Good Thoughts

[Navarre]

I am often stunned and saddened by the amount of vicious negativity so rampant in the world and reflected on the internet. If I go to imdb to read up on some movie or actor or I read the comments section of just about anything, I find posts that are full of self-righteous sarcasm, animosity, and downright hatred.

Sadly, even my Happy Holidays post only got 5 or so replies. So, being the peace and free-love hippie idealist that I am, I am going to try again.

This thread is both an opportunity and a respectful challenge to post something that is positive, optimistic, and/or appreciative. It doesn't have to be much, just something. I hope in the few minutes it takes to post that you internalize the good feelings that should accompany the message.

I'll start:

I have had a severe personal problem in my life that has cost me every friend and family member I knew (... Wait! That's not the good part!!  LOL). I haven't talked to my former father/mother-in-law in over 2 years and they made it clear they never wanted to see me again.

But for Christmas I received a $100 gift card. The card, store, and amount was inconsequential next to the sudden feeling of knowing they thought of me.

Their generosity and kindness was overwhelming and moved me to tears. The back-story would be necessary to know why this is such a big deal but what matters here is the thought.

And the thought is that there are many good people in the world. And, despite our difference, troubles, and disputes, any person has the opportunity each day to show mercy, kindness, and forgiveness. And that makes me smile just a little.

Please add something of your own here.

[Gaumer]

My Eagles are in the playoffs, maybe a division win...

I got Ultimate Spidey vol. 1 and 2...hardcover. My wife got them for me used, which I love. I always think about the poor sap who gave the book away. But thats not a good thought so...

My sister and my in-laws bought out my hold box (the guys at my LCS have started calling it my storage unit) and it was really fulllll. So thats cool.

I got my wife a ton of books that she's been wanting for awhile (used, of course) and I stumbled across an awesome pop-up book version of The Hobbit for 6 dollars that is in pristine condition and is selling for 35 bucks used on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-3-D-Pop-Up-Adventure/dp/0694014362

I spent some good time with family and friends, and didnt go to the mall once :-)

And I kind of like all of the crappy smacktards chatting up the intarwebz with their condescending nonsense, cause it makes a site like this one that much better.

[Navarre]

And I kind of like all of the crappy smacktards chatting up the intarwebz with their condescending nonsense, cause it makes a site like this one that much better.

I am so with you on that! Sometimes this feels like the only web site on the internet where I can read posts without everyone trying to one-up each other and argue their point ad nauseum.

Sounds like you had a great Christmas too. That's great.

Even though my Christmas was spent alone I know that somewhere out there, someone loves me. Now I just have to introduce myself to every legal female I see until I find her. lol

Another thought:

I love roller-coasters and haven't ridden one in almost 3 years. When the weather is warm and I can do so, I am going to ride an awesome roller-coaster. When you are barreling through a turn at 70 mph it is impossible to worry about life (although perhaps your imminent death comes to mind...heh).

[morpheus11]

My holiday was a little bitter-sweet.  My wife, son, and I got to spend part of the time with my parents, sister, and her in-laws (who I met for the first time).  It was a lot of fun sitting around the table playing cards and if the weather wouldn't have turned bad it probably would have lasted a little longer. 

On Christmas day I got to spend my son's first Christmas (he is 8.5 month old) helping him open gifts and then playing with all of them.  This year was the first year in a long time that I was actually excited to wake up on Christmas day.  It was also the first Christmas I got to spend at my own house. 

The not so good part of the holidays involved my wife's family not being able to make it to our house on Christmas.  B/c of the large amounts of snow in the area they weren't able to make it.  So, this was the first Christmas that my wife didn't spend with her family and that was hard on her.  But, I think Reece (my son) and I did a good job of keeping a smile on her face.

Navarre & Gaumer ~ I am glad you guys had good holidays. 

[Navarre]

I am sure Reece helped your wife have a wonderful Christmas. Though I'm sure she would have wanted to spend his first Christmas with her whole family, one can never feel too lonely when you have your child with you.

Christmas in 2 years or so will be amazing when Reece can anticipate Christmas, open his own presents, and even tell you what he wants. ... It's never too early to get him started on the X-Men.

[morpheus11]

... It's never too early to get him started on the X-Men.

I have started with some Mickey Mouse and Friends comics from Boom and I have started to collecting the new Transformers on-going for when he is a little older.  And then we he can understand and respect the comics he will get to go back and read all the X-men titles that I have.  Which after Christmas is going to get a little bit bigger. 

Don't you worry Navarre he will have all the X-men he can.  And he will understand the greatness that is Kitty and Illyana. 

[Navarre]

Don't you worry Navarre he will have all the X-men he can.  And he will understand the greatness that is Kitty and Illyana. 

Now that is a good thought. We need to teach our sons the important things in life: Working hard, respecting yourself and others, and how deliciously awesome Kitty and Illyana are.

By the time he can read about them, they'd both better be alive, well, and not-lost-in-space-or-Limbo.

[MOSDEF]

My X-mas, was okay. Im in the navy and stationed in Seattle so i cant be with my family but i went to a friend of mine's house with his parents. His dad tried his best(and succeeded) in getting me poop faced drunk off of every liquor in his house lol. Needless to say i fell asleep around 10 and i woke up at around 1 to see my friend Brian in the bathroom covered in hives.

He had an allergic reaction to something we ate and his airway was slowly closing. So i rushed him to the hospital where they took care of him. It took a few hours and by the time we got home i had duty the next day. poo.....

[Navarre]

Where is the "okay" part of that Christmas, MosDef?  lol

[Marvel2099]

My Christmas was pretty cool lots of comics to read and Blu-rays to watch.  Well it was going well until Boxing day where I went to work, fliped out and got suspended from work.  How is it a manager can waltz into a store/company and tell people who have been working there for years how to do their jobs.  So after the third time of telling me how I should handle customers I flipped out, punched the till and stormed off to the back where I was told to leave the store and wait for the phone call asking me to come back (still waiting ).  Other than that this year has been great.

[Navarre]

Wow, Marvel, that sucks.

Where the hell are the "good thoughts" I asked for?!? 

I still have my "People and Their Problems" thread on here.

http://www.majorspoilers.com/smf/index.php/topic,1016.0.html

Maybe you should vent and get it off of your chest. You might feel better.

Sorry, man. Really.

[Marvel2099]

My bad sorry

Well the "good thoughts" this Christmas were good ones.  For example how long will it take to watch the complete box set of Knight Rider, 26 DVD's.  Why does my brothers girl friend keep buying me Spiderman socks and I just got last weeks comics so some more reading to do.  So sorry about the downer and I will try to focus on the good points.

[Navarre]

Hey, no apologies necessary. That implies guilt and regret, which are also negative.

And sometimes (often) we need to get out whatever is bothering us. So feel free to say all you need to about your dismissal.

I started this thread though as a nice little refuge from anything troubling. So hang in there, my friend. I'm pulling for you.

[Gaumer]

Wow!! That sucks Marvel. Managers suck anyways, I dont suggest having one Alas, its unavoidable really. All I can tell you is either eat the humble-pie and when they call and use "the holidays are SO stressful" excuse and hope for the best, or, see this as a grand sign to do something else...either way, I wish you luck.

[Navarre]

I'd been with a company 9 1/2 years, managed it, and had created two prospering departments from scratch. New owners bought the company in mid-October.

On October 23rd I was fired from my job without a 2 weeks notice or reason. The reason was because the company was bought and the new people didn't like the fact that I made as much money as I did. I was basically punished for being too good at my job.

In one day I went from having a solid career in a job I loved to being unemployed with no car, no insurance, no retirement, no computer, and no cell phone (all company-owned).

I have, and am, still struggling to find stability again. But on November 06 I started my own company doing everything I'd done for the other company plus the other services that company offers.

This month my net profit (before upcoming business taxes but after company overhead) is twice what I was making at the other company. Screw Fate!

Adversity is a test of character. It also develops us into the person we choose to become.

So perhaps this is the beginning of a new opportunity.