, and i'm just too spent to pick up yet another task.
lately i've found that i'm more and more impressed by my friends, and that i guess i underestimate them, because they all have some very amazing talents. i've been floored by the quality of the journals that some of my friends are keeping on the site, and also at their ability to open up their lives. i get this odd joy out of going to dinner with someone, and feeling like i know so much more about them because i've read their journal. it's not invasive...it's like a deeper level of friendship than you'd otherwise get to over the course of a simple meal.
one big concern i have for DS these days is the growing negativity across the site. we created this site to be a purely positive place, and for the first few months it truly was that way, but now it feels like the sniping has begun, and i find it strange that a number of folks seem to forget that this is a place of healing and wellness. i've tried taking a VERY hard stance against folks who insult others, but oftentimes it's just disparate beliefs that end up spiralling into an all-out conflict....i don't want to take sides, but, in the words of Rodney King, "why can't we all just get along?".
i'm open to anyone's advice on how we can continue to keep this place totally positive. we all have issues with other people...but i want folks to rise above that here, and focus on getting and giving support. perhaps i aim too high.
Replies
Never never think that you are aiming too high! You are so right! I personally have only had positive comments and \"hugs\" on my page and journal and am so grateful for the wonderful people whom I\'ve made friends with here at DS. But it saddens me to know that some others are the subject of insults by others. This truly should always be a safe haven as it is attended to be...I hope that we all will work together to make it that way.
Doug, It\'s so wonderful to see your post. I miss hearing your sweet little \'tid-bits\' into your life. Love the new photos and esp Kaya zooming down the slopes. Makes me remember those precious moments of childhood with my now 31 year old son.
About the Daily Strength forum...I believe you must keep your \'original vision\' of a site for support and compassion and NEVER NEVER worry about aiming too HIGH. Was thinking the other nite, if each member can try and keep a \'loving suportive\' eye and their main community and try to jump in \'when feelings get misunderstood\' it might help the d/s team.
I\'m so very grateful that your team has created my \'link to sanity\'
hugs. JudyL
I don\'t think that expecting those using this forum to be supportive and positive, as aiming too high. That is what has made this site sooooo wonderful. It is an opportunity for those of us actively working on health to come and share and get and give support. There is no room for harmful bickering and one sidedness. Hopefully everyone will take the high ground and try to remember to be kind to who ever they are actively engaging. Lollie
Very well said. As with anything... along with the good, you\'ll get some bad too. In a public forum, like this, we\'re bound to run into some controversy. And with so many different types of people, religions, backgrounds... it\'s nearly impossible for everyone \"to get along.\" We don\'t have to agree with everyone... but it would be nice to just respect other opinions. Maybe it\'s something we all need to work on. Is there a community for that?
I think the chaos that is happening in a few of the communities is a natural process that happens with groups- there is at first this nice little getting acquainted time, then calm, then chaos, then deeper friendships emerge. The ones that leave are usually the ones that never really were interested in the group as a whole to start with. They sometimes have an agenda that is self-serving and it is good to be rid of that. Thank you for being there and for all the FANTASTIC features you guys provide on here! Hugs, Robbin
Thank you so much for creating this wonderful site! I think it is amazing! I have searched for help on the internet and have never really found anything. \"This is the best thing since sliced bread.\"LOL I have met so many wonderful people here and made friends who I can really count on. Way to go!
The pix of the kids are great!! Diet is another story - if you are able to buy some willpower, please get two bushels for me.
Because there are so many people on DS, I guess that it is not possible to think that they will all be positive thinkers/writers. It\'s too bad, but all too common to find negativity. Please just keep going with DS, and let\'s hope that others will leearn by example. Love this site!!!
The pix of the kids are great!! Diet is another story - if you are able to buy some willpower, please get two bushels for me.
Because there are so many people on DS, I guess that it is not possible to think that they will all be positive thinkers/writers. It\'s too bad, but all too common to find negativity. Please just keep going with DS, and let\'s hope that others will leearn by example. Love this site!!!