Posts: 1,175
10/17/09 2:14 P

It was VERY interesting, Susan. I have many, many of the same feelings and experiences (which might explain why we're often in the same Spark Places ).

My first drink was about 10 years ago, in my later 30s, but I think I shall enjoy wine for as long as I can sip! Fortunately, only a handful of 'drunk' because, as you said, they are NOT fun.

How wonderful that you will have a place to dance in your new home!

Change = Good.



Jazzie

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10/17/09 2:01 P

I've been short of time or I would have responded to this thread earlier. I really like the topic because I entertain these type of thoughts fairly regularly.

There are many aspects of me that have changed over the years and I'm coming up on 50 years now so I have had a lot of time to change.

I started out eating solid food... hahaha. JK!

No really, as a youngster I knew nothing about nutrition and neither did my family. I knew nothing about exercise: the benefits, or how to exercise to benefit without injuring. I was raised basically as a vegetarian though we did eat meat occasionally. I never thought to question the existence of a deity, it just was, and christianity was the only way to be (if you were a decent person). I was also raised to be completely unaware of my body (until my brother told me I was fat when I was about 15- I wasn't). I was raised to be a non-drinker, non-smoker, non-dancer.

I have spent the last 30 or so years reading a huge amount about nutrition, exercise, and weight control. With as much reading as I've done there is still a lot out there that I've never even heard of (every time I hear of something new it reinforces how much I don't know).

I am no longer a vegetarian (that change may or may not be for the better).

I am no longer unaware of my body. Every time I go shopping for clothes I'm hyper-aware of my body. I'm not sure this is a good change but I can't seem to help it.

I know how to exercise to build muscle, how to exercise to aerobically get in shape, how to exercise without hurting myself, and how to exercise to lose weight. I know why exercise is important and I like to let my family members know that they can increase their longevity and quality of life by having an exercise program.

Sometime during college I slowly came to the conclusion that I am not naturally a religious person nor did I want to assume there was a being up in the sky that was watching over me. As comforting as that can be I just can't believe it.

I had my first drink at the age of 24 and it turned into my first drunk. There are, fortunately, not many drunk times because I really don't like how it feels but I do enjoy some wine or beer now and then. Probably less than once a year I might actually have a mixed drink. This is unacceptable behavior to the church I grew up in.

I now think that dancing is natural. When I was 15 years old my cousin came over and put some pop music on and we danced around in the living room for probably 45 minutes. I never had so much fun! I frequently dance around at home, alone or with my bf or parrot. Clubbing is also fun. My bf and I were really into ballroom dancing until we started building our house and for now it's put on hold. But we have a dance floor in the house that's being built and I expect to have many dance parties in the not-too-distant future.

Other changes? Being married for 19 years then divorce. Adapting to another person for the last 9 years (a big change). Moving all around the country (and out of the country, I lived in Colombia, SA when I was 6 years old).

Actually, I don't even think I'm the same person at all anymore. I've heard it said that all of our cells are turned over every ____ months (I don't remember how long) and I think this could have something to do with our changes as we get exposed to different environmental factors and we adjust. Every time we adjust we come out just a little different.

If you're still reading, thanks, I hope you've found this interesting. Sorry it's so long. I didn't actually plan it, but now I know why I waited until I had some good solid time to post this.

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10/13/09 8:06 P

Dishonest? Do you mean, your demons have stayed the same? That's what I think about myself..

Posts: 12,385
10/12/09 8:30 P

That's a toughie. Whenever I feel like I've changed and made improvements on myself, I fall into the same stupid, dishonest behavior. The only thing that changes is what I'm being dishonest about.

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10/12/09 3:31 P

This might not be cohesive or coherent. What an essay question! Since it's not for a grade, I'll just fling it out and not refine or revise. I do like the older me better - though more change is coming.

I've managed to be exhilarated and excited about having to move, when for years I would have panicked and done anything to stay put.

My hub's preserving his job, but we both have other reasons for being glad to go.

I've renewed contacts with a high school friend and a cousin, and am dreading-fearing getting through the Thanksgiving visits while setting politics and religion aside.

It's part of my new strategy of planning to get through my mom's older years, when I may have to go stay with her in my hometown.

I'm not satisfied with my answer but maybe I'll come back to it!







Edited by: SWIFTSEATURTLE at: 10/12/2009 (15:33)

Posts: 3,328
10/10/09 4:13 P

Thanks, Penguin, I see the point of your post! I thought of my changes and wasn't getting anywhere at first - - but now I am. More later when I can condense it into something coherent!

Posts: 1,175
10/6/09 1:05 P

Wow have I changed!!! It's scary to contemplate. The nice way to put it was that I used to be conservative. The truth is, I used to be prejudiced, bigotted, and intolerant. I was young and a victim of my upbringing, but that's the way I see it.

On a happier note, I have always exercised and tried to eat healthy, but my knowledge of what is healthy has changed. More clean eating, less processed foods.

I like the older me!

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10/6/09 12:05 P

In what ways have you changed during your life? The crowd I hang out with is very different than the ones I used to know. I see the world with more nuance than I used to. I drink more water than I did growing up. I eat yogurt and tofu and edamame. I exercise regularly and have for most of the past 25 years. I've become an urban dweller.

I'm asking because I think most people probably have evidence in their own lives of how they have changed, and identifying them may help in showing that more change is possible.

Comments? Takers? Detractors?

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