Natasha Tori Maru

And even within language itself - the words that are symbols do not have inherent meaning without context. I resonate with @UnbornTao here - language is really profound and has shaped us more than we can fully comprehend. Even down to individuation. If we were a telepathic species the consequences of how we would be expressed as unique individuals would be so different due to the absence of language and its limits & rules. We are very isolated within our own little bubbles of awareness - language acts to attempt to breach that and facilitate intimacy. Telepathy would reduce our reliance on language and dissolve a lot of barriers of connection we face. Just as a little thought example

Yep this is a really common complaint regarding the laws of power, for sure. And I do agree. Robert goes into how they aren't meant to be strategies used, but tactics you will encounter and to be aware of their mechanitions. Some of the books have been banned in a few countries due to the Machiavellian nature of the laws! I think he is just brutally honest and many people do not want to hear it....

Sixty five percent? So specific. Tell me your magik 🤪

Oh yes a Robert Greene post! He's very good. I enjoyed his books, although most people strongly dislike them. I think some have even been banned.

👊 A tall building - I went to the rooftop pool to take these shots ☺️ I am very lucky the building is in a unique spot, surrounded by bushland, the Yarra river AND so close to amenities/CBD

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/01/several-dead-and-injured-in-explosion-swiss-ski-resort-town-crans-montana-police-say Man this is horrible. If I read correctly, one exit? This reminds me of the horrific station nightclub fire.

You have to move through a phase of deep allowance and acceptance. Your looks will fade. This is just how it is. That is not to say you cannot remain attractive in later years - but the attractiveness of youth fades. I always put immense investments in other areas of my life. When I was younger my grandmother told me 'pretty women die twice'. Wise words, even if I did not understand the full ramifications at the time. 'Every dog has his day' is another idiom quite related. Are you attached to your looks, body? Health is the only thing I care about now. Looks are secondary. I want to remain vital for as long as possible and that is all. I welcome aging now - it is a privilege turning 40 this year & I am lucky to look decent still.

Brave

No time for sadness and sorrow! Only jubilation! View from my apartment

Yeeeeeeep that's what I been saying. None of it adds up (⁠⊙⁠_⁠◎⁠)

@Hojo happy new year for all the missed dates then (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

You toooo! So much respect for your drive and passion for this strange reality we inhabit ❤️

2pm 1/1/26 here - well into it Happy New Year! Lets see where this journey takes us!

Knitting is much more unforgiving - if you mess up crochet it is easy to somewhat compensate. But knitting? If you miss or drop a stitch it can be game over! Part of the beauty of knitting is the clean, regular symmetrical stitches. Tension is a bit more challenging in knitting also. Macrame isn't too difficult - more memorizing a series of knots and recalling which ones create the sort of design you want. The most time consuming and annoying part for me is cutting all the yarn in equal lengths with enough for the knots! If you cut to short the whole design ends up too short >.<

Such a smile on my face as I read this Shit isn't perfect for me at all, but it is no matter. A calm place

Alan Watts was big for me also

Spiritual comedian fucken slayed me lol! He does come across that way. I would hope that ticket price went toward something justified. I have listened to him on and off, but never really enjoyed his stuff or looked to him as a teacher or guru. And I resonate with 'my own silence/mind' being more enjoyable. I used to seek out a lot more in general. But it feels like I am not searching anymore. Or something. But there was a pivot in my spiritual process that caused everything to turn completely inward. I cannot quite put my words to it properly But it feels nice!

@Joshe nothing you have said is a fair assessment. You make many assumptions. About myself. My history. My intentions. I am not sure why you speak in such a way.

Thats okay, all history now - and I have sorrow for your hardships also 🤍🙏 Suffice it to say, maybe there is truth in what Ralston says - but it is for each of us to find out on our own. I also understand that the manner of delivery is important with teachers. Disliking a teacher (for how it is conveyed) can make it harder to even want to try to understand their message. I dislike Sadhguru as a teacher. I think he has some great truthful teachings. But he is not for me.

My phrasing was so poor! What I meant was - I count my new year as my birthday (not 1/1/**) if that makes sense 🤪 I stuffed that up so bad with how it was worded! Happy new year right back at you! Love the knitting btw - have you tried crochet? I do both. But lately I have been teaching myself macreme

We are ahead in Australia so new years is donskies 😃 Had my brother over for a gaming night. Usually it's a non-event for me. New year is my birthday.

Pretty offensive term tbh. Cope.

Possible, but there is additional context

You need to read Ralston's book then. If you want to understand the process. It has been answered in one form or another all over the forum. Multiple times. The fact that you won't means you aren't serious about the topic - you are only serious about disliking Ralston. He did write an entire book on it, so perhaps there is a lot to unpack You want to know, right? It will require effort from you. I do speak from experience. And the trauma / suffering I experienced was from an incident as bad as your example. I wonder why some people can walk away from incidents like that with suffering and trauma, and some people do not? I wonder what one person is doing, and one is not? I wonder what is going on internally? Contemplation questions that might assist.

Through the process Ralston outlines. My answer is Ralston's answer. I take no credit ☺️ Read the post linked. That would be my outline. If you like, I can cut paste it and post it again here, but I wish to credit Ralston and the user. I've used Ralston's book and process to understand what I was doing and reduce suffering dramatically.