2014.10.18 19:00 - Traditions Planning and Expectations

The Guardian for this meeting was stevenaia Michinaga. The comments are by stevenaia Michinaga.

druth Vlodovic: spood
stevenaia Michinaga: greetings Druth and Aphrodite
Aphrodite Macbain: Greetings!
stevenaia Michinaga: it's been a while since I've had visitors
stevenaia Michinaga: how are you?
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) we thought we'd come and say Hi. It's ben ages
druth Vlodovic: pretty good
stevenaia Michinaga: nice to hear, quiet is nice but old friends are always a treat
Aphrodite Macbain: feeling a little naked
stevenaia Michinaga: am I missing clothes? I have only seen myself as a cloud for months now
Aphrodite Macbain: dre3ssed for a harvest festival
druth Vlodovic: do you have any in your RL area?
Aphrodite Macbain: You have a very fetching pumkin coloured doutfit on
stevenaia Michinaga: harvest feast? yes,
Aphrodite Macbain: I am supposed to be a nymph
stevenaia Michinaga: The jewish harvest Fest "Sukkot" just passed
Aphrodite Macbain: druth has her 70s look on
druth Vlodovic: what do you do for sukkot?
Aphrodite Macbain: How do you celebrate Sukkot?
Aphrodite Macbain: snap
stevenaia Michinaga: well there is a special structure build that has an open roof where we ear (and drink)
stevenaia Michinaga: so you can see the stars
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
druth Vlodovic: neat
Aphrodite Macbain: does every Jewish home have one?
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot
stevenaia Michinaga: the ones who choose to
Aphrodite Macbain: so you sit outside in a garden?
stevenaia Michinaga: not so observant but many do
Aphrodite Macbain: Do you eat any special food?
stevenaia Michinaga: not so much for this holiday
stevenaia Michinaga: just the spirit of the harvest
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
stevenaia Michinaga: there are some unique props, involves
Aphrodite Macbain: I have eaten enough turkey to last till Christmas - it was Thanksgiving in Canada this month
Aphrodite Macbain: what kind of props?
druth Vlodovic: a celebration of plenty leading into the dark and sparse
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulav
Aphrodite Macbain: yes :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etrog
Aphrodite Macbain: Etrog?
druth Vlodovic: funny how we celebrate almost anything with extravagance
stevenaia Michinaga: no idea where they get them, drop shipped from israel
Aphrodite Macbain: I suppose it is beacause it makes things special druth
stevenaia Michinaga: and tradition
stevenaia Michinaga: a link to another time
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Chraeloos Resident: hi everyone, sorry I'm late
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya
druth Vlodovic: hey char
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Chraeloos, nice to see you again
stevenaia Michinaga: we were just talking about how traditions link us through the ages

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: how are you Chraeloos?
Chraeloos Resident: good thank you
Chraeloos Resident: sorry, food finished cooking
stevenaia Michinaga: n.p. ....wonders how much of our reality is rooted in the past
druth Vlodovic: when you look at it a lot of both past and present has their roots in ourselves
Chraeloos Resident: Hm, interesting question. I guess that depends on our perspective? If I'm constantly caught up in the stories of the past then certainly our reality is rooted in it
Chraeloos Resident: even future, though
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, we each choose what to carry forward, what to remember to give meaning to the present
Chraeloos Resident: agreed
Chraeloos Resident: but we also strive for what will become of our futures, both individually and culturally
Aphrodite Macbain: we are shaped by past experiences and our memories but ideally we should be focussing on the present.
Aphrodite Macbain: since the present moment is all we have :-)
Chraeloos Resident: but, I wonder about tradition - is it like history where it is written by the successors?
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, the future is just a deck of cards waiting to be dealt
stevenaia Michinaga: true, everything is subject to interpretation
Aphrodite Macbain: I am trying to focus as much as I can on the present, as it's all I have control over
druth Vlodovic: I suppose tradition starts with politics and necessity,then gets tempered and softened by our character
Chraeloos Resident: agreed Aph, nicely said
Chraeloos Resident: druth, softened?
Aphrodite Macbain: no point in looking backwards with nostalgia or regret
stevenaia Michinaga: history is full of adaptation and interpretation to suit the present
Aphrodite Macbain: and the future has a way of not being what we hope it will be
Chraeloos Resident: Aph, again, nicely put
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Char
druth Vlodovic: feasts and fall fairs to sell produce and show off skills become places to take you rkids toplay
Aphrodite Macbain: I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject but I dont want to sound glib
Chraeloos Resident: ah, I see what you mean druth, so the original intention kind of falls away over time
druth Vlodovic: facing the darkness boldlyand meeting the neightbours turns into a candy collection day and costume contests
Aphrodite Macbain: beautifully said druth :-)
Chraeloos Resident: But tradition can also be important, I think, in understand why we are the way we are. For instance, when dealing with the present, we are constantly dealing with the habits we've acquired over the past
stevenaia Michinaga: perhaps the problem isn;t the future, but expectations
druth Vlodovic: is replaces,like a trilobite turning into stone
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Chraeloos Resident: steve, yes definitely
druth Vlodovic: changing things too quickly leads to resistance and conflict
Chraeloos Resident: our inclination to cling to what "should" be or what we wish would be
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
druth Vlodovic: but not changing things we have altered our attitudes towards causes friction as well
Aphrodite Macbain: I am aware that when I dont focus on the present moment, I miss some wonderful things and good insights
Chraeloos Resident: playing devils advocate a bit...some expectations are necessary for us to succeed, whatever that means for us
Aphrodite Macbain: oh yes
Aphrodite Macbain: we should plan and be responsible, but not if we miss out on the present.
stevenaia Michinaga: Chra, no expectations allow us to always succeed
Chraeloos Resident: agree
Aphrodite Macbain: Eckart Tolle's "The Power of Now"
Chraeloos Resident: steve, well, for instance, I have to plan for getting groceries, or else I'll starve. So a bit of expectation from my partner for me to do that is important
druth Vlodovic: all about balance and moderation in the end
Chraeloos Resident: agree completely druth
Chraeloos Resident: I'm sure there are no absolutely, but rather something in between
stevenaia Michinaga: planning and expectation may be different

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: I have got so much in the habit of thinking about what I am going to do in the futrure, I often forget to enjoy it
stevenaia Michinaga: planning allows for change in destinations, expectations requires a destination
stevenaia Michinaga: opps
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Chraeloos Resident: hm, in my experience planning and expecting most often work together
Chraeloos Resident: If I get too attached to what I plan, then I expect it to go a certain way
Chraeloos Resident: if it doesn't, and i'm not open to that idea, then it causes problems too
stevenaia Michinaga: problems?
Chraeloos Resident: well, complications
Chraeloos Resident: getting too attached to a certain outcome can cause stress or harm
stevenaia Michinaga: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: we do what we can
Aphrodite Macbain: and then enjoy whatever comes....
Chraeloos Resident: but, sorry, that was a tangetn
Aphrodite Macbain: theoretically
stevenaia Michinaga: letting go to those attachments will go far to relive stress than
Chraeloos Resident: agree
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Chraeloos Resident: and that works the same in the past. But tradition in particular can perhaps teach us better ways of being now - for instance a lot of what we are discussing is some modern fusion of Buddhism and other south asian beliefs
stevenaia Michinaga: thinking .... dissappointment is like worrying, it really doesn't solve much
Chraeloos Resident: agreed!
Aphrodite Macbain: no. Perhaps we shouldn't expect anything- just take things as they come?
stevenaia Michinaga: just recognizing that and dropping it can be uplifting
stevenaia Michinaga: watch those feeling fade
stevenaia Michinaga: well, if you can
stevenaia Michinaga: allows me like tomorrow
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
druth Vlodovic: of course ,there is something to be said for "stiff upper lip"
druth Vlodovic: orI suppose we'dsay "allowing stress"
Aphrodite Macbain: nods- knowing it wont last?
Chraeloos Resident chuckles
druth Vlodovic: builds emotional strength
druth Vlodovic: just enduring,within reason
Aphrodite Macbain: ah - but which emotions get stronger?
Chraeloos Resident: Oh, RL is calling, sorry to come late and leave early - great convo guys, thanks. Take good care all
druth Vlodovic: have fun chrae
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Chr
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Chraelou
Aphrodite Macbain: I should go and eat
druth Vlodovic: bye aph
stevenaia Michinaga: nods, what;s for dinner?
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye druth, bye stevenaia
Aphrodite Macbain: fish
stevenaia Michinaga: yum, bye
Aphrodite Macbain: cauliflower
Aphrodite Macbain: green beans
druth Vlodovic: 'suppose i'll run too
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: night druth
druth Vlodovic: see what RL looks like
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks for joining in
druth Vlodovic: 'night