[Klara]

Hello Lil Miz Sweet,

I'm not an expert (yet????) on computer ways and at this point in time I'm guessing these identity names are taken as our real ones were already taken?? I'm still perplexed why we can't address each other with real names, but it's still a fun game -one site I signed up for my real name was taken and I sat there a long time thinking what name identifies me - challenging!!!!

Each of us, obviously are different and learn differently - my own experience, I fell into a cooking class series and am most grateful for it. Since then I have taken other classes, acquired many many books, been on many sites, been to a few local week long seminars and organized activities for local people interested.

I often said to myself if I were free (without family) I would go to some great teachers, no matter where - or live in the environment where I would only eat mb. I have friends who have done that and part of me has been quite envious.

But the real truth is I think perhaps for all of us, learning slowly is as manymoons put it the better way to learn - to really let lessons sink in and become part of you and let change happen slowly (remember the tortoise and the hare!!!) - again, with the qualifier that you are not in a deadly disease situation which does require more urgency.

I also felt if those around me were mb I'd be more encouraged, so I started weekly meetings with potlucks, which went on for three years. Previous to that I had organized monthly meetings for a couple years.

I cannot honestly say if those helped me or not - cooking classes definitely did at the beginning.

But at this stage in my adventure in life, I am finding other kinds of classes also help me - and feel they were tailored made for me in my search for spirituality - those classes deal more with letting go of what is not needed in my life - a very difficult lesson and will take me I see a long time to learn. There is so so so much out there, alot still tempts me, but I realize alot is not at all what I need.

What you mentioned, being happy with where we are, is also not so easy. Isn't that funny, that I am struggling just for that - to let go of wanting more and more and trying to truly appreciate and be grateful for where I am and what I already have. Yet at the same time, we all need to grow - it's all balance, again being both appreciative and stil searching for more.

And dealing with time is also one of the biggies.

For me learning not to try to do it all is the major influence. I am still working on eating my meals without needing to also read. Funny, seems so simple, yet isn't. Am working on being more in the Now, totally. That can be done no matter what road you choose to take.

And now that I've said all that, I still would encourage you to find others, either friends or teachers. Is there a bulletin board where you can look for others? Even if I haven't learned alot from friends, it was pleasant.

Klara