Smilie's Diary for the Pilgrimers

in_need_of_direction

What IS smilie doing?

Upsidedown_Bear

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

What IS smilie doing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe93CLbHjxQ

in_need_of_direction

Of course.

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

greenbee

Thanks Smiley. I needed that!

mothernerd

Just watched a 'flow' video of people surfing and snowboarding down a mountain (and yes one man was dropped off by helicopter at the top of his chosen peak). It looked amazing but it makes me deeply uncomfortable. In the straight pictures (not the close ups and turning the camera over on itself) the slopes were between 33 degrees and near vertical and he just dropped off the end several times down to the next slope (don't know if the 180 degree backflips are just more showing off or whether they slow his descent).

I know it isn't for me. I can't do the slide at the park. Did it when I was three and still remember the sick feeling of being at the bottom whilst your stomach is still at the top. No adrenaline rush at all. Could do the little wooden slide at infant school but never managed the big one. I am very proud that none of my children are afraid of slides (I think lots of the things that bother me were passed on by my mother sometimes rather than admit we couldn't afford it). The opening credits of Braveheart with ariel shots over the lochs and glens of (supposedly) Scotland (but most of the film was done in Ireland with the Irish army as extras) made me queasy.

I don't do most fairground rides either and remember having to stand with my back to the fence waiting for my 8 year old to come off a loop the loop roller coaster. I have been on the two littlest roller coasters - the 'Alice in wonderland' type with the big apple and the small train type (both about as high as a house) when my youngest was too small to go on on his own and the other two refused to go on 'baby rides'. Over and over we rode.

Probably the most adventurous thing I have done is climb the side of a quarry in Jesus sandals when I was 25, racing against my (then future now ex) b-i-l who's nine years younger than me and I was better than my male cousins at scrambling up pit rucks even when handicapped by 'Sunday best' shoes (black patent leather with non grip soles).

'Flow' is when you are completely immersed in an activity and luckily for me I can get it from other activities such as dancing, sex (yeah I think I remember that) and quiet activities such as reading - probably kneading dough as well.

Flow is this month's topic for my year of happiness course. Well I have got to have a better chance of getting to grips with it than last month's 'relationships'. Over 3/4 of it was devoted to marriage/primary romantic relationship with a bit tagged on about getting rid of 'toxic friends.

Now I know that statistically happy couples live longer but for women of a certain age (I'm 57) it's not very likely or for some of us desirable. Men die sooner, they tend to marry women younger than themselves and when divorced run after women even younger. If you rule out the alcoholics, druggies and gamblers and the men 'settling' for a nursemaid there isn't a lot left.

I have had some wonderful relationships and odd moments of companionship and remember them fondly but am not prepared to set up house with anyone out of fear of being alone. I'm no oil painting so no-one's fighting over me (although my youngest said to me last week that 'being beautiful on the inside is what counts).

I prefer to treat this in the same way as all those "children with two parents at home get better exam grades". When you actually read the figures one dedicated parent will get you an average 45% exam grade, the second parent will get you another 1 1/2 to 3 points. My children were above average anyway so we did without the second parent input.

I'd rather be happily single than be in one of those couples whose only pleasure in life seems to be making one another miserable. I also wrote a note to the 'year of happiness' people to complain (my comment is still awaiting mediation).

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

mothernerd

Sorry if I sounded as though I was ranting. I think we should all applaud good partnerships. I just resent being made to feel that I am of no importance whatsoever simply because I do not have a significant other. What about relationships with a parent whose age means that roles are now being reversed and managing the transition to a more equal footing when your 'children' reach maturity (to varying degrees). Really think they made lots of mistakes.

Love the smilie. He could have a partner or could be playing by himself using a wall.

Upsidedown_Bear

mothernerd wrote: »

Sorry if I sounded as though I was ranting. I think we should all applaud good partnerships. I just resent being made to feel that I am of no importance whatsoever simply because I do not have a significant other. What about relationships with a parent whose age means that roles are now being reversed and managing the transition to a more equal footing when your 'children' reach maturity (to varying degrees). Really think they made lots of mistakes.

Love the smilie. He could have a partner or could be playing by himself using a wall.

It didn't sound like you were ranting and I get what you're saying :A
Smilie wants to know if you want a game of tennis?

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.