Just in case you might possibly have forgotten; we are god damn lucky to be here... !exclamation point!. It's a one way tour through the wonders of existence which hopefully a pleasant one. What a time to Be alive!?
One chance at it, just one go, that is why each day is precious. Merry winter solstice to everyone, even those who don't believe in winter solstice. GROG
Unfortunately there are many inhabitants of this planet that would think otherwise, and would say they are unlucky to be here .
You got that right
I definitely agree with you
That is true, some people do have miserable lives because life is a matter of luck which is not always good. It is a terrible waste that so many people have to suffer through no fault of their own. GROG
I'll just say Happy Solstice! I will leave Hawaii on the Winter Solstice and arrive in New Zealand on the Summer Solstice, Not sure what's it's called while I'm up in the air, so it will be just plain old Solstice to me! So glad each day I'm living on this wonderful world!
You are going to be in that plane for a really long time.
@dalefvictor Less than 12 hours, much better than 6 months! Loading up my electronics with audio books, movies, and podcasts to enjoy on the flight.
For the record, it is not a proven fact that we only have "one chance at it, just one go". I'm not implying anything to the contrary, but there are facts, and then there are beliefs and opinions. Happy Solstice!
Has there ever been any sign or evidence for resurrection? No! It is a delusion most people can’t give up on. You can argue forever with “there is always the possibility” nonsense.GROG
I didn't say anything about resurrection. I merely pointed out that you stated something as a fact, when you have no evidence. Or, do you? Is there, in fact, some evidence to prove that we only have "one chance at it, just one go"?
@Fit-50something When my wife was dying i solemnly asked her if she could give me some sign from the other side that she was ok. We had been reading and watching many accounts of near death experiences. This was well before she came down with cancer. I was a religious sceptic but not yet sure where to turn. She was still pretty much a believer but not like in her younger years. When somebody you love very much is on the edge of death you don’t want to push it and rock their belief system. It’s been over 8 years and sad to say I haven’t had any signs.
@Fit-50something The evidence of course is circumstantial. The supernatural, I am convinced, is a mental construct, it was a strategy for the early human brain to explain the unknown and what happens after death. The spirit is of the same delusion. All religions need the supernatural so gods have a place to reside. Due to these delusions, religion has also been labeled a mental illness. GROG
@Bilbobagins Thanks. Living is about memories, may they be long lasting.
@GROG You are "convinced". That is not evidence. That's all I'm saying.
Of course, nobody knows one way or the other.
A merry winter solstice to everyone too. The light returns and the season of new life is on the way. And for our Australian friends, it will cool down soon.
And a happy Festivus for the rest of us!
As opposed to what? Never being here. Makes no sense to me. If I was never born I would not know how lucky or unlucky I would be. And when I die , I am sure I will not know anything about my life.
I wonder what I looked like before I was born. Even more important, if I was intelligent. Ha,ha!
@Bilbobagins Picture one sperm amongst millions and a tiny egg like ovum and that'd be about the size of it.
An attitude of gratitude puts us in a positive frame of mind where everything seems better and helps us embrace the future.
May peace be with you all in the coming new year.
attitude is everything. One can play the role of victim or not. If one is unhappy, change the attitude and play the role of a happy person.
@GROG If only it were that easy.... consider yourself "blessed" to have your health
@demifeministgal Your point is taken. Circumstances are often out of our control. But a positive attitude helps to propel us through difficult times.
@dare2dream IT was more in response to Grog's whole if you are unhappy (or depressed) just think positive thoughts to fix it. If it were that easy, nobody would have depression
@GROG easier said than done
@demifeministgal The luck, the good luck of good health. Without that life can certainly be miserable and death may seem a better alternative. GROG
@demifeministgal, @HarrySlick Of course, but action is better than inaction. Some days it is even hard to get out of bed. GROG
@GROG indeed some of us had poor luck either in the genetic lottery department or in the horrible environment or traumatic events departments and have a ruined mental health.
@demifeministgal Right. Genetics, environment, nurturing, etc. and then all the stuff that happens when you are on your own. Parenting is a critical factor, maybe the most critical in "having" good luck. Hope all is well. GROG
@demifeministgal You’re right. A horrible environment, traumatic events and bad mental and physical health are all usually unavoidable. But it is also possible to change our environment and get health treatments. It’s not impossible. It only takes work. To deny this is only pessimistic and a detriment to oneself.
@dare2dream I never said it was impossible nor that nothing can be done. But happy thoughts are useless without the health treatments and/or change in environment.
lol i find it painful hard and torture i love my family and can't imagine what death will be but in many ways welcome its supposed peace and ending to constant struggle and sorrow
Luck,good fortune,chance, whatever you call it is putting it very mildly.Of all the millions of sperm produced one fertilised an egg and it grew to full term, was born safely and grew to be me,you , him ,her.
Also we had the good fortune to be born in a culture and country where have the means and opportunity to join in a debate like this. If I was superstitious I would call it a miracle.
We should celebrate the fact every day we are alive.
The trinity to which appreciation is due: The two parents who gave us life and the sun which makes life possible on earth. GROG
Yeah thank dam God for evolution and biology and lots of sex. Yay sex and new life. at the end of it Agnostics and atheist every day is more precious because that's pretty much the reality. If you believe that after death you'll be in clouds rainbows and unicorns I hope you're right God damn it.
Right...what a time to be alive...if you're a conservative, wealthy, white male. Give me a fucking break dude.
While I agree with your statement I do have to say that throughout history there have been much worse times and or places to be a woman, queer, a POC, atheist or other minority group. I just hope we keep the gears of progress and acceptance going until the world is a great place for the rest of us.
What a time to be alive...there will be no other. That is the luck of it all... some good and some not so good. Cheers. GROG
Not luck, luck implies some sort of influence or plan, it is all just pure random happenstance.
The random happenstance you mention is just a matter luck. Luck doesn't imply anything other than luck, good or bad. Cheeers! GROG
@GROG Sorry but I disagree, there has not been a market made selling good happenstance charms, or bad happenstance curses, chance is not the subject of superstition, ritual, placation or being able to be influenced, random chance is just part of life.
In the minds of the gullible Luck and chance are very different things, luck is mystical, chance is just shit happening.
Luck is and always has been a superstitious belief in a capricious, jealous personified influencer of fate, the mythical green lady Luck, the curse of bad luck appearing as the black grimalkin.
Luck is a minor deity and as an atheist just another one that I reject utterly.
Hence my contention, I am neither lucky nor unlucky to be here now, I just happen to have come about in this time and place.
@LenHazell53 It seems to me that you are making something really complicated when it is so simple. Shit happens, that's all, whatever it's called. GROG
Says somebody that exists. Try never existing. You might like it.
What is there to like if you don't exist? Trying to imagine it even is a waste of time.GROG
I am glad to be alive, here and now. No matter what.
I remember a song with lyrics saying "BUT EVERYDAY ABOVE THE GROUND IS A GREAT DAY, REMEMBER THAT" ...
And thank you for your wishes!
Thank you.
You are very right. I thought about that some time ago too. Our parents lived through wars, depression and the dominance of religion. Today we have the electronic revolution, globalization, rise of progressives and more societies opening up. I am not sure if our children and their children will have it better than we have.
Kitty concurs. And the same to you and yours!
I think about this every day, and its so true that I'm bothered by it knowing that its a once-off event for all of us. Specifically, not just to be around as a human (and not some other creature who has the misfortune of being around at a time of humans) but to be around in this day and age, with smartphones, air travel, etc.
I'm happy that you agree. What a great time to be alive (if you're lucky)! GROG
Preach it, brother, life is good if you make it so. ✌
Living life does take effort; it isn't a passive sport. GROG