35+ Community Check-in February 1-4, 2021
Hello everyone in the beautiful 35+ community. I hope you’re having a wonderful day 
Empower yourself with knowledge 
Empowering yourself, in general, is one of the best strategies for building self-confidence. You can do that in many ways, but one of the surest ways to empower yourself is through knowledge. This is along the same vein as building competence and getting prepared … by becoming more knowledgeable, you’ll be more confident … and you become more knowledgeable by doing research and studying. The Internet is a great tool, of course, but so are the people around you (or online), people who have done what you want, books, magazines, and educational institutions.
What are you learning about right now or what would you be interested in to learn?
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@amiablePeace77
Hi Ami! 
Thank you for the amazing post!
I guess I'm not focused on learning simply one thing at the moment. I guess I read (kind of a couple books I'm juggling right now, just depends on what mood I'm in for the reading material), I do google searches, I listen to people and therefor I'm a student of life currently. I learn something from everyone that I meet! My university education has long been completed but I hope I never get "too big for my britches" and think that I know it all. Once that happens, the education stops.
*high fives*, big *hugs* 
And stay great my friend! 
@SparkyGizmo
Congrats to your university education! (even if it's already some time ago)
"Being a student of life" is the most comprehensive but also most beautiful education I can imagine, there is always something to learn, every day, it does not stop as long as we do not make it stop.
@amiablePeace77
Many thanks my friend! I'm so glad you like my thought process of being a "student of life" and learning something knew each and every day! As for me, sometimes our members can be our very best teachers also. If you listen, you will learn. I have done so many google searches in regard to things my members have presented to me. I'm glad I was still there for them on an emotional level and to ask open ended questions, reflect back to them what they have said to me so that they know they have been heard and also validating their feelings and emotions. But, sometimes there is a specific nugget of information for me to research and understand better what it is they are saying.
If I don't understand a concept that is very specific to them, I simply admit my ignorance also about the topic, but I sit at their knee and learn from them as well. As for me, I am forthcoming and let them know that at least they can know I care and that I am paying attention to them and care enough to ask the questions. It becomes a great part of our chat!
As an aside, there was a great forum post the other day in regard to music! I was too busy to respond but hope to get back to that post today and I had thought of you as well when I had read it as I know you enjoy so many genres! My hopes are to respond to the post and to also tag you! *high fives* and big *hugs*
@SparkyGizmo
Thanks for sharing these thoughts, there a lot to process in them (in a good way) . I fully agree to learning from members and am thankful that most of them are ready to share about their experiences. Thanks for tagging me.
Exactly why I’m so grateful to the Internet. Personally I’m learning about meal planning on a more organized level amongst other things. 😊 Thank you for the gratitude moment!
That is really really good. To make sure you eat enough and get all the nutrients you need really makes you feel a lot better mentally and physically, which can then really improve your productivity in pretty much every aspect of life!
@Sedtzl1
*high fives* ! I do that too!
@Sedtzl1
@Sedtzl1
I can fully relate Sedtzl, the internet might have flaws in some ways (like everything) but it's an amazing opportunity to learn if you choose the good information sources.
I am trying to learn how to love and accept more.
@Rebekahwriter13
Wow! Well said and beautifully done so!
I'm learning about astronomy, I love looking at the night sky, it just fascinates me. I'm also learning more about mental health and the brain, that's fascinating too! 😊
That is so amazing! Seems extremely interesting, expresses your personality! Good luck with your learning, you are so lovely!🥰
@tillyszarawarski02 Thank you so much for your message, you are so lovely too 🥰
@Pixiechu
@Pixiechu
@Pixiechu omg me too! I just wrote about this. Isn't it amazing and fascinating?
@Gigim13 Awww fantastic, it's lovely to meet you here. The sky is so fascinating. I love listening to audiobooks about astronomy and am in love with Prof. Brian Cox. I just love his voice and how he explains things. Have you seen any of his TV programs or DVDs 😊
Nice meeting you! I haven't heard of him, but I will check him out. Thanks!
I love medieval history and astronomy. Right now I am reading a book on astronomy.
Thinking about investing in a telescope to look up at the beauty above us.
I'm learning how to play chess. I am trying to work out basic moves but still a long way off. 😅 But that's cool. It fun learning.
@plumBeechwood7549
Chess is a great game, haven't played for years, so your post comes as a good reminder . This us a link for online chess and also chess lessons https://www.chess.com/
I just wanted to say I feel today was a good day over all. I am still alive, my son is still alive, I still have a job even though I hate it.
@TheDude0156
It's always nice to see someone being grateful for what they have, even if the job is just to make sure that you can survive financially atm. Hope that one day you will find a job which you really like.
Setbacks aren't the end.
@DefinitelyUnsure
No, they are not, they are part of the journey. Thanks for reminding us!
Hello all I'm new here. I'm probably posting this in the wrong spot but I'm really alone right now and need some reassurance that there's a point to this I've allowed denial of my truth to ultimately ruin my life in so many ways. I've literally ALWAYS known I was supposed to have been born female and wished I were, but due to fear I never accepted it and hoped it would pass(like a phase). I tried really hard to fit in, occasionally giving in to my proclivities and dressing up in my sister's clothes and wearing her makeup all in secret of course and I would stay dressed as long as I could while I had the house to myself always feeling so elated while dressed but after reality hit and I had to change back into boys clothes, that elation was followed by crushing shame. Wondering what's wrong with me? Does this make me gay? I'm not attracted to men as a man, but honestly, being with a man as a woman feels so much more natural to me. Regardless that shame eventually began to sour me inside as dreams of being a female became more and more frequent the weight of the confusion guilt and shame became too much. I turned to drugs and have for the last 15 years been a heroin addict as heroin was the only thing that made me forget what I perceive as a huge error in me. Helped me forget the pain and shame. But it also ruined my life. I've lost so much physical and non physical properties to my addiction it's truly tragic. I have now been clean for over a year and just like the previous attempts at sobriety (which oftentimes were marked by suicide attempts, 8 in total), that old off-kilter alien feeling has returned as have the nightly dreams. I'm really having a hard time coping with the damage caused by being a coward. Please help
@scaredpuppy84
First of all "There is nothing wrong with you", secondly "Big big hugs". Supressing how you feel, how you want to be is torture. You have all rights to express yourself the way you feel most comfortable with. I can see your point though, it's not easy to wear a dress or use make up as a born male when the surroundings are hostile to it. So sorry that at the end this lead to you taking drugs and even do more harmful things. I wish you would have had people around you, friends who understood and support you. This is a link to our lgbt+/MOGII Support, people in this community have been through a lot and can relate to your experiences from their own lives what I always find very helpful. https://www.7cups.com/home/lgbtq/
My pms are also open for you, hugs. 💙