tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post6625349399734966066..comments2024-02-24T18:21:32.681-07:00Comments on It Just Gets Stranger: AftermathELIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11231200183264672395noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-65854900153876160322016-06-23T21:52:30.302-06:002016-06-23T21:52:30.302-06:00I am [un]lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of ...I am [un]lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of people who love their opinions, and sometimes I get lost in the swell of it. And with life recently, it's been hard to piece anything together other than: "Oh..." (+ helplessness). Helplessness and complete powerlessness against those older and "wiser" than me. <br /><br />But I thank you for your writing. I think it's more helpful, to have someone openly admit to the feeling of helplessness. It feels less like I'm alone in my walk and more like we're all working through this together - even if it's just now, until we find and take our separate paths. <br /><br />I appreciate you and your kindness in your writings. Sincerely. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-1772861666258904632016-06-21T09:34:17.818-06:002016-06-21T09:34:17.818-06:00Jimmy Fallon's thoughts on the tragedy summed ...Jimmy Fallon's thoughts on the tragedy summed it up wonderfully in my opinion. "Our country is built on the idea that we don't all agree." I don't think the comments section will let me post the link to the video, but I recommend looking it up. Also, Brene Brown talks about the Shame epidemic in our country which has eliminated the space for political discourse. Political conversations now resonate "I'm right, you're wrong, shut-up". I don't know what the answer is, but we have a lot of work to do. Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17118862266986392177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-70226285638471992642016-06-21T09:29:51.911-06:002016-06-21T09:29:51.911-06:00I love this.I love this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-65448355770837747692016-06-21T09:27:51.975-06:002016-06-21T09:27:51.975-06:00I think people are here all for different reasons....I think people are here all for different reasons. I enjoy it all. I came because of a more serious post you shared, but I love the funny stuff. The thing is this is your site and we are all just here to enjoy whatever you write. You be you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-1726903145385940152016-06-21T09:26:45.739-06:002016-06-21T09:26:45.739-06:00I came for the funny, but stayed for the heartfelt...I came for the funny, but stayed for the heartfelt. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-12067484275459445942016-06-21T09:26:27.554-06:002016-06-21T09:26:27.554-06:00Thank you for this.Thank you for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-3563150298393720262016-06-20T19:36:09.831-06:002016-06-20T19:36:09.831-06:00To an extent, I agree with you. I found Stranger b...To an extent, I agree with you. I found Stranger because of the humor, and that's definitely what I look forward to when I see a new post. However, Eli is an excellent writer, and I can't help but love the beautiful, poignant, or thought-provoking posts that occasionally fall amidst the humor and the jokes.<br /><br />Keep being you, Eli. That's why we keep coming back.Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04488463268751586446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-71474499846404629112016-06-20T09:08:02.283-06:002016-06-20T09:08:02.283-06:00i'll be honest, i come here for your funny stu...i'll be honest, i come here for your funny stuff, for an escape. Obviously you can post anything you want on here, but your funny stuff is why you have a following beyond your friends and associates. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-21770280220837657062016-06-20T09:00:05.915-06:002016-06-20T09:00:05.915-06:00Jolyn's writing is beautiful and so valuable. ...Jolyn's writing is beautiful and so valuable. Sometimes it helps to just take a step back and think about how we can be more compassionate, even and especially while advocating for something we believe in. Thank you so much for this. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-84383087366702327762016-06-20T08:37:35.348-06:002016-06-20T08:37:35.348-06:00I listened to Jolyn's piece on Strangerville a...I listened to Jolyn's piece on Strangerville as I walked the dog last night. As I listened to the beauty of what she was saying I was thinking of the people who will, as they often do, respond negatively and state that Jolyn is being naive and idealistic. <br /><br />In some ways I agree. But I don't see this as bad. <br /><br />Part of the reason that we're where we are at in this country is because so many of us have succumbed to the jadedness around us. We've become cynical and disbelieving in the small miracles we see everyday. Instead of seeing people as inherently good - we see them as inherently bad. We've become paranoid that everyone is out to get us or do us wrong. <br /><br />What my take-away from this piece was is that we can all do that. It's a choice we have. But we also have to choice to unzip our hearts. As Jolyn noted - it's not a matter of simply loving people, but a responsibility to fight for what is right and to help people remember what makes this world good. <br /><br />Hate breeds hate. I consider myself a Christian but I also believe in karma. I don't think this is contrary to my beliefs - Indeed, Luke 6:38 notes "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." If we embrace hate and judgement, that is what we will get back. It's a vicious cycle that will and has spiraled out of control. Just look at who our front-running presidential candidates are. <br /><br />I also don't believe that one person doesn't make a difference. Eli - I responded in the comments and emailed you about your previous post. I noted in the email that we don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on the issue - and that's true for a myriad of political and religious aspects of our individual belief systems (as far as I can tell from your blog posts). But I respect the manner in which you discuss these issues and hope and pray you continue to do so. <br /><br />You make a difference.<br /><br /><br />Nicole Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10551058649175782447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-48469476032229143892016-06-20T06:27:52.743-06:002016-06-20T06:27:52.743-06:00Personally, I prefer to hear your true thoughts, r...Personally, I prefer to hear your true thoughts, rather than something "politically correct" or watered down by evasions. If we don't happen to agree with you, that's okay, because sometimes a different perspective helps us to open more to an idea, or a possibility. What other way can we grow or learn, except to read and hear of things outside our own experience or belief? Stay true to yourself. And thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-71776956150492302772016-06-19T22:01:27.225-06:002016-06-19T22:01:27.225-06:00If no one talks about the hard topics everyone wil...If no one talks about the hard topics everyone will just go around thinking the opposing view is (insert demeaning adjectives here(on a side note, thank you Mad Libs for teaching me what an adjective is🙌)) and never consider the valid points that EACH side has.<br /><br />At some point SOMEONE has to open their mouth and share their point of view. Do we hope it's done with respect to the holder of an opposing view? Of course. Will passion, and anger, and frustration, and hopelessness at times make words come out with a less than constructive tone? Of course. But, from there we can sift through those tricky emotions and get to a place of understanding even if there is little chance of agreement. <br /><br />The point is, we'll never even get there if everyone keeps silent because they know not everyone will agree with them. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09988028862929202457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-73442349426313372252016-06-19T17:42:00.651-06:002016-06-19T17:42:00.651-06:00Thank you and Jolyn for this heartfelt post and me...Thank you and Jolyn for this heartfelt post and message. It really touched me and has made me think about how I can be kinder and open my own heart. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964698794691718038.post-31476740165059082652016-06-19T16:58:33.671-06:002016-06-19T16:58:33.671-06:00I responded to that blog post with my direct thoug...I responded to that blog post with my direct thoughts. But I really want to make sure you know that I respect your views, and your right to voice them. And most of all, that even if I disagree with you, and call you out harshly in the comments, I believe that you MUST post those kinds of blogs and feel good about it. THAT is what this country is about. Please don't ever view any of the comments, however they cut you, as a statement or evidence that you shouldn't blog about certain topics, or in the style that is you. Bleed, cry, and laugh on these pages. That's what they're for. Stay real. Connect with us. Make us think. Make us talk it out. We need that. :)Angela Luceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01084569872782426350noreply@blogger.com