http://skipblog.skiplizard.com/2008/04/28/suffering-joy-vs-suffering-joy/ Texas to Mongolia 2007 (http://www.skiplizard.com) Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:53:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 http://skipblog.skiplizard.com/2008/04/28/suffering-joy-vs-suffering-joy/#comment-619 Abra Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:16:44 +0000 http://skipblog.skiplizard.com/2008/04/28/suffering-joy-vs-suffering-joy/#comment-619 Its funny that I should choose tonight to revisit this page, and come upon this entry. I have been intrigued by this trip from the moment you told me about it and as the time grows closer I wondered how you have been preparing, hoping that everything is coming together. Then here is this entry on joy and suffering....it struck me because of an incident which occurred this weekend at Jazz Fest. When you talk of emotions which rise and fall, when we look back and can't remember why it may have been important, I think back to my unfortunate "accident" two winters ago. Yes, the one that got me these pearly whites and a beautiful smile. I never thought of this accident as having any impact on anyone's life but my own. I knew people felt sympathy for me, and couldn't help but give a good chuckle, but I felt the suffering was my own and that all the good I got out of the situation had only directly affected me. But I will tell you this, Ryan...Sunday night I was out with some friends and introduced myself to a girl who I did not know, but had seen a lot, in the group. She smiled and said to me, "I have seen you around and wanted to meet you, but just never really had the opportunity" I said I felt the same....She then told me, "All I know about you is that you had a teeth party.." and I couldn't believe that she would remember something like that especially since she didn't know me. The next thing out of her mouth really blew me away, she said, "I thought that was so amazing....here this horrible thing had happened to you and instead of being embarrassed, you had a party to celebrate and I was really impressed with you." This event happened a year and a half ago....and here was this kind, sweet woman telling me that she thought what I did took courage and I think I almost cried. Perhaps this is only a small thing "among other things"...but it has made an enormous impact in my life and given me perspective on my attitude as of late. I have done nothing but rise since I fell....what an overwhelming feeling. I just had not thought about it for awhile. Its funny that I should choose tonight to revisit this page, and come upon this entry. I have been intrigued by this trip from the moment you told me about it and as the time grows closer I wondered how you have been preparing, hoping that everything is coming together. Then here is this entry on joy and suffering….it struck me because of an incident which occurred this weekend at Jazz Fest. When you talk of emotions which rise and fall, when we look back and can’t remember why it may have been important, I think back to my unfortunate “accident” two winters ago. Yes, the one that got me these pearly whites and a beautiful smile. I never thought of this accident as having any impact on anyone’s life but my own. I knew people felt sympathy for me, and couldn’t help but give a good chuckle, but I felt the suffering was my own and that all the good I got out of the situation had only directly affected me. But I will tell you this, Ryan…Sunday night I was out with some friends and introduced myself to a girl who I did not know, but had seen a lot, in the group. She smiled and said to me, “I have seen you around and wanted to meet you, but just never really had the opportunity” I said I felt the same….She then told me, “All I know about you is that you had a teeth party..” and I couldn’t believe that she would remember something like that especially since she didn’t know me. The next thing out of her mouth really blew me away, she said, “I thought that was so amazing….here this horrible thing had happened to you and instead of being embarrassed, you had a party to celebrate and I was really impressed with you.” This event happened a year and a half ago….and here was this kind, sweet woman telling me that she thought what I did took courage and I think I almost cried. Perhaps this is only a small thing “among other things”…but it has made an enormous impact in my life and given me perspective on my attitude as of late. I have done nothing but rise since I fell….what an overwhelming feeling. I just had not thought about it for awhile.

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