What is Going On?? Reaching out...

[sweetgoddess]

I have had a hard week emotionally and mentally. I felt possessed! Truly.
I am not good at reaching out, but here I am doing so.

I was so tired and groggy the other day and tried to nap. 20 minutes later the noise in the house woke me and I lay in bed so grouchy and thought, "i want a coffee." " a capaccino would make me feel so much better" over and over. Then I realized we had a bag of Easter gifts and goodies hidden under the bed, and there was chocolate in it. What was I thinking putting chocolate right under my bed??!! I reached over and got one and ate it.

Then I got up, found my husband and begged him to take me to the store for a cappacino. He wouldnt. The sweetheart spent 10 minutes telling me I didnt really want one, to go drink water and I would feel better. That he would not be an enabler etc etc ,and very unlike me, I freaked on his head and told him he already was an enabler with his food in the house that I had to shop for, cook and clean up after. That he couldnt talk when he drinks them everyday...to stop his psychological crap and just take me. Then I slammed the door on him as hard as I could. I was obsessed/possessed.

Well he took me to get one and didnt say a word there or back. When we got back I just stayed in the car and cried my heart out. I thought of all the struggle, all the energy I have wasted in my life with internal conflict. Wanting one thing yet doing another. I thought of how my husband just tried to help me and love me and I treated him horribly.

This led me to 2 and a half days of cooked food and not caring. Why? I want to be 100 % raw. I WANT that. For life. Why am I struggling then?

I dont know where this is coming from. For some reason my inner vision is so clouded right now and I feel sad. I have asked for guidance, but how will I see it in such a state?

If you would be so kind as to share your thoughts with me I would greatly appreciate it. I feel confused. Thank you friends.

Just so you know I am back to raw today and am rereading Alissa's book and 12 Steps to Raw. I am not giving up my goal at all, I just dont understand exactly what the difficulty is.

[Rawmommie]

Oh honey, I'm so sorry you have had a rough few days. We all go through it. Don't beat yourself up over this. I wish I had wonderful words of wisdom, but you are usually the one with the words! ;) I know you will feel better and things will be clearer once you are back to eating raw. ((((hug)))))

[Autumn]

Carmel,
You poor thing. I am so sorry you've had such a bad time. It is very hard to change what has been a large part of most of us for the better part of our lives. Please don't beat yourself up over it. You're already back on track. This is bound to happen once in a while. Each time we learn from our slips and frustrations. Perhaps the "trigger food" can be kept next time in the garage, an attic, or the trunk of someone else's vehicle. Onward and upward for now. Your "fog" will pass and bring with it even greater clarity toward your goals. You are such a wonderful inspiration to all of us.

***big hugs***

[Revvell]

Well, first of all, confusion leads to clarity (you've probably read that somewhere before) <G> so, yanno what?

STOP beating yourself up! You went through an emotional crisis and it's done! It will serve no purpose to beat yourself up about it. Now! Didja thank your hubby for his original stance? Didja give him a big ol' huggle and kiss and thank him for being the man in your life and someone who is willing to support you enough to say "No, I wont be your enabler"?

O.k. now that we have hubby taken care of, let's look at what's going on. First of all, you've reached what we call "upper limits". What that means is, you've reached a point where some part of you says ~ "Enough! Life is too good! YOU've been too good ~ so, let's sabotage!". What you did there is not only put your food program in jeopardy (which can be handled in an instant) yet, possibly your marriage or your relationship?

So, what you need to do is some inner work. How I do that is ~ sentence completions. What that means is ~ begin a sentence ( a stem ) such as ~ "One reason I can't do this is ~ " then complete it. Do this at least 10 times w/ a different ending each time. It could go something like:

One reason I can't do this is ~

1) I want to be "normal"
2) everyone around me is eating junk and happy. I want to be like them
3) I CAN do this!
4) because it's hard
5) no one else in my family is
6) people will think I'm strange
....and on, and on. THEN! while doing those, another "stem" will arise ~

If people think I am strange ~

1) do I really care?
2) at least I'll be healthy
3) I'll change their perception to eccentric
4) I'll make some wonder-filled raw foods and share them so they'll see what I'm eating
5) I'll bide my time and they'll see what it's doing for me and then, we can talk

....and on and on....

Hope this helps. Be sweet to yourself goddesslady.

Oh! Here's another thing you might do ~

Re-read what you wrote here, then write in your journal what you would say to the person who wrote it.

In light, love and laughter ~

Revvell

[Sharon in Colorado]

Sometimes people go through emotional detox when they are eating raw food for some time. I don't know how long you've been at it. Instead of dealing with the emotion, we usually reach for something that comforts us - our comfort food.

Just keep plugging forward. There's always bumps in the road along the way to your destination. Some of them are small and handle-able, others so enormous, you can't even see the road, so you take a detour. Just get back on the road as soon as you are able.

The most successful raw foodists have been back and forth on that road countless times. If there's a will, there's a way and I have no doubt that you'll find your way.

[Alissa]

ahhh, our old friend, negative ego. Amazing when it rears its ugly head isn’t is? caught you just when you woke up, unable to think clearly and once the first piece of chocolate was eaten, oh, well, then 'your off your diet, so what are you waiting for, come on you need that coffee, its only for one day, its not going to kill you,' bla bla bla and all of the other wonderful lies your negative ego tells you. The more you fight it the worse it gets and then it leads you down the road to self-sabotage and eventually self pity and guilt.
ok, so heres the trick, don’t try to fight or go the opposite way with negative ego, its not your friend and it never tells the truth. you need to feed it. you know, make peace, talk to it and ask what it wants. (this may sound weird to some of you but i know sweetgoddess will get this kind of work) practice not giving in but not fighting either, talk and tell it this is what your going to do and this it, if it has a problem, it can come to you in different ways, but your not going to fall for it any more.
Also, belief work and old stuff coming up sounds like, old patters. We never get rid of them but it’s always a different layer you know. So this is great, wow! Its bringing you to the next step! Congratulations! :D
its never about being perfect, its about the journey there.

[swingbolder]

I think bumps in the road are part of the process. Progress, positive change doesn't happen in one straight line (I just read this somewhere), it happens more like a spiral. Three steps forward, one step back. You think you're going backwards and all is lost if you eat some cooked food but really it's all part of the journey. Just keep on truckin'.

[Rawkinlocs]

Carmel,

I'm sorry I don't have any profound words either...but I just wanted to send you a big, warm cyber (((HUG))).

[catherinethegreat]

holy moly you are getting some great insights here - and Alissa and I had similar ideas about belief work and another layer coming forward tapping you on the shoulder. I love the idea of talking to the negative ego and telling it that you won't be going down that road again and to speak to you differently.

It was wonderful to talk with you today. You are a warrior in every way. This seems to already be lifting you to another understanding of yourself and your level of awareness.

My friend KT always calls this

another F****** opportunity for growth.

And then we all laugh because we know it's good for us - but sure isn't fun.

You are already getting through this and have asked for help which is HUGE.

xoxox
*c

[sweetgoddess]

Jeepers Alissa, you gave me goosebumps. I just got off the phone with Catherine the Great and you both said the same thing. Which, If i wasnt so caught up in self-pity and now self-doubt ( assuming they are different!), I may have remembered from the spiritual works I study.

That negative ego- the little self I call it. Well I have often READ the concept of not fighting it , I never grasped how you you would do that until I just read your post Alissa. I guess I get preturbed that it even happens still. I never thought to go with it, call it out or to nurture it. That I can do. Bring it on haha ( not serious there "Universe!") ;)

I know what you all say is true Alissa, Cat, Revvell, Sharon ( and thank you with all my heart), another layer, old patterns , changing beliefs, emotional detox, etc. I suppose I just needed to hear it. When I look back on other areas of my life I have grown through-that has been the case everytime. Discomfort led to growth and a new state of being.

Ok, yeah! I understand this. Now that gave me some excitement back.
This experience made me panic I must say. I felt out of control and it reminded me of how that was my daily state for so long. It is so hard to think clearly and truly when you are in the midst of panic, doubt and pity.


its never about being perfect, its about the journey there
Thank you Alissa. I believe this in every other area except raw living. HA. And didnt realize it until this morning. I am actually serious. Guess I need to look at that.

Autumn, Cherie, swingbolder and Rawmommie, thanks so much for your boost of love. Oh and Revvell, yes, I hugged and kissed my husband to pieces after I cam in the house that day. No worries, he is a beaut !
This forum is an incredible gift. Now I need to mull this all over. Have a lovely day.
xo
Carmel

[DotfromOz]

Those blessings haven't left you; instead, they gave you a tremendous gift, self-realization from having plunged to the depths of all the emotional "feed-me-yummy-bad-stuff's" that I bet you had in you.

If you haven't already done a grounding and centering, I hope you'll do one as quickly as possible, although your last posting feels much more centered even though still a bit "jangly."

When I was a schoolteacher, one of my favorite sayings when a student felt bad about having done poorly was, "Experience is the toughest teacher; it gives the test--and then the lesson."

You made it through the test. So, what is the lesson for you? You have a good start on the work you need to determine that, I think.

:::::::::sending uplifting and snuggly energy that's whole LOTS better than any of those SAD old "c"-food thingies:::::::

Peace & luv to ya,
Dot

[Nikki318]

Hi there,
Not sure I can give you any words of wisdom, but I wanted to show my support. You have been so helpful....I really wish I could help you now. My thoughts are with you.

[ren]

[QUOTE=sweetgoddess]I have had a hard week emotionally and mentally. I felt possessed! Truly.
I am not good at reaching out, but here I am doing so.

You are NOT alone. Here read a part of my journal...
http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=135&i=41
I enjoy reading your posts.

[sweetgoddess]

Dot, Nikki and ren, thank you so much for your kindness and warmth
Dot-loved your favorite saying. That is so true when I think about it.
Greatly appreciate your words. I think I am sorted out now...for the time being anyways!

Warmly
Carmel

[EmmaBlue]

hi Sweet G,

You're one of my favorite people on this site, so I feel bad that you had a rough day.

Thanks for your honesty in sharing your experience. Cappucino and chocolate tastes good, and wanting to have a cappucino or a piece of chocolate is just normal human emotion. I don't like when the raw food dogma interprets normal human emotion like a weakness or "addiction" or all that other psycho-babble.

You're a sweet person, who just felt like having a cup of coffee.

Sometimes trying to follow a raw diet feels (to me anyway) like trying to live on another planet, and sometimes I just want to go back to planet Earth!

warmly, Emma
:)

[jmo]

Hi I don't know you and am totally new to this, but, nonetheless, I just wanted to send you a Big SMILE and tons of support.

: )

Cam

[Cinnamon]

You are such an inspiration to this board Carmel! We all have days like the one you described and my you have received so much wonderful advise and support from everyone that we all can learn from!

And then look what happened... you ate that SAD Easter candy and then came up with your wonderful Raw Easter Chocolate recipe! How is that for turning the situation around and again helping the rest of us with what sounds like a great healthy chocolate fix. And chocolate is probably one the biggest downfalls we all are tempted by!

My best wishes are with you and always remember we all go through days like this and then come out on the top side of it with more knowledge for the next time the little self starts in on that darned internal chatter.

Say, on a bit of a different topic, where did you get your coconut oil? I got some at Central Market, but when I opened it the smell was rancid and I threw it out. What a waste! Thanks!

Have a wonderful day!!!

[sweetgoddess]

Emma, thank you for your kind words. Today I feel that perhaps I made too big a deal out of it. But while I was in that experience, it really confused me.
I appreciate your care.

Cinnamon, coming out the other side with more knowledge..now why is it so hard to remember that while in it? :rolleyes: A very good point and I thank you.
I got my coconut oil at Fred Myers in the health section. I am so going to miss that store when I move to Montana. Will probably have to shop at Rancher Joes or Beefy Bobs while there..haha ;)
Sorry yours was rancid. ugh. Do you have a Fred Myer there?

Cam, thank you. I truly appreciate that.

[rawruh]

Hi SweetGoddess,

and you are really sweet! Thanks for the welcome message you sent me a few days ago.

So great that you reached out. i know when you are back on track you wonder if you over reacted, but when you are off track, i should say, when i am off track, it brings back all those horrible memories of years of bad eating habits and feeling out of control.

When i have been raw for long periods, i really feel, this is it! I can't imagine wanting anything cooked ever again. But when i go off, i tend to then slip slide for a few weeks, everyday saying, tomorrow i will start, and then that become excuse for eating that day. I am still trying to figure out why i slip, and what is the magic realisation to get me back on track again more quickly.

I think all raw foodist seem to be perfectionists, which is why i really do find 100% raw easier than compromises. But i sometimes wish i could be more normal, and just be able to eat a little cooked and not have it lead to further down hill sliding. But that seems to be the pattern. That little ego seems to use any door to get in.

At the moment i am eating baked potatoes, as a way to not eat nuts. I was finding myself eating too many nuts, and then developed a wierd cough where i couldn't breathe, and it felt like what people who are allergic to peanuts get. So i hardly touch nuts now. I used to make sweets with nuts and dried fruit and coconut, telling myself they are raw, but they are like the worse thing for the body, way too heavy and too easy to binge on them. So i have stopped making them. But i am wondering if the potatos going to be the door to let me slip or not. i'll have to see.

sorry, i am just rambling on now. I guess i am trying to say, that i am still experimenting, not just with the food, but with the right mental positioning to be able to get it right.

Ultimately what i really want to is to stop thinking about it all, and do it naturally. Not to even need to spend so much time reading about it, in search for more motivating to continue. Or trying to imagine how i will look if i can really keep at it for long enough.

i don't know if you can relate to that.

what i was going to say, also, is look how much progress we have made already. What did you consider to be a binge a few years ago, and what is it now! A little bit of chocolate and a cup of coffee. If you are anything like me, a few years ago i could eat a whole box of chocolates, but now i feel guilty if i overeat, even raw food!

so we are all becoming more in control, more truthful to ourselves, more powerful, more beautiful.

We just have such high aims! Most the world eat such crap without any thought, and we are aiming for perfection, on so many levels.

Hey, we really need to give ourselves a big dose of appreciation.


thanks for chance to express a bit.

I hope i am not going to bore people on this website, i have too much to say i think!










i

[RawTruth]

I hope i am not going to bore people on this website, i have too much to say i think!

Not possible, rawruh. Alissa created this space so we could offer each other support. That means listening (for which you have to "say" stuff! ;) ) and others respond. Your struggle is familiar to many of us. This is a perfect place to have "too much" to say!! <grim>

You might find Alissa's remark in another thread helpful right now as you try to make sense of the nuts vs. cooked food space you find yourself in:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2873

By the way, welcome!

[sweetgoddess]

wow rawruh, what an incredible post. I can totally relate to everything you said.

That little ego seems to use any door to get in.
so I am noticing! ugh


i am still experimenting, not just with the food, but with the right mental positioning to be able to get it right.

that is it exactly it! Experimenting with the right mental positioning...lol..i guess I am doing that 24 hours a day with everything. That is a great point.
Thank you so much for your time and for sharing with me, it helped my perspective clear a little.

So glad you are part of this forum!

Catherine- yes, I have heard you mention how you talk to that "little self' before, but never really thought about it. Now I am. Thanks for the wonderful chat and support..you lift me so often.
love the saying your friend has...lol

Baraka, :)

[Sweet lips]

SweetG,

The hard part of life is our humaness, the great part of life is our humaness, the blessings in life come through to our humaness.

Reaching out and receiving comfort is an amazing gift and don't lose it. Through my families recent struggles, I have been told, call us if you need something, and I had to admit, that I didn't know how to receive, I only knew how to give, and it opened my mind to show how I selfish that is, not selfless. So, by your asking for help and sharing your moment with you husband who loves you anyhow - you expressed a concerned that you had, you blew out as you said so well the "the littleself" and now you know that inner part of you that needed some comfort, some love - it was feeling left out, bottled up and need comfort. The best part of life is to just know it is okay, and things happen for just such a time as this.

You want to be 100% raw, then you are - visions become real when you establish goal to make them happen - so take your steps lady, and dance your journey with the song that God has placed in your heart - be that which you choose to be without recourse, without harm, and with harmony in the universe that is working for you.

[rawruh]

I saw this most beautiful film called Baraka a few years ago. What does this word mean?

[sweetgoddess]

Sweetlips, you are very beautiful. You gave me goosebumps. What you said about the "little self"...."it was feeling left out, bottled up and need comfort" was an eye opener. I always think of it as something I have to fight against. And didnt realize I thought that......hmm interesting. I will have to contemplate on that one now.


dance your journey with the song that God has placed in your heart

Beautiful! Thank you shining soul.

Warmly
Carmel

[Fuzzball]

I have had a hard week emotionally and mentally. I felt possessed! Truly.
I am not good at reaching out, but here I am doing so..

I just have to say, it's good to find out that you are a mere mortal like the rest of us!!

I have been lurking here for a short time...seeing your posts every day, the encouragement and good words for everyone...I was beginning to believe that you were someone not of this world!

I don't know how long you've been raw but I do know a little about human nature. (I'm not a doctor or anything, just make it a point to study people whenever I can). What I have found is that you have got to have a rewards system in place. It could be for your daily/weekly/monthly successes or however you want to set it up....just treat yourself in a way that you then encourage yourself to continue doing what you have been doing. The book "Whale Done" is a good reference...when you want a Killer Whale to jump through a hoop and kiss the pretty girl, you can't spank it till it gets it right, you have to redirect the mistaken actions to the right actions and then celebrate/reward. We all forget that we should do this with ourselves too.

I'm sorry to hear that you hit that wall so hard, but I can empathize with you. I am my own worst critic and I have too many friends encouraging me to let that get to me.....

Chin up, tomorrow is another day!

[Wendy]

This came to mind, and I don't mean it sarcastically, but for another meaning:

"Life is like a box of chocolates."

See, it has a whole new meaning....

[karotw]

Sweet Goddess -
First let me send you a big {{hug}}

I want to thank for sharing this experience - and for all who have responded, too. I have gotten a great deal out of this thread, as these are my regular struggles which I am often too afraid to share. . .

So many things have come up for me when reading here. . .Thanks for sharing about the "littleself". . .my littleself is quite persisitent and I do regular work with her about loving and accepting this part of me -

I was also goosebumpy about what Alissa said about not going now that road and not fighting it either. . .I am reminded at a time when I obviously need to be remineded about the practice of "inviting my demons to tea". . .a concept I've read about and try to put into practice in my life. . . .seeing those difficult parts of me that push my buttons and rather than fighting them or trying to ignore them, owning them, embracing them as part of me and "inviting them to tea" in a symbolic way. . . .It's a very powerful visual for me and one I am so glad that yours posted have reminded me of. . .

SweetGoddess - know that the sharing of your experience has helped at least one person (and I'm sure others). . .and thank you to all who have posted, too, as your words have been very powerful for me today, too.

[growinhealth]

Sweetgoddess, we all fall prey to our emotions at times, and I probably am not one to get advice from concerning raw food and such since i am a failure above failures when it comes to this sort of stuff I can't seem to get it right, anyway I just want you to know that I will be praying for you, because you know your battle may not just be with food but there could be something deeper here, perhaps a search for real peace and hope, and I find that continually through the grace of God. Be encouraged He is the Answer.

[rawpriestess]

Dearest Sweetgoddess,

First, let me send you a big big hug (((0))).

Second, let me say that I love you dear fairy spirit in human form,

Third let me say that you and I are on such a parallel path.

On the exact same day, I drank a drink, now I haven't drank any liquor in over 2 years, I also had a handful of chips, I don't even like chips.

The next day I had such a terrible headache, but I had some more chips, again, I don't even like chips,

The next day I ate an entire huge baked potato swimming, litterally in at least a 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup or more of sour cream.

Boy, did I pay for it big time, in agony all night, couldn't sleep, couldn't rest, in and out of the hot tub, my poor hubby could only hold me and listen to me moan and groan.

I felt so bad physically, but I mostly felt so terrible, I mean if I had eaten something that I had been craving like a grilled cheese sandwich or a burrito, or something that I really used to like I could understand, but to grab something that I didn't even want, what was I thinking?

Well, something may have been in the stars, it was the day after the Full moon, the day after Ostara, just before Easter, I was at a convention, with alot of famous people who were expecting me to be witty and bright, I was at a party, I was nervous, there are a million reasons and no reason for what happened.

But, It made me understand that
I can never let my guard down, no matter what, that I need to have raw food with me at least until I can tollerate such situations, and that my hubby is always supportive of me, no matter what I choose to do.

He wouldn't enable me either, he said if I wanted to eat it, that it was my choice, he wouldn't stop me, but he wanted to make sure I really knew what I was doing, and he never said, "I told you so" or "I thought you were strong", or "I thought you wanted to be raw", or "what will your raw friends think", all he did, was be with me, and let me know that what ever I wanted to do was okay with him, as long as I understood the consequences.

Well, I thought I would be okay, I thought I could eat just a little, I knew I wasn't addicted, I just liked food, WRONG.

Cooked food is addictive, just like heroine or any other kind of narcotic, it tracks us down and seduces us when we are feeling vulnerable, and when we are tired, and when we are nervous.

It is like a little black devil with pointy wings, that sits on our shoulder and teases us and taunts us and waits as long as it has to to trick us into eating somthing "just this little bite."

And our pour little white angel on the other shoulder tries in vain to warn us that the little devil is lying to us.

I remember these old cartoons like this and I can see these little guys now.

Now, I am normally pretty pious about my rawness. I feel superior to my friends who aren't raw, I feel like I am better than they are, I have been a vegetarian for years, and now I am raw, I am better.

WRONG, everyone has something that they are working on in their lives each and every day, everyone.

I don't know of one person who really feels like they have it all together, and they are okay as they are without working on something.

The key is how we work on it.

Are we working on our "stuff" with love and patience, and forgiveness? Or are we working on our "stuff" with anger, and fear and self loathing?

I always say, "you are either LEARNING, or HAVING FUN, So if you aren't HAVING FUN, then learn fast."

Brightest Blessings to you dear sweetgoddess, you an inspiration to us all,
and may you HAVE FUN AND LEARN FAST.

Rawpriestess

[RawTruth]

Thanks, RP, for sharing this in a public forum; it's benefited me, also.

[sweetgoddess]

WOW. I took a computer break and come back to find all this love. FRIENDS~thank you.
Some of these posts had me chuckling out loud~ wendy. :D

Fuzzball, I am not of this world...neither are you. ;) Good anology with the whale training.

karotw~thank you, your post made my heart warm.

growinhealth-thank you also for your caring words.

Dearest, kindred raw Priestess, such a beautiful post, thoughtful and full of love. A hug for you also.
I adore what you called me! I read about your experience in your journal and understood completely. I guess you needed that experience.
I have felt such a resistence to thinking of food and myself in the realm of addiction. An addiction sounds eternal to me. I realized that this week , and as I am often told-that which you resist persists. ah.

I, carmel, AM addicted to cooked food.

Yes, you are so right that everyone is working on something. I forget that often though I must say. I also think things should be worked out in about 3 days time haha.
And I realized when I read your post that I am forgetting to have FUN with this. I have become so darned serious about it. Thank you sweet friend.

We are both so very blessed to have the Spirit Mates that we do, arent we?
I am also blessed to have you as a soul buddy.

Love and blessings~

[Fuzzball]

I always say, "you are either LEARNING, or HAVING FUN, So if you aren't HAVING FUN, then learn fast."


I LOVE this line.....you mind if I steal it???? I'll give you credit for it the first three times....but after that....I think eminent domain makes it my saying.... :D

Man, the things you learn on this board are amazing!!!

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

I know exactly these feelings, and they came about when I did the self sabatosh on myself with the cycling and needing other proteins and carbs, advice from others but equally accepted, that issue came right before the easter holiday, and right before the candy was sent to the kids and us from grandparents. Then there it is, getting the baskets prepared for my own children, 'oh, just one piece won't hurt me, then later, one of each, then well, I have already ruined it, might as well enjoy now and plan on getting tough with a big raw salad tomorrow.
I think that I had a lot of fun as a kid on easter and looked forward to the easter basket in the morning upon rising as much as the stocking stuffed with crap on xmas morning. Easter egg hunts, plastic eggs filled with the sweet treats and toys. Wow, was it neat and it really stems some pretty good memories as a kid. This is where the chit chat came in and figured, Easter, it only comes once a year, you have been so strong, you know you can get back into it, eat it!" Just one....ok...here goes...... ADD- ick! (addict) Just one my a** ! I am getting back to raw, but had to suffer all the feelings that came with. And it was a growing experience that I believe I will use to get over future hurdle. I will NOT get in the car (cooked) with an invite of a sweet smelling sucker(temptation). DANGER.....Danger! (Danger Will Robinson!)
Run Forrest....RUN!

[rawpriestess]

Dear Fuzzball,

My copyright lawyer will be in touch with you for your signed contract to use my statement. LOL

Just kidding.

SURE, by all means borrow, steal, use, have fun with it.

I tell this to my students ALL the time.

Life is such a learning experience, and we are ALL learning, so why not learn fast?