Letters to the Editor
cim902
Published Letters: 73 Editor's Choice: 13
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Yes, go!!!!!!!!!!
[Read the article: Should I play this cruise ship gig -- with my anxiety and depression?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am an anxious person who is especially wigged out by travel--planes, semis, highways, bridges, cars, speeds over 50, water, you name it, I can tell you how it will kill you. Still....my family went on a cruise about 4 years ago and after the first night (you have to get used to the motion of the boat, and the sea was rough), I was able to relax and have a great time. Obviously I don't know how you think, etc., and Cary's right--you should check with your therapist and get meds if you need them, but I bet you'd have a fantastic time! Plus, cruise ships do have a hospital area and medical personnel, they do put in at ports of call, and are in contact with the authorities in the area, so if by chance you do have some big problem, they will help you, and you will be fine. If you're anything like me, just knowing that there's a safety net will help you counter the catastrophizing.
Good luck and bon voyage!!!!!!!!
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Retirement.....
[Read the article: Perspire to retire!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]is a fairly recent concept. Really recent, like in the last couple of generations. Now, people act like they're entitled to years of leisure and self-indulgence (oops! in-law issues!). Most people, in the past, and now, do not get to retire, and if they do, it's not to a life of fun vacations and hobbies. My husband and I are in the older part of GenX, and it's dawning on us that, with social security and health care pretty much screwed (with no sensible relief in sight), and the amt of income needed to pay for health care, insurance, college, and just a basic middle class lifestyle increasing, probably eventually exceeding our ability to keep up, we are not going to "retire." We'll downsize (maybe sooner rather than later), he'll slow down some, I'll pick up more work ("welcome to Wal-Mart"), and we'll pester our children and provide free baby-sitting. No beach house, no trips, no days sitting around on our.....
But what does it matter, anyway? When I die, do I get to take all that with me? Will it matter what I owned, what my house looked like, how I dressed or where I travelled? No, not really. All that will matter will be how I raised my children, nurtured my marriage, cared for my friends, treated others, and served God. You don't need loads of money or leisure time to try to do those things well.
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Yeah, what they said....
[Read the article: Can a fractured friendship be renewed?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Get over it and call her already! It could be great, and it probably won't be as awful as you fear. I want to offer one caveat, however. Don't bring up the "I don't ever want to see you again" incident. It may take a huge effort on your part, but if that's going to be discussed, let it happen naturally, hopefully not in your first few conversations. Let her bring it up. I'm sure it's one of her personal cringe-worthy moments, and that she wishes it never happened; otherwise, why would she have called you. Still, it would be very unkind and, dare I say it, self-absorbed, to hit her over the head with it immediately and demand an explanation and apology. Instead, show an interest in her life now, ask lots of questions, make lots of positive comments, and allow her to do the same for you. If the friendship continues to develop, the incident may come up in conversation; but in the end, you may not want it to. It would show generosity of spirit to just pretend it never happened, give her a clean slate, and go on. Isn't that what you would want from a close friend--the kind of friend you are looking for? Well, to get that kind of friend (who is very rare), you have to be that kind of friend. I hope this works out for both of you.
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Everybody.....
[Read the article: The beast]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Has probably said plenty to the author, and I don't have time to read it all.....
But let me just say to those of you who can run a marathon in 8 hours, or who did any sport of any kind in high school or college, even if you didn't get your name up in the gynm for setting a school record, or sat on the bench more than you played. To those of you who play tennis or golf or do aerobics really well....
As a chubby, very klutzy girl (and now woman!), I admired and sometimes envied you. It was amazing to me that you could actually, well, hit or catch the ball, or make your body do a round-off, or anything on the uneven bars. I would have loved to be able to do anything sports-like. It seemed magical to me. Instead, I just suffered through gym and wished I had taken it pass-fail.
I am glad that the woman who did swim the 400-meter in high school can use her experience to bond with her daughter as they watch the Olympics. I hope that all of the former high school gymnasts and skaters and volleyball players can take the discipline that yes, they also had to develop, and the love of physical activity and ability they were given, and use them well, so that they can have healthy bodies as they age. I hope they share this with their children.
And, ok, Ms. Sey, I guess I do have to go there. If you practice being happy for other people, being interested in them, rather than relating all things back to yourself, you'll be much happier, and may even come to see your own experiences in a more positive light. At least, they'll lose their emotional vividness and power. Good luck to you