Do you meditate?

No, but I would like to start learning and practicing it though.

I kinda used to, grounding, running energy and all that crap, but usually I'd just fall asleep.

I suppose a lot of what I used to do with my youth theatre could be called meditation - falling still, listening to oneself, etc.

I've tried... very seriously, a few times... but never got the results I was hoping for. I think it's just not my thing. My mind is fairly calm most of the day, so maybe it's just not for me.

No.

I do it several times a day....mostly in the evenings. I have 100s of guided meditations, several subliminal meditations, and I use soothing music...David Arkenstone is one of my favorites!

No. I used to be ok at it. I haven't got the patience, time or interest to do it now though.

no i don't.

I could do with it right now...SC chat brings out the worst in me!!!

I've started trying to meditate, mainly because I believe it will lower my blood pressure. I think there are other benefits, too. In Dr. Herbert Benson's book The Relaxation Response he makes it sound so simple I thought I should give it a try. I have a hard time keeping my mind from wandering, but I'm trying to just sit quietly for 10 minutes a day without thinking about anything. If I get to the point where I'm successful with 10 minutes, I will gradually increase the time to 20 minutes.

Uh oh... does that mean you're stressed out? Is it the exams?

SC chat? Dare I ask who got you going?!

*throws his arms up in the air*
It's not my fault!!!

...ok...maybe it was...partially

Irene, thevelvetcure, icurok and me got each other going on a long and convoluted discussion about the future of humanity, the (debatable) destruction of the planet and whether we should use technology to try and improve our lot in life. Which would have been fine, but we should all have been asleep in bed!

I meant to ask about the Dexter reference. A scientist who all too often has things blow up in their face? A passionate science with no real understanding of the world around them? In possession of a Russian accent?

You are such a pain in my ass you know that Nothing negative was intended, though keep in mind, Dexter is a genius, Didi messes it all up You completely divulge yourself into sciences is all that I meant.

Yes, while sitting on the throne...

> I meant to ask about the Dexter reference. A scientist who all too
> often has things blow up in their face? A passionate science with
> no real understanding of the world around them? In possession of a
> Russian accent?

HEY!! Is that why you took so long to answer me?? You were replying to surveys while we were chatting?!?

The nerve of that girl!

I'm not familiar with him, but I just bookmarked his website and as soon as I have time I'll go take a look. What do you mean by guided meditations?

Yes, what are you doing up, young lady?! Isn't it like 4:45 am there?!!

I don't have time to read, let alone sleep, and meditation is not such a high priority. I'd love to be able to, but I just have no free time. It's come up to that point that my friend and I have to use the time we're together to study. .

Sure, I drink a six pack and stare at the television.
When I was a teenager I would smoke weed and listen to music.
When I was a child I would sit under a tree and reach enlightenment.

I think life gets easier as you get older.

That was *post* chat, *post*!!!!

It was - but I went to bed right after I posted that last comment

At the moment, I'm pretty absorbed by the science stuff which is pretty necessary if I have any hope of getting throught my biology degree! I actually come from a much broader background. For major school subjects in the past I've studied English language and literature, religion, history, art, politics, sociology and arachaeology in addition to sciences. Once I've finished my degree (soon!) and get a job, I'd like to enroll in a major British university that largely operates through correspondence courses (the Open University) and study something completely different! I fancy doing some theology or a language

Guided meditations are when someone talks you through a scenerio (for a purpose). It's hypnotic in nature. Dick Sutphin (I think that's how you spell it) has some good ones.

yes but not often enough............ i would like to do it more often.

Yes, sometimes. It's not often I have the peace.

I'll remember that next time...

As if I would be distracted from chatting with you

Hey! Is it you being chat bait right now?

Nope - someone called babygurl. You can see who is in there if you hold your mouse over the smilie face

My personal preferences are the humanities, and world religions...they're fun as long as you go into it with an open mind.

A management course might be quite useful too. Not sure if the OU does anything like that.

Ha! Cool!

It's funny - early in the morning like this (well for me anyway) is when most "strangers" go in chat...

All the time you've been here, and still learning something new everyday

This place never ceases to amaze me...

It's the early hours of the morning when I see most regular users in there. You're right though, around now is stranger time. I think it's the US school hours when people have IT lessons and log on to mess around with friends.

Probably...

Well, it's that time! I have to get in the shower and get ready for work... It's so boring these days, I just go in to read Crime Library all day. I hope things pick up soon!

I'll see ya later!

Hope you have fun. I should get on with some work! I keep hopping back to check SC and haven't got enough done yet.

yea, not as often as i should be, though.

in my own way, yes!

It takes a lot of practice to relearn how to do things! Keep at it and it will someday come easy to you

No. I pray - it's not as futile IMHO.

Well, I'm back from another day of reading Crime Library. Read a couple of really good stories today! Last week's best was the history of the Mormon's in the US - what a sordid lot!
I had one job to produce which normally would be done in less than an hour but I stretched it to last all day... Don't have anything on my desk for tomorrow but I know stuff is brewing and I'm going to get it all at once - just watch!

Oh, I see. I may have done that before. I know I've listened to some of the subliminal ones. I usually fall asleep though!

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping.

Isn't that always the way!

I've even been known to fall asleep with the guided meditations!

(((Sue)))

Well, I didn't get blasted today - the work just trickled in... Fun stuff though but I still got to read a couple of crime stories - I'm reading about Robert Blake (a has-been who had a show called Beretta... I think?) apparently he killed his wife. I just happened to see this stupid show about Celebrity Justice and this bit about his court appearance was aired as I was flicking through the stations. I knew I'd find something on Crime Library about it! After SC, it's the only place I visit regularly... Go figure!

Apart from SC, I only hit my email and the BBC regularly (except for websites I need for university work). I wouldn't even use the BBC news much if I were living somewhere I could watch their TV news and get a daily newspaper.

I catch the BBC on Vermont ETV - it's a public broadcasting company and it caters to us Montrealers as we donate a lot of money to that station! Great shows and no commercial!!

BBC News 24 on satellite is quite addictive, especially when something big is unfolding. Because it isn't a news show edited for a half hour slot, it also includes a lot of stories that wouldn't normally make the cut. It's a good source for more obscure international news - the sort of stuff that might not even be reported at a national level in the country where it happened.

I like flicking onto FoxNews too - they're never reporting what everyone else is reporting unless it directly affects the US! Thank goodness the Americans have CNN as well. How decent is Canadian news?

The National news is very good - the local stuff, well it's local... Americans often tune into our news stations to get different views of events around the world.

I remember a friend of mine who had to go to Pennsylvania for a work conference with her American counterparts. An American admitted to her that she really envied her ability to talk to anyone from around the world and discuss the events from that person's country. She told her that their news was All American and caused most of them to be hopelessly uninformed about everyone else.
I call it propaganda - they keep telling the people how great their country is to the point of believing it to be infallible. It's a disservice to the people. They should revolt and get the government out of broadcasting.

Our local news is bad, even on the BBC

Well, I like to catch the weather report!

I never pay attention to the weather - unless there is a warning in place. It does what it wants, when it wants here and pays no heed to the weathermen!

I just like to know if I can blame the snowstorm for being late at work... The bosses all live within a 5 minute drive from work so they don't know better.

I just read a book about positive thinking and I have been applying some of the techniques to my life. I am much happier now

Yay!! Good for you! That's very cool! Do you remember the name of the book? I love reading stuff like that. I recently saw a PBS special called The Power of Intention and I've decided I'm going to buy the book because it's very positive and uplifting. I feel like I always pick up a few good tidbits from books like that.

I just saw the picture on your profile page and wondered why the hell you posted a pic of a bowl of chicken breasts. Then I remembered your survey about posting a picture of your breasts -- I almost fell off my chair laughing!!!!

I'm just a funny kinda gurl

The name of the book is "The power of positive thinking" By: Peale

It has many many religious references which are not my thing but I was able to take that part with a grain of salt and I really got a lot of good tips from it.

Oh, I've read excerpts from that! I appreciate Norman Vincent Peale because he seems to have a way of toning down the preaching so that we heathens can appreciate his stuff without wanting to puke. (Smart man.)

Other, I usually drink some Beers to relieve my stress.

That has nothing to do with meditation! Unless you stare off into space and zone out while drinking them... then that might almost count.

Hey, it's close enough for me!

It's definitely the next best thing!

I have made attempts (obviously not seriously), because I have never had any sort of spiritual experience whilst "meditating." I think it could be because I am attention deficient.

I used to "melt into the floor" when I was getting ready to warm-up to go on-stage. Or I would "feel my right foot with my right foot" kind of things. It never occurred to me that it was meditative. I was seeking release, but not in a spiritual way. I guess the theatre is the closest I have ever come to a church though.

I feel the same way. Acting is when I've come closest to what I believe religious-types call God and I would call having a sense of being part of the world with other people.

I know. The exchange of energy from the stage to the audience and back again leaves me feeling euphoric. I am physically exhausted after a show, but I have never been happier.

I felt just the same

You're still here! It's been a long while for me.
How have you been?

Great! I'm working two jobs right now, so I'm tired. I'm training at the post office to be a mail carrier, and still managing the pet store. Next week I'm actually going on vacation for a week to visit my parents in Arizona. (The P.O. is letting me go because I had my airline ticket before they hired me.) I think I'm really going to like my new job. Plus I went on a date last weekend and had a fabulous time.
How have you been?

A date, hmmm?
How's that going.
Things have been going great!
I started college in January, so I've almost got one semester down.
I got engage on February 21st.
Other than that, same ole, same ole.
How's Mandy?

The date was fabulous, and we are going out again the first Saturday after I get back from my week in Arizona. We're really hitting it off, but taking things slowly.

Good job on the college thing, and congratulations on your engagement! I wish you much happiness!!

Mandy is doing well. I still see her pretty regularly since we work together at my "old" job. She's living with a guy, and their relationship seems to be going well. She's happy, so that's what counts! And Mallory is doing fine. She got straight A's her first semester in high school, and seems to be adjusting well in their new home.

What are you studying in college?

Mallory's in High School all ready!?!? My how the time flies.
I am studying Medical Transcription so hopefully I will be able to work from home some day.
Next time you see Mandy, tell her I said hi. I think of both of you often even though I haven't been on here in a long time.

You ain't kiddin' -- time sure does fly! Hopefully in a few more years she'll be attending Harvard.

Working from home sounds great! I hope that works out for you.

I will tell Mandy hello from you next time I talk to her.

Nope, I think to meditate you have to consciously allow yourself to do it. I might space out, but I don't start with meditation on my mind.

I personally, don't like how they want you to let your mind go blank. I was very interested when I read of "active" meditation as an alternative. More my style.