First holiday in 48 years spent without family | |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 06:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone only to find out I was never really comfortable to begin with. Today.. I was really comfortable. No expectations from these people. No false aires... Just simply genuine appreciation and kindness. It blew me away. |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 06:59 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I spent the last 20 years worth of Holidays, on guard duty, Patrols Mounted & Dismounted, dodging Missiles and Artillery Shells. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1072087 I enjoyed this years with my Wife and Kids! Yay for you... That's the way it should be spent. ( just learned this today) not by doing what's expected, but doing what matters and makes a difference. Be it with family or strangers. God bless... |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 07:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Has anyone else here taken their time away from family on a holiday and done this? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 18868813 I'd love to know if it changed you too. I'm just sorry it took me 48 years to learn such a valuable lesson. . Yes OP I have...Still do. Yay for you too.... I feel stupid that I never figured out how good this was till today. But today, is the first day of the rest of my life..... |
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Gratia Plena User ID: 1220977 United States 11/22/2012 07:14 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Yay for you... That's the way it should be spent. ( just learned this today) not by doing what's expected, but doing what matters and makes a difference. Quoting: Anonymous CowardBe it with family or strangers. God bless... Amen. How wonderful that your holiday ended up so fulfilling! I find myself both jealous and ashamed I didn't do what you did. It can be very hard to tell others that their expectations do not matter to you anymore. Bravo! Last Edited by Gratia Plena on 11/22/2012 07:15 PM |
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Anonymous Coward User ID: 28266702 United States 11/22/2012 07:15 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I spent the last 20 years worth of Holidays, on guard duty, Patrols Mounted & Dismounted, dodging Missiles and Artillery Shells. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1072087 I enjoyed this years with my Wife and Kids! Very Happy for you to be home with your family! yes, i can see this side too. good on all. alone or together, just be thankful. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 07:20 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Yay for you... That's the way it should be spent. ( just learned this today) not by doing what's expected, but doing what matters and makes a difference. Quoting: Anonymous CowardBe it with family or strangers. God bless... Amen. How wonderful that your holiday ended up so fulfilling! I find myself both jealous and ashamed I didn't do what you did. It can be very hard to tell others that their expectations do not matter to you anymore. Bravo! I will be totally honest...it was very much out of character for me not to go with the flow for family functions. My family is my foundation. All the good, bad and ugly of it. This was a very last minute decision to bail. But today showed me something I very much needed to to see and had been blind to for years. It showed me my compassion is much more alive for more than just my family. It's a big world out there. Kindness goes for miles. I just never allowed myself to see it. As ugly as this world is getting. I saw how beautiful it still is today. |
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Yes I Did !!!! User ID: 28234183 United States 11/22/2012 07:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | .....and I had the time of my life. I volunteered at a homeless shelter. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 18868813 No big egos, no bitching about the food, no faked conversations or bs lies about how good someone's business is doing. Sooo freaking refreshing. Everyone was equal. No one talked about who had gained the most weight or made the most money over the year. My grown children and grandchildren, even my elderly mother was pissed I made this decision. Not I.... I will do it again. It was so liberating from a superficial existence. I challenge anyone who has never done it to try it. I had a stereotype pictured in my mind of what I would find. What I found was totally different. These people had teeth, clean clothes, smelled good and every single one had a smile and was grateful. Today changed my life. These were everyday people just like you and I. From this day forward, I will be different. I will be better. WOW !!! I could have written that exact same post. I've excluded myself from those hypocritical, shallow family get togethers, also. Today I stayed in my PJs, cooked a "real" Thanksgiving dinner. Counted my blessings. Talked with my kids (who all live in different states). I had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, and I am totally liberated from the traditional BS that always made me uncomfortable before. I just decided I didn't have to put up with the "farce". LOL "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." ~ Albert Einstein |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 07:33 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Yes I did...I have for the past 3 yrs...After my husband died in 09...I find that sharing with others helps me make it through the holidays. I just wish there was some way to convey through text, to anyone who has never done this...how fulfilling and humbling it is to do this. To hold a 6 month old baby and she smiles while her mom sits in a shelter wondering about their fate. Yet they both come with a smile and warm hearts, just happy they had food and shelter today. Or the 63 year old widow who had nothing but her husband. No children. He was a construction worker who died and had no insurance. But she was happy too. I will never be the same. |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 18868813 United States 11/22/2012 07:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Someone mentioned the bus on this thread lol. It isn't scary in a big city where a lot of people need it. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 14835474 Yeah, I was wondering about that since I don't take the bus. Can someone elaborate or tell me an experience? I feel like a blind person that had vision for the first time today. |
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