Hope's Reflections
Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. So many times I have come across things that have helped my life, whether they are quotes or books and at times I feel like what a shame it is that not more people will benefit from this.
I am using this thread to simply share quotes/reflections that you can read on. You can add/comment on anything that feels relevant. If you find it beneficial, you can subsribe. If you don't then no problem, I am sure there is something out there in forums that will be a better fit for you.
I have been noticing the increasing loneliness in our world. Everywhere I go, I find people alone in crowds. We are more connected than ever but how lonely have we become?
The next time you are invited to do something with people and you are starting to wonder if you really should. Do reflect on this quote
“Of course, now I wonder where I had gotten the idea that for you to participate in a gathering, the other people had to really, really want you to be there and that anything short of rabid enthusiasm on their part meant you'd be a nuisance. Where had I gotten the idea that being a nuisance was that big a deal? Sometimes now I think of all the opportunities I didn't take - to get a manicure in town, to watch television in another dorm, to go outside for a snowball fight - and of how refusal became a habit for me, and then I felt it would be conspicuous if I ever did join in.” - Curtis Sittenfeld, Prep
@Hope love this!
@Hope Personal attac xD
This is beautiful, Hope, thanks for sharing. ❤
It is so true though, the more we are connected lately, the less of a connection it really feels. It's ironic in a way.
Someone recently shared that they'd rather have no socials, because it makes their loneliness far worse~ to have lots of people around but then to have no one "actually" around, what even all that is for then. *-* Something certainly worth pondering on. ❤
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Yes! I do notice a pattern of people giving up on socialization all together and I think it is rooted in the fact that we take ourselves too seriously, we are too stressed about what others will think
@Hope We need to lighten up, when we can.
Life is to short, you know.
Have fun as much as you can.
Enjoy life and enjoy what you are doing.
If your not enjoying a leadership roll here at 7cups, then step a side and figure out what other roll, you might enjoy better or if you want to add another leadership roll, you can.
Just make sure you do not burn out from doing to much.
As a wise group support manager here at 7cups said, "Take it slow. Do not rush. We have your back."
@calmMango9611
I agree! We need to make the most of our time!
i like also saying
step by step but not one back
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ I loved the quote and the thought behind it! Thank you for sharing! I agree, we are more lonely now, more than ever while also being connected more than ever. Seems quite ironic!
I think having the social media influence hasn't done anyone a lot of favors. While it might start off as nice, perhaps it's simply a false sense of security? The idea of "oh, I got friends, and I got "likes" but it can be hollow, empty, shallow and maybe has taken us away from truly connecting with one another, one on one, in real life. These can be the real, deep and most meaningful experiences. ❤️
Maybe the longer it goes on, then the longer it goes on? And maybe to the point that people find it difficult to truly spend time with one another, face to face, go to certain engagements, too much anxiety induced and overthinking. It's become so easy to be inside ones little shell that maybe anything else becomes quite foreign to some.
Being alone while in the crowd. Yup, it's interesting to think about the different types of loneliness and perhaps the saddest of all is to feel utterly alone while surrounded by others.
I guess if nothing changes, then, well...nothing changes! I hope everyone considers accepting the invitation to the party and truly follows through and shows up! I wish for everyone, amazing snowball fights! 😊❤️😊
Thank you for your thoughts! I enjoyed reading and reflecting! *high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo
I like that reflection on the false sense of security. That is very accurate. While social media friendships can be fulfilling but a lot of the time, it is not the best idea to rely only on online friends. People need in-person relationships.
I do think we are starting to realize some of the negative impacts of our dependence on social media, but we seem to have lost our social skills so it can be a challenge to get back and connect with your real world
@SparkyGizmo Your a very wise soul as well.
@calmMango9611
Hi Mango! 😊❤️ Many thanks my friend! I really appreciate you saying that! 😊 Thank you for making the start of my day, here on 7 cups, that much brighter! Thank you for being kind to me! ❤️
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@Hope
Hi Hope!
Thanks for the idea of this thread, I like it very much!
We are always so distracted or in a rush lately that we actually don't take the time to reflect, even on a few pages of a book, or a simple but profound quote.
The word reflection derives from "reflect" and its definition (Oxford dictionary) covers both the concept of "to think carefully and deeply about something", and the physical action of "to throw back light, heat, sound, etc. from a surface ".
I like the idea of combining the two meanings, and thinking that when we reflect, we are not only making careful considerations about things, with deep awareness, but we can also return them to the world, so that their reach becomes wider. Just like you are doing here, Hope, with this thread.
The increasing loneliness is both within us and around us all, so "connected" to everything and yet so lonely at the same time.
I agree with, Sunisshining, it's ironic in a way! In the sense that being so "connected" to everything and everyone gives us the illusion of "knowing" everything and everyone, getting used to forgetting the meaning of life, or, simply, that little phrase of Socrates, which can magically open us to others and to ourselves, "I know one thing: that I don't know anything."
😊 ❤️
@GentleElyrose
I think in the world of fast food, fast fashion, and fast media, it indeed is challenging to slow down and appreciate things that are not instantly rewarding. Friendships take time to develop, they take hours of investment and a lot of heart aches because when people meet, it is inevitable to have disagreements and conflicts that you must navigate to preserve friendships.
There are no short cuts and I think we have gotten comfortable with short cuts
@Hope Your a very wise soul.
@GentleElyrose Loved reading your comment.
Your a very wise soul as well.
@calmMango9611
Thank you calmMango. Have a wonderful day / evening !
@GentleElyrose Thank you and the same to you.
@Hope It's wonderful.
It reminds me to ask myself "Am I going out to fulfill other's expectation, or am I genuinely wanting to be part of it?"
This intention affect hugely on my quality to be able to connect with others.
"Everywhere I go, find people alone in crowds. We are more connected than ever but how Lonely have we become?"
This line hits so much as well as the line from the quote:
"Where had gotten the idea that being a nuisance was that big a deal?"
From my experience I would like to share that as an Indian citizen and growing up in a nuclear family that is almost always filled with relatives coming and going. It was a different experience of loneliness. As there were many topics such as abuse, emotional turmoil, existential confusions that were not discussed in my community. It was difficult not only to speak about them openly but to figure out or comceptualize that one is going through such and such issues.
I succintly remember a huge buffet that my family and extended family had gone to, everything was bright and luxurious there. We were sitting in a huge table where food was assembled. Everyone was laughing and having a chat, I was too trying to enjoy even though I wasn't feeling it and at that very moment I felt a strong sharp feeling of loneliness. Yes, for the first time at the age of 16 I experienced loneliness while being with my family. I felt as if I was pushing myself to feel otherwise just to fit in the vibe, and how far away my family members were from my reality, things that have happened to me, no one was aware about and hence, the distance that I was feeling between me and everyone else was so strong.
Often we only let this happen thinking what if I tell my family then xyz happens, they will blame me or not let me go out of my house. Restrictions will follow rather than understanding and accepting the sad realities.
And thus, I would love to be a nuisance sometimes, speaking out difficult emotions situations that are prohibited, talking in a respectfull yet open way so that I don't have to feel lonely with my own situation. Sharing this story not just with my family but with any human being to connect and make sense of the world together rather than alone. ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this quote, it resonated with my own thoughts and experiences, always love reading such excerpts ♥️
@fancyEars5213
Thank you for sharing your own experience. I think being with people who you don't share much with definitely worsens the feeling. It is important to find people who value who we truly are.
Yes totally 💕
@Hope Wonderful idea! Subscribing to this thread right away
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Thank you for creating this forum post! This is the first thing I get to see when signing on to the site for today! I have subscribed and I would love nothing more than to hear what you would like to share! ❤️ Thank you for making the decision to share of yourself with the rest of us (I understand it comes with a great deal of vulnerability in doing so and I respect that) 😊 ! I'm excited to learn of the things that you saw value in, things that helped to shape you and brought you comfort and perhaps even things that inspire you!
Thank you for bringing even more wholesomeness to the forum areas... feeding our minds, giving us thoughts to consider and things to reflect upon, not only on our journey here on 7 cups but in real life. Indeed, we are a "gift giving society" and I think the experience is going to be quite enjoyable to see you share even more gifts with us. Thank you for taking the opportunity to share of your time, treasures and talents and in a vastly different way. I love the humanistic approach. You are more than your job, you are more than your role here on 7 cups and it's going to be nice to learn from you in a new way!
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to read the posts/comments. I look forward to reading your reflections on my reflections!
The day is over in my time zone. Leaving this comment.
I think we worry so much about things we could have done, would have done, and should have done and we carry the weight with us. It is not helpful at all. The next time you find your mind wandering into the past with regrets and should have beens, remember this quote!
“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
―
@Hope This is so needed. Thanks for doing this.
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Thank you for sharing the quote! I enjoyed reading it! For me, this is something that brings me comfort to read and in fact, I wish I had understood this concept long ago. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try as people, to be on point and do it justtttttt right, well, we are human and therefor, we are flawed. We all bring our own unique set of challenges and problems to the table. I remember times in the past, trying so very hard but "missing the mark", making a mistake, looking back in retrospect and seeing how I could have done it much better than I did. It can be hard to carry that weight around if it's heavily and overly internalized.
It's good to shed that skin, realize that I wasn't born to be perfect. It's nice to embrace that, learn from mistakes but then move forward towards a brighter day and let some things go. Sometimes we walk through life, giving everyone else a "pass" and understanding that people are simply human with out giving ourselves that very same consideration. ❤️ It's nice to learn to be kinder to ones self!
The quote also reminds me of the concept of Tabula Rosa which means "clean slate". We, as people, can wake up any given day, and wipe our own "slate" clean. We can make a commitment to do better, be better, make amends for the past if needed and get on with life. Brand new day and moving forward with the thought of "better not bitter".
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
Good morning all! Just a reminder for me and for you to focus on today!
"The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately." (from On the Shortness of Life)
@Hope Thanks for sharing this quote with us.
Very inspirational.
Words for all of us, too take to heart.
@Hope
Good morning Hope!
interesting quote. Actually we should pause more to notice what is the difference between hope and expectancy when we create a thought about the future.
<3
@GentleElyrose
I love that idea of intentionally trying to differentiate between hope and expectation
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Nice quote! "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy". Nice to have less expectations but instead "all flow and no frazzle". Show up for the game, do your personal best and then it simply feels good knowing that you did so. Feels good to sleep well at night. ❤️
Nice to release the concept of control. Really? Who am I to argue with the universe, lol? And sometimes the harder you push back on the world the harder it pushes back on you! Reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from the movie The Matrix. I love it when Morpheus says to Neo "oh, you think that's air you're breathing"? Nice to change the thought process and let go of the expectations.
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
Many people find Mondays to be overwhelming but am I the only one who thinks, the middle of the week is challenging? By Wednesday, you start to get a bit tired but the weekend is still not here yet!
It is a good thing I like my work! But when I was a student, the middle of the week was the most challenging. I vote we shift Monday stigma to Wednesdays. Anyways here is some motivation to make it to the weekend
“One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there aren't enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress.”
Viggo Mortensen
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Happy Thursday! 😊 You made it! Wooooo hoooo! Wednesday is all rear view mirror now! Thursday is cool. Nice to think of it as "Fri-yah Eve" lol.
What you said about Monday and Wednesday does resonate. For me, I plan my work and work my plan. Wednesday can be that golden opportunity to see "where we have been and where we are headed" so to speak. I see Wednesday as a pivotal day to to review the goals for the week again, what was accomplished and what wasn't, tie up any loose ends that got missed so far in an effort to still finish strong come Friday! (Wednesday whispers "oh yeah, you know what day it is sister, you have been warned"). 😊 hahaha
I love this quote that you shared! Nice! I equate it to a concept that I truly embrace which is "slow and steady wins the race". It's interesting where we as adults can find inspiration. The concept of "slow and steady wins the race" really is quite evident in the childrens fable of "The Tortoise and The Hair". 😊 It's a good read! So many life lessons can be learned from things as simple as stories for children.
Robert Fulgrum "Everything I Needed To Know, I Learned In The Sandbox". That one is a great read for adults as gentle reminders and revisiting or for adults that really didn't have much of a childhood with anyone to guide them and help them along. There is still time 😊❤️
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️ Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and giving me something to think about today! 😊
@SparkyGizmo
Hi Gizmo and just like that it is Friday!
I could not find what this meant -- Robert Fulgrum "Everything I Needed To Know, I Learned In The Sandbox" Can you elaborate?
@Hope
aha, I stand corrected! 😊 Thank you for mentioning it! I got the title of the book wrong. Maybe try "Everything I needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten" Sorry for the confusion. I read it many years ago and I just recall it being a really great read!
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
Happy Friday People!
The weekend is around the corner, I hope you are all able to good rest and have some fun over the weekend.
Today I wish to share this quote
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-- John Wooden
I have been reading a lot of self-help books for the past two years and one theme that has stood out is that if you wish to be successful in any field from the simplest task of cleaning the room to climbing Everest, you must focus on what you can do.
The next time we are met with one of life's many challenges, let us focus on opportunities not obstacles
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Loving the uplifting messages!
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo
High 5
@Hope
Hi Hope!
I love ❤️ the quotes from the great coach John Wooden!
Thank you for this quote, that highlights the opportunities towards obstacles, and therefore brings us closer to our goals.
And it's also very close to another quote from John Wooden, that I think is also suitable for the weekend:
“Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result in knowing you’ve done your best"
In other words, success is not defined by a medal or an award. It comes from a peaceful state of mind, in which we stop fighting against negative thoughts and emotions. It is the result of awareness, of having done one's best, using the skills that are already present in ourselves.
@GentleElyrose
I like that other quotes too. Self awareness is key
@Hope Thank you for this post.
Thank you for all of your efforts and dedication to 7cups.
You are a true gem.
A leader among leaders.
@calmMango9611
You are too kind! I appreciate it but I am still working on my skills
Hi everyone! I hope your weekend went well. Starting the new week with this quote:
“Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way. In a nice little box with a yellow bow on top. ‘Here, open it, it’s perfect. You’ll love it.’ Opportunities – the good ones – are messy, confusing and hard to recognize. They’re risky. They challenge you.” —Susan Wojcicki, CEO of Youtube
@Hope
Many times, challenges are simply opportunities in disguise. 😊❤️😊
@SparkyGizmoSneaky opportunities indeed
@Hope
Lol! 😊❤️ Hope, I have to say, precisely how you just phrased that... "sneaky opportunities"😊 made me laugh, so hard, still laughing and really brought me a lot of joy today! I see it, exactly how you do and it's such a fun way and a great way to put it!
I just kind of see it all like the cream rises to the top. Challenges are opportunities in disguise and in so many ways. An opportunity to show tenacity, true grit, to learn how to work through the path of the problem, to gain new skill sets, to learn and figure out how to work through it and then you are better equipped if a similar instance arises again. It might not be exactly the same but now you've been through it once and have some portable skills in how to address it even better. (If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, hey, it just might be a duck, hahahha). Let's go pet that duck! 😊
I think having worked through it, seeing the challenge as an opportunity can build self confidence. Up and over and Weeeeeeeeeee weeeeeee! 😊 I also think it can do so very much for character development and even if you are already someone of great character, your moral compass is not broken, well you just made your compass even stronger and better. Glen said once, "fall down, get up, fall down, get up". I really loved hearing him say that. I added more onto it. I added "wash, rinse and repeat" lol. Just as easy as the directions on the back of a shampoo bottle. There really is much more to be said about a person about how they get back up than in how they fell down in the first place! 😊❤️
I love walking a path of authenticity. I love showing up to this thing called life being truly plugged in! There is so much to be said for "intentionality". What are you going to do today? Who are you going to be today? Are you going to be the same great person you were or tried to be yesterday, show consistency and integrity? Can you keep those commitments to others as well as yourself?
ahhhhh, so true Hope, darn sneaky opportunities. 😳👍Sometimes when you rise to the occasion and you do it right, those challenges and sneaky opportunities can even help us all to sleep better at night! Gives you the chance to be highly self governed, give yourself that little pat on the back with out expecting others to do it for you because they weren't around to see you do it anyway. You can tell yourself "I did it and I did it well" 😊❤️ I'm not from Texas but a saying in Texas is "it ain't braggin' if you done it" Lol. You can keep it to yourself, no braggin' there, but you know what you did! 😊😊😊
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo That is so true.
I love reading your posts.
Your a deep thinker.
Thanks for being a deep thinker.
@calmMango9611
❤️❤️❤️
@SparkyGizmo
Glad you could see the humor in it! Thank you for the thoughtful reflection
@Hope
❤️❤️❤️
@Hope Very encouraging quote Hope! Always be open to new opportunities
@yourbuddy30
Yesss
@Hope Thanks for this quote.
So true.
I loved reading this.
@Hope
Love this 👌
Hi everyone! It is Wednesday again! I came across this quote and thought what a wonderful perspective to have.
The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things - Rainer Rilke
For example, if you walk regularly, the first day you may get tired after 1 mile, the next week after 2 miles, and then a month later perhaps after 5 miles but one thing is for sure you will get tired at some point regardless of how far you go. Life is like that, you will deal with defeat, and as long as your threshold of what is considered a defeat is rising, you are progressing!
The next time you feel defeated, remember this quote!
@Hope
Hi Hope! 😊❤️ Happy Wednesday! Thank you for the quote, for feeding my mind today, giving me a point to ponder and something to reflect upon!
"The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things". Gee, talk about a hard truth! It almost seems as if once this concept is understood and internalized, things can get better. Kind of, lol. Maybe, some days, sort of.
At first blush, the natural inclination can feel like "okay Life, how about if you just calm down now. I think I've had about enough of this. How about if ya' chill, forget my number, forget my address and just move along and pick on someone else. You've taught me enough, I'm all good. Go share you goodies and teachable moments with someone else". 😊 haha
Kind of have to wonder if feelings like that can be related to the need for self care? Kind of like, raising the red flag, knowing your limits and giving yourself a well deserved "time out". I love the concept of knowing ones limits and taking ones self out of the equation. It's rare that I do it, oh but I have! Unplugging, refusing to engage, "going into the cave" can be good for the soul when you have to find a way to fill up ones own "personal well" to drink from once you feel as if it has run dry. Hard to fill up the cup of another if ones resources have been depleted. It's not selfish. It's replenishing yourself to get your head back in the game, get back up again and try to show your personal best.
I like the quote Hope and I liken it to a concept in life which is we are all simply trading out one problem for another. Got a problem, you fix it but there are always implications. All choices and decisions do have implications. It's trading some sort of problem(s)/choice/decision, over and over. Which one is easier to live with?
Life's not a track meet...........it's a marathon! Put on the sneakers and tie up the laces nice and tight!
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo
I am glad you found the quote beneficial and yes I often repeat it too 'marathon not a sprint'
I had a inspirational give a speech today and this is what he said which I would like to share it with you " If something is possible for someone, it means it is possible for you too."
All you have to do is put in efforts and everything seems possible!
@yourbuddy30
If I am reading this right, you did a speech. That is excellent!!
