Philosophical Meanderings

[Ken Anderson]

I don't mean for this thread to become a place for jokes or a repository for memes or things you've found on Facebook.

You don't have to hold a doctorate in philosophy to have philosophical thoughts, and if you're anything like me, you've found that you're having more of them now that you're no longer pursuing a hundred other things that seemed important at the time.

As I grow older and so many people in my life whom I had taken for granted have died or otherwise moved on without me, I have come to realize that so many of the things that I spent my life seeking don't matter nearly as much as relationships.

By relationships, I mean relationships with family or with people who really matter to you, and to whom you matter, or may once have mattered.

There were times in my life when I labeled anyone who I enjoyed being with, and who seemed to enjoy spending time with me, as friends, but the majority of these weren't people who would visit me when I was in the hospital, call to check on me if they hadn't seen me in a while, or keep in touch after one of us had moved.

When I say this, I am not criticizing these people because I have been that to others. We were acquaintances, not friends, and while there's nothing wrong with acquaintances, they don't really matter in your life.

As I grow older, I have come to realize, often too late, that I haven't always acted as if the people who really mattered in my life mattered. I took them for granted, or assumed they'd always be there when I found time for them again.

This was no great epiphany; rather, it has been something that has hit me over the head when, one by one, so many of those who have meant the most to me are no longer here, either through death or because one or the other of us simply got too busy with things that didn't really matter in the long run, and we left each other behind.

 

[Hedi Mitchell]

I think it possible people out grow each other, and tend to move on. People I knew in my younger days ,20's, I would not associate with today. Sometime an acquaintance turns out to be friend later on in life.
Have you ever met someone, talked , maybe did things with them and other people, then moved on, and then much later on
see that person and they tell you, you made an impact on their life from something you had said?
Amazing.

 

[Ed Delabama]

Good morning to all-

Yes, yes, and a thousand times yes.

I have many times had people I worked with in the past come up to me- often in the most unexpected places and times- and they will tell me that I said or did something that helped them. It is most rewarding.

Of course, I had an advantage, don't you see? I was a public school teacher for many years, and helping other people was the basis of my work. I had a lot of chances to help others in my daily work.

But it still feels vey good when I get a recognition and word of gratitude.

you all be safe and keep well- Ed

 

[Mary Stetler]

I made few close friends in my life. And for the most part, I kept in contact with them. Even if only Christmas or birthday cards. But they have dwindled in number as they have passed on. It has been very sad. The few close by I see occasionally and can call when I need to or must go our for lunch. I am lucky to have immediate family close by but they are not quite friends.
But I mentioned to one of my true buds that we need to make new friends as the old leave our circle or we will be left in the circle alone.
The distractions of the internet makes that seem less important. Or that God seems less important. But in the end it is even more important.
As we get older we may not be able to help others as we used to to bridge into friendships. But in aldi's yesterday a voice called from behind me from church with a thought on how I could help with a new small social program she is starting that I actually can do.
I watched a yt about how ecumenical churches are not really Christian. It named a few. But if we follow the Two Great Commandments: Love God and Love our neighbor, at Christ's behest we will be Christians even without a traditional religion. And friends will follow if we do it without thought of personal gain.
But if I sit here drinking coffee all day, not a lot will happen.
; )

 

[Ken Anderson]

Unless you have lost a sibling or close family member early in life, it is likely that, like me, you have taken your brothers and sisters for granted, in that, if you had moved away from the area, you could visit them anytime. I loved my brothers, but we spoke by phone once every year or two, and I would make it back home every few years, but of course, they also had lives of their own, although they still lived in the UP of Michigan, whereas I have lived in Iowa, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Maine, and haven't lived in the UP since before I turned eighteen. Now, two of my four brothers are gone, and the ones who remain are older than me.

Slightly related, I was living in California when my father died. I wasn't anticipating his death, but fortunately, I had flown back to Michigan to visit with him not long before he died. After the funeral, of course, I went back to California. For a long time, although I knew better, I often found myself thinking that I could fly home to see my dad anytime I wanted to. Being removed, his death wasn't as solid as was my mother's death, which I had to live with every day.

By the way, this thread can be used for any philosophical thoughts you might have.