I used to listen to heavy metal music while studying for my online schooling. I never graduated, because, well... that's another blog post. But I suffered from severe headaches before being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. And believe it or not, the intense sound made my head feel better! I know it sounds crazy, but it really worked. Back then, that was a crazy time; I was going through a divorce, losing my job, being kicked out of said online schooling due to lack of attendance (Wes... you said that was another blog post!). So the last thing I needed was more stress and the music helped. The band was Meshuggah, an extreme metal band from Sweden... the song was Bleed and I will warn you; it's loud! But I would put on some headphones, work on classes, and sometimes... just sometimes, I would get rid of the headache. There's a point to all this...
If not you... who?
I was trying to take control of the situation. I knew things were going to be difficult. I knew the decisions being made, would affect not only me but everyone around me; my son, ex, even those I interacted with on my online schooling. Always like me to think of everyone else first, before my own feelings. But I knew life was going to keep going, so I had to be the one to steer the boat. This is my situation of course, but I am sure all of you have been through some rough patches in your life. Dealing with these kinds of problems isn't easy, but at the end of the day, it is you that has to look in the mirror and say, "I did the best I could". Sure... things always end up working out, but if we keep looking around for someone else to fix our problems, it might be time to step back and remember how lucky we really are.
I ramble a lot... stay with me...
The whole, "if not you...who" could be used in any given scenario I suppose. I was raised by women my entire life. Parents divorced when I was young... Dad was more interested in getting everything for free and having lots of kids; not a good way to be. So my Mom worked three jobs... 9 to 5'er then bussing tables, then Night School for secretarial skills. We had two new homes, two new vehicles, and it was just her and I. We never went hungry, and really, we never went without. I did mention she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 20... right? She used that if not you...who mindset and I have to say, I am quite proud of my Mom and how she raised me. She had wonderful parents; when my Mom was working my grandmother watched me. So that was a big help not having to find babysitters. So you see, my Mom did have help. But she still chose to overcome the situation. Work all those hours even while having an autoimmune disease, and still able to look in the mirror and say, you guessed it... "I did the best I could". I think we can take this same mindset, and apply it to any problem we have; don't you? The same could be said for the blockchain... it is, after all, just a bunch of us trying to share our experiences, learn about and from others, and maybe be a part of something that could be so much more. Like one of my other favorite words...
Community.
So what am I trying to say? I wonder sometimes lol. But as I scroll through my 100 Discord Groups and see all the interactions on each one; people chatting, asking questions, or waiting for the next #random-event at the EliteGamers Discord Shout-out to all the good people there...click this link to visit their website!, I can see this very vibe within each Server. Making personal choices and decisions, to be the one to take those first steps. Whether for a specific initiative or simply asking how to create footers on the blockchain... it's all starting with them (you). It is my hope to instill these very mindsets through my #thoughtfuldailypost's. Because we really do need more thoughtfulness in the world... Probably time to wrap this up before I lose my train of thought again...
Are you having a good week so far? Any new Communities or maybe life events you are thoughtful for? Let me know in the comments! I have been saying goodbye to a few of the Discord Servers I was in... ones that aren't very active anymore, or others that I only joined to send someone to... then leave until the next time. I will share one I recently joined at the bottom of this post... The whole point of this message is to tell everyone it's okay to be uncertain! It's ok to question everything. We only learn by asking questions after all! But for goodness sake, don't let the actions, or opinions of others make you come to a conclusion on something you don't really beleive in. If all else fails, listen to that song I shared up above... your unruly neighbors might move out and make your day!
Edit: Ok... I was kidding about that last part!
What are you thoughtful for, today?
👉Join the "Thoughtful Daily Post Community" Here👈
👉Follow the "Thoughtful Daily Post Badge" Here👈
I didn't forget!
Here's that Server I was talking about up there! Dynamichivers by @dynamicgreentk. Give them a visit aye?
!WINE
Congratulations, @wesphilbin You Successfully Shared 0.200 WINE With @thealliance.
You Earned 0.200 WINE As Curation Reward.
You Utilized 2/5 Successful Calls.
Contact Us : WINE Token Discord Channel
WINE Current Market Price : 0.270
True story time: I twice used music as a weapon against noisy neighbors playing theirs too loud.
Once, in my college dorm, we had neighbors that played the same Bob Marley album on repeat almost 24 hours a day. To this day, I hear Bob Marley (which should be calming kinda music, you'd think) and I start twitching, because it is just seared into my brain now. So one day they had it CRANKED really loud and I couldn't think. I politely knocked and asked them to turn it down. They blew me off. So I put my roomie's speakers up against their wall (facing the wall), and blasted "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. They turned Bob Marley off for the rest of the night.
Another time when roomies and I had moved out into an apartment but still in our college town, downstairs neighbors were cranking music so loud the pictures on our walls were literally bouncing. I asked them nicely to turn it down three times, and they would turn it down while I was standing there, but every time I got back upstairs, they'd turn it back up again.
So I turned the speakers to the floor and played a bagpipe reel at full blast. Once again, their music was turned off for the rest of the night.
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. 😁
Right!! Oh, I do love anything by Trent Reznor... a very underrated artist, in my opinion. A bagpipe reel... too funny! You know, they use music sometimes in a form of "Urban Warfare"... play loud music that is obnoxious and repetitive. Flashy disco lights... I can just see the mindset of the people...
I guess sometimes, you can have too much of a good thing right? unless it's a winning lotto ticket! I always love to see your comments. Thank you for stopping by, my friend.
Your mom truly set a great example. She was an extremely hard working and determined person. Also, thank you so much for giving me guidance about communities to check out. Truly, you have left a lot of positive impact on communities and The Terminal.
I tend to agree!! I might also be partial, considering she is my Mom and all 😊. But really, she was just trying to pass down everything she was taught as a child. I have said it before, but my Mom was adopted. Told her parents died in a car crash, as so many were told back in those days. But to her, her parents were just that... her parents. They survived the 8Great Depression*.. had several restaurants in their lives... wonderful people that I truly miss, and wish more were like! But that kind of goes hand-in-hand with the title of my post, right? As for the help with communities... you are more than welcome. I take what I do seriously. I am quite goofy and have been known to be silly even when dealing with the worst of situations. But that's how I deal with life... gotta have fun! Hope you are having a positive experience, as you continue down your blockchain journey. Thanks for your kind words, and for stopping by!
Wes I am truly inspired by your approach to be easy-going and goofy when it comes to dealing with situations. I like this approach since it definitely involves making the best of every moment. I am glad I started my day today by having a read at this comment. Thank you so much. 😊
Excellent thoughtful post, not being able to make Discord as regular as I would like, just too time consuming one feels you abandoning others who too are looking for the same support.
Yes being involved in communities is grounding, paramount in keeping contact, something we all need....
Life is not easy, mothers and in some cases fathers play a strong roll in how we define ourselves, fortunately/sadly genes creep down family trees too.... Roll of the dice, so keep contact and keep smiling!
This is quite true, my friend. My stepfather's Dad was the role model to which his son followed. Alcoholic, Catholic, Union Meatcutter... He had a bicycle accident at a young age, and the kick-stand went into the side of his brain. He was given "last rights" and suddenly saw that as a notification to become the devil incarnate. Many years passed after my Mom finally divorced him. We met at a shopping mall... he was arguing with the clerk about a price. I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "I see some things never change..." Redemption? Nah... I just finally realized I wasn't terrified of him anymore.
Oh my goodness!! The last thing you should be doing, is apologizing for not being supportive! I have known you since that "other" chain days lol... I thank you for taking your time to drop by and leaving a comment. Truly appreciate your support, and most importantly... friendship!
Wow! Bleed is a work of art, thanks for the suggestion. Definitely expecting complaints from the neighbors! 😅
On this I definitely agree, something in our lives will always be going wrong, problems are inherent to our existence, the only thing we can do is choose to always strive to make our situation better than it was yesterday, face every challenge head held high, and learn to see the silver lining in the said problems, also the fact that you are starting a thoughtfulness initiative is just amazing, the world definitely needs it.
Cheers!
You like that song, did you? Some people can't handle the whole "screamo" music genre. It can be overdone sometimes, but we all can't like the same thing... right?
Thank you! And I agree! I started my #thoughtfuldailypost TAG back in 2019 on STEEMIT but felt it needed to be carried over when the HardFork took place. As you said... thoughtfulness never goes out of style. Thank you for stopping by, and for leaving a comment. Appreciated, my friend!
Someone needs to take responsibility, if not you who - when it happens to be your life.
Your mom led by example, taking responsibility for the children she brought into the world.
If only we could use this question in all situations how much we can achieve in our lives.
Thought provoking.
What a wonderful reply! You are correct; so many wars, fights, and even simple conversations that turn into misunderstandings could be resolved just by stopping... taking a breath. Looking inward and realizing... "What were we even arguing for?".
Very kind of you to say this. I was an only child, so it was just me, which I know made things just a little easier for my Mom. I really had a wonderful childhood. Would I go back and change a few things? Sure! But then that would erase the present, and really... I don't see a reason to! Thank you for taking the time to stop by, and leave such a wonderful comment!
Thank you for the kind support!
A lot of stuff in your post struck home to me. Funny how a mother's love can be a band-aid for the little things that may cause a child to instead act less responsibly because of environmental conditions. Coming from a broken home of a corrupt abusive cop father, my mother was the glue and showed us the kind of SPIRIT it took to persevere and showed me that sacrifices are never forgotten in the hearts and minds of their children that watch them.
So much more I can elaborate on like my mothers persistent migraines, osteoporosis and exasperated conditions from being constantly abused my cop father. Point is that she stood strong against my father, protected us the best she could until she couldn't. Truly, her love and spirit is what drives me today despite all the seemingly impossible situations my PTSD seems to keep me experiencing 🤔 kind of a intense feedback loop eh?
My PTSD, no matter how in denial or how often I like to think it is not really a thing, prevents me from fully participating in other groups on discord. I dont see much value for my personality type to be in other groups. Everything has to be a certain way for me and my tone of voice isn't transmuted to convey my sarcasm or to show im just mentally exhausted. Im too strong of a personality type and im always censoring myself. I do need to get better at working within groups.
Its people like you who are a great example of how to show and embody compassion towards others. Your calm and persistent nature coupled with your grace, makes it hard at times to remember that you even have MS.
You are a great example of how to not cause suffering unto others while suffering. Thank you for being a person I look up to and to be reminded I can treat people better, no matter the condition of that my brain maybe that day from my PTSD.
Thank you for the shoot out!
@dynamichivers... As you've seen me say, we could have been in the same time space continuum... thingy... yeah! Not the same, but yet similar. Fond memories of reading "Fantasy Fiction" books, while watching my Mom get pulled through the house by her hair; my Stepfather was a great guy God Bless him! I digress...
My other side of the family are all involved in Law Enforcement; Uncle joined straight out of high school. He retired Chief of Police... passed away in 2017 from heart complications. His son is a Police Officer, two daughters Corrections and another is a Probation Officer. They all are the definition of "Good Cops"... hard to find.
This speaks volumes, and I am truly honored, and humbled by your kind words. Thank you, my friend ✌
Funny... My grandfather was chief deputy sheriff of clark county(las vegas). His son became Privatized 'metro', Head of Security for the 4Queens and then Stardust in the early 90s. The casinos would hire directly from metro and would have privatized city union employees with virtually no liabilities🤯🤔🤣
They stopped that around the year 2000 after the monopolization of corporations and the strip was in full swing.
Oh yes... my cousin was an MP in the Army, before becoming a Police Officer. But my UNcle was raised with that Golden Rule... and I will admit, all of those who are in Law Enforcement, do an outstanding job. Not liked by the "status-quo", but they don't care. You have been down that dark road... I have been down that dark road... Thank heavens we can meet in the middle, with a common ground, and positive energy paving the way...
I hope you dont mind... I was drinking my morning coffee. I edited the above comment. I might end up deleting even. It is so negative but its my story you know. My whole life story causes suffering unto others. Pretty sucky. But things could be worse and after coming back to Hive the realization that I did make some good choices and that I am part of a revolutionary community/technology worldwide that is much bigger than my pity party is reassuring.
So at is cool to let go and be apart of a global community and a revolutionary technology that could maybe position us all for a strong foothold in the world tomorrow. Allowing for future generations the ability to live a life with less suffering.
This post!
You might not believe me but this is my favorite post (of all time) since I joined the blockchain!
!WINE (might not be a bad idea)
Congratulations, @stayten You Successfully Shared 0.200 WINE With @wesphilbin.
You Earned 0.200 WINE As Curation Reward.
You Utilized 2/3 Successful Calls.
Contact Us : WINE Token Discord Channel
WINE Current Market Price : 0.270
Appreciate your kind words brother, but land sakes, I'm just one of millions on the Blockchain lol. But you know what I mean, and I know where your heart is... respect
Thank you @InnerBlocks and @stayten... Value your support, curation, and friendshi.
Thank you @wesphilbin, for using the CO2 Compensation Coin (COCO / SWAP.COCO) on Steem-Engine or on Hive-Engine to reduce your CO2 footprint. You want to join? Buy some COCO / SWAP.COCO and transfer them to CO2Fund's account @co2fund.
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the person sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.
Congratulations @wesphilbin! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Your next target is to reach 80000 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Oh no! I feel sorry for you tyat must of been a realy hard time for you!!!😿 im glade your better and its cool how music can help people.
Always good to see a comment from you @pixresteemer! Thanks for your continued support and awesomesauce!