RawHeaven
12-15-2007, 01:14 PM
Let us truly support one another ~
I have made some observations based on how I’m feeling posting on this board lately and what I’ve been reading occasionally. There have been some posts where people have been attacked for their viewpoints and/or arguments ensued. I just wanted to put out the friendly reminder that we’re all in this together and it defeats the purpose if we’re letting our emotions get in the way of truly supporting one another. Certainly we can all have strong opinions on a subject and experience genuine anger or frustration at times. We are all human after all. But maybe it would behoove us when we get caught up in the storm of negative emotions to step back and take a deep breath and really look at what it is that is causing the emotion, rather than immediately putting our fingers on the keyboard.
I find this board generally extremely supportive and I take great comfort and inspiration in hearing others speak of their stories and experiences on the raw journey, no matter what they are or what subject they happen to cover. I’ve personally been reluctant to share any recent occurrences where I’ve slipped up or doubted myself or otherwise wanted to rip off a family member’s or friend’s head who was demeaning to me and trying to unconsciously sabotage my efforts for example. I know it can be challenging taking the reins of your health into your own hands and others might not understand or can even be threatened by this, but sometimes it’s really, really hard not to want to scream. Not so much staying with the raw food lifestyle, but dealing with varying degrees of ignorance in the non-raw world and having to justify one’s actions, if this is the case, can throw you off course sometimes. So when I come to this board and people are yelling at each other in cyber script, it’s a little discouraging and makes me feel, well sad. We get enough of this treatment in the SAD world.
I’m not pointing fingers at anyone nor am I saying I’m all that and never have judged anyone in my life or the thought never crossed my mind that me, myself and I had the ultimate right answer. Ha! - Because I have been there myself. I’m working on listening to my own advice in this regard as well which takes daily practice. Even though I’ve only been corresponding on this board for a few months, I’ve noticed the energy has shifted just a little. A gentle suggestion is perhaps we can practice displaying more kindness with one another, even when someone is struggling and especially when you have strong feelings about a subject or something personal that someone has posted. I think the advice can sometimes get buried under this mountain of energy and there in fact may be a pea of wisdom hidden whereby someone has answered the question or given advice that can truly inspire. But it can’t be seen or heard on account of this negativity. This is when it would be a good time to share with an open heart and an open mind and an open spirit, with compassion and non judgment. Sometimes a person just needs to vent and express one’s self and they’re not necessarily seeking advice or a solution, but rather they simply need a big hug or a shoulder to cry on. Other times a poster is seeking helpful tips from others. But irregardless of the type of response, let it be non-judgmental and let us remember that we all bring wisdom and experience to the table and it’s a blessed thing that this board is even in existence. If someone is experiencing something or has a question, it’s guaranteed that others have walked in those same shoes at one point or another. We can really learn from one another. Let this be a place of solace and a place where we can find like minded souls and grow even more on our individual and collective paths.
Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and a Joyful Raw Year!
Peace,
Crystal
I have made some observations based on how I’m feeling posting on this board lately and what I’ve been reading occasionally. There have been some posts where people have been attacked for their viewpoints and/or arguments ensued. I just wanted to put out the friendly reminder that we’re all in this together and it defeats the purpose if we’re letting our emotions get in the way of truly supporting one another. Certainly we can all have strong opinions on a subject and experience genuine anger or frustration at times. We are all human after all. But maybe it would behoove us when we get caught up in the storm of negative emotions to step back and take a deep breath and really look at what it is that is causing the emotion, rather than immediately putting our fingers on the keyboard.
I find this board generally extremely supportive and I take great comfort and inspiration in hearing others speak of their stories and experiences on the raw journey, no matter what they are or what subject they happen to cover. I’ve personally been reluctant to share any recent occurrences where I’ve slipped up or doubted myself or otherwise wanted to rip off a family member’s or friend’s head who was demeaning to me and trying to unconsciously sabotage my efforts for example. I know it can be challenging taking the reins of your health into your own hands and others might not understand or can even be threatened by this, but sometimes it’s really, really hard not to want to scream. Not so much staying with the raw food lifestyle, but dealing with varying degrees of ignorance in the non-raw world and having to justify one’s actions, if this is the case, can throw you off course sometimes. So when I come to this board and people are yelling at each other in cyber script, it’s a little discouraging and makes me feel, well sad. We get enough of this treatment in the SAD world.
I’m not pointing fingers at anyone nor am I saying I’m all that and never have judged anyone in my life or the thought never crossed my mind that me, myself and I had the ultimate right answer. Ha! - Because I have been there myself. I’m working on listening to my own advice in this regard as well which takes daily practice. Even though I’ve only been corresponding on this board for a few months, I’ve noticed the energy has shifted just a little. A gentle suggestion is perhaps we can practice displaying more kindness with one another, even when someone is struggling and especially when you have strong feelings about a subject or something personal that someone has posted. I think the advice can sometimes get buried under this mountain of energy and there in fact may be a pea of wisdom hidden whereby someone has answered the question or given advice that can truly inspire. But it can’t be seen or heard on account of this negativity. This is when it would be a good time to share with an open heart and an open mind and an open spirit, with compassion and non judgment. Sometimes a person just needs to vent and express one’s self and they’re not necessarily seeking advice or a solution, but rather they simply need a big hug or a shoulder to cry on. Other times a poster is seeking helpful tips from others. But irregardless of the type of response, let it be non-judgmental and let us remember that we all bring wisdom and experience to the table and it’s a blessed thing that this board is even in existence. If someone is experiencing something or has a question, it’s guaranteed that others have walked in those same shoes at one point or another. We can really learn from one another. Let this be a place of solace and a place where we can find like minded souls and grow even more on our individual and collective paths.
Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and a Joyful Raw Year!
Peace,
Crystal