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Found a file of picoisms
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<blockquote data-quote="DammitJanet" data-source="post: 122749" data-attributes="member: 1514"><p>Here is some insight you gave us when the board was in one of its temporary uproars.</p><p></p><p>I've not been here as much lately as I should, nor as much as I wish I were. I've been just a tad busy with some personal stuff.</p><p></p><p>But, I thought I would drop in and have a quick fireside chat, so to speak, with a couple thousand of my closest friends.</p><p></p><p>I find this place to be astonishing, remarkable, almost miraculous, for a variety of reasons. The first, of course, and most remarkable is that there is such instant support and honest validation that each of us can usually receive when we come here. Most of us arrived here the first time, in a fairly fragile condition. We were confused, frightened, even downright scared, of our children, our communities, maybe even ourselves. Because of our children's difficulties, we found ourselves living in a world that was becoming openly dangerous and hostile.</p><p></p><p>And then we found this place. And many of us, I know, were immediately wrapped in the warm arms of total strangers who were ready to extend themselves, to hear us, to comfort us, to advocate for our children, and to educate us so we could advocate for ourselves.</p><p></p><p>There was no membership fee. There were no barriers to our access. There were no walls dividing us or signs on doors telling anyone that they were not welcome in this place or that space.</p><p></p><p>We were home.</p><p></p><p>Imagine that. Stop and think about it. Over two thousand people in one place, and it is home.</p><p></p><p>Well, ladies, (and gentle men), this place is what it is because of all the kindness, the willingness of people to be considerate, even if they do not necessarily agree with each other. I know. Because I am a person who has had a life long struggle with tact. It is just not my nature to be tactful. So Blondie ( my sister) has had to do many many lessons on remedial manners on me. And I have had to struggle to be tactful in situations where my instinct was to level the playing field with a rototiller, and let God sort them out!</p><p></p><p>I have come here tonight to ask you, all of you, to please forgive me my harsh tongue, which at times must hurt the feelings of the more sensitive folk.</p><p></p><p>I also ask you all, each of you, to remember that there are so very many of us, and we each have come here, imperfect beings that we are, to ask for community guidance and support. I don't ask that people agree with me just to make me feel good. I hope that's not what we are about! I do ask that we each carefully think about how our words, imperfectly delivered in this way, may be taken, and that we be kind to each other.</p><p></p><p>Some of you are very religious, and to those who are not Christian, I beg your forgiveness and indulgence here for a moment. But to those who are Christian, I want you to think about this for a minute. I am unable to recall a single instance except in the temple when he kicked the moneychangers out, when Christ was rude, unkind, or nasty to anyone. He made every effort to look for the good or even the potential for good, in every person he encountered. He brought out the good in them, not with criticism, but with kindness. He taught them strength, not by beating down on them, but by shouldering part of their burden. He taught them compassion, not by making them miserable, but by carrying their misery away with him.</p><p></p><p>So, my dear friends, I ask you this night, as kind folk who all have felt confused, lost, exhausted, overwhelmed, angry, betrayed, or afraid, to be especially aware in the coming days and weeks, of how important it is that this place be a place of kind words and open minds. I am not asking anyone to lie, to withhold the truth. But I am asking each of you, as you read and write in this place, to ask yourself, "Is this the best way I can say this? Does this really need to be said? Will this do anyone out there some harm?"</p><p></p><p>I thank you each for being here for each other. And just as I grew up in a small midwestern town with fewer people than we have here, there were divisions and "groups" in that community. Not everyone agreed with each other. But, there was a sense of belonging to each other that prevailed, especially during sports events at the local school! LOL</p><p></p><p>Since I don't know how to play cyber basketball, I guess we're going to have to settle for this. The best darned writers workshop outside of Iowa! (Inside joke, sorry) And in that light, do no harm, and please, be kind to each other.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DammitJanet, post: 122749, member: 1514"] Here is some insight you gave us when the board was in one of its temporary uproars. I've not been here as much lately as I should, nor as much as I wish I were. I've been just a tad busy with some personal stuff. But, I thought I would drop in and have a quick fireside chat, so to speak, with a couple thousand of my closest friends. I find this place to be astonishing, remarkable, almost miraculous, for a variety of reasons. The first, of course, and most remarkable is that there is such instant support and honest validation that each of us can usually receive when we come here. Most of us arrived here the first time, in a fairly fragile condition. We were confused, frightened, even downright scared, of our children, our communities, maybe even ourselves. Because of our children's difficulties, we found ourselves living in a world that was becoming openly dangerous and hostile. And then we found this place. And many of us, I know, were immediately wrapped in the warm arms of total strangers who were ready to extend themselves, to hear us, to comfort us, to advocate for our children, and to educate us so we could advocate for ourselves. There was no membership fee. There were no barriers to our access. There were no walls dividing us or signs on doors telling anyone that they were not welcome in this place or that space. We were home. Imagine that. Stop and think about it. Over two thousand people in one place, and it is home. Well, ladies, (and gentle men), this place is what it is because of all the kindness, the willingness of people to be considerate, even if they do not necessarily agree with each other. I know. Because I am a person who has had a life long struggle with tact. It is just not my nature to be tactful. So Blondie ( my sister) has had to do many many lessons on remedial manners on me. And I have had to struggle to be tactful in situations where my instinct was to level the playing field with a rototiller, and let God sort them out! I have come here tonight to ask you, all of you, to please forgive me my harsh tongue, which at times must hurt the feelings of the more sensitive folk. I also ask you all, each of you, to remember that there are so very many of us, and we each have come here, imperfect beings that we are, to ask for community guidance and support. I don't ask that people agree with me just to make me feel good. I hope that's not what we are about! I do ask that we each carefully think about how our words, imperfectly delivered in this way, may be taken, and that we be kind to each other. Some of you are very religious, and to those who are not Christian, I beg your forgiveness and indulgence here for a moment. But to those who are Christian, I want you to think about this for a minute. I am unable to recall a single instance except in the temple when he kicked the moneychangers out, when Christ was rude, unkind, or nasty to anyone. He made every effort to look for the good or even the potential for good, in every person he encountered. He brought out the good in them, not with criticism, but with kindness. He taught them strength, not by beating down on them, but by shouldering part of their burden. He taught them compassion, not by making them miserable, but by carrying their misery away with him. So, my dear friends, I ask you this night, as kind folk who all have felt confused, lost, exhausted, overwhelmed, angry, betrayed, or afraid, to be especially aware in the coming days and weeks, of how important it is that this place be a place of kind words and open minds. I am not asking anyone to lie, to withhold the truth. But I am asking each of you, as you read and write in this place, to ask yourself, "Is this the best way I can say this? Does this really need to be said? Will this do anyone out there some harm?" I thank you each for being here for each other. And just as I grew up in a small midwestern town with fewer people than we have here, there were divisions and "groups" in that community. Not everyone agreed with each other. But, there was a sense of belonging to each other that prevailed, especially during sports events at the local school! LOL Since I don't know how to play cyber basketball, I guess we're going to have to settle for this. The best darned writers workshop outside of Iowa! (Inside joke, sorry) And in that light, do no harm, and please, be kind to each other. [/QUOTE]
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