"In life's last moments, open a window"

[Shaker]

Thoughtful and touching essay by a doctor on nature's ability to calm and to heal even amongst the terminally ill: https://tinyurl.com/y8m6frm7

[ippy]

Thoughtful and touching essay by a doctor on nature's ability to calm and to heal even amongst the terminally ill: https://tinyurl.com/y8m6frm7

I'll go with most of this, I can see myself having similar feelings about the outside world.

Regards ippy

[Robbie]

Me too.

[Rhiannon]

I can relate. In my darkest times nature got me through.

Well, there will be other blackbirds. Their songs will be pretty similar and it will all be fine.’

How I felt - feel - about clouds.

[Shaker]

I can relate. In my darkest times nature got me through.

Well, there will be other blackbirds. Their songs will be pretty similar and it will all be fine.’

How I felt - feel - about clouds.

I can relate to how you relate. Unfortunately, humans being the scummy species that they are, the nature that was almost literally on my doorstep* four years ago is now nature no more, and a small but intensely lovely (and not just to me) area of quiet greenery, goldfinches, kestrels, speckled wood butterflies, foxes and mice is brick, concrete and tarmac. Sic transit gloria mundi. 

And yes ... clouds are amongst the blessings of nature. There's always those ... if you can look high enough above the rooftops where there were no rooves before.

* By about fifteen paces, if that.

[Robbie]

NS:- ...a small but intensely lovely (and not just to me) area of quiet greenery, goldfinches, kestrels, speckled wood butterflies, foxes and mice is brick, concrete and tarmac. Sic transit gloria mundi. 

And yes ... clouds are amongst the blessings of nature. There's always those ... if you can look high enough above the rooftops where there were no rooves before.
-----

That is quite beautiful.
I too love clouds, I could recline in the garden or in any wide space and gaze at them for hours.  Very soothing.

[Nearly Sane]

NS:- ...a small but intensely lovely (and not just to me) area of quiet greenery, goldfinches, kestrels, speckled wood butterflies, foxes and mice is brick, concrete and tarmac. Sic transit gloria mundi. 

And yes ... clouds are amongst the blessings of nature. There's always those ... if you can look high enough above the rooftops where there were no rooves before.
-----

That is quite beautiful.
I too love clouds, I could recline in the garden or in any wide space and gaze at them for hours.  Very soothing.

Agree, but one of Shaker's not mine.

[Robbie]

Whoops I did it again. 

[Rhiannon]

I do this thing with clouds, when I feel stressed. I remind myself that there have always been clouds over the planet, and always will. Then I imagine myself above them, looking down on the cloud formations, and feeling small. Feeling small is good.

[Shaker]

Humans cutting themselves down to size is always good. Most people in most places most of the time are incredibly bad at it; any reminder of our ultimate insignificance is a good thing. You need only look at the reception still given to Darwin across vast swathes of humanity to see this. The creationists, whose entire worldview is predicated upon a denial of this, are a lost cause and beyond anyone's aid; natural disasters can do it sometimes, though. Human humility, so easily forgotten, is a welcome thing. It's a shame that painful events bring this home to most. There are easier and more thoughtful ways.

[Rhiannon]

I'm not sure that tragic events to always help us to see the smallness - I think a lot of people notice anyway. Or, if that is how it is, maybe it happens for people that are that way inclined. I've noticed that the very religious still tend to hold onto being god's chosen children even in the face of unimaginable suffering - very often suffering that isn't theirs.

[Nearly Sane]

Humans cutting themselves down to size is always good. Most people in most places most of the time are incredibly bad at it; any reminder of our ultimate insignificance is a good thing. You need only look at the reception still given to Darwin across vast swathes of humanity to see this. The creationists, whose entire worldview is predicated upon a denial of this, are a lost cause and beyond anyone's aid; natural disasters can do it sometimes, though. Human humility, so easily forgotten, is a welcome thing. It's a shame that painful events bring this home to most. There are easier and more thoughtful ways.

Is it? In one sense doesn't humility create the tragedy of the commons? That my single small actions must be so inconsequential that they are unimportant?

[Rhiannon]

Is it? In one sense doesn't humility create the tragedy of the commons? That my single small actions must be so inconsequential that they are unimportant?

I can only speak for myself, but feeling small helps me to get a grip. That moves me away from self pre-occupation so that I get some kind of perspective. And what that leads to is the knowledge that all I cam do is be responsible for my little corner of the universe, the choices that I make. An awareness of one's smallness doesn't mean that you no longer have a conscience. I guess I'm aware that my small life touches some people who matter to me more than anything, and so I aim to be the (highly imperfect) best mum, partner, friend and daughter that I can. And beyond that, make choices that fall in line with my (imperfect) personal ethical code. Which doesn't include screwing other people over.

[Roses]

I hope I am well out of it and not realise my last moments have come.

[Shaker]

Is it? In one sense doesn't humility create the tragedy of the commons? That my single small actions must be so inconsequential that they are unimportant?

That depends on how much historical perspective you have - some have it, some don't. In the words of Arthur Balfour, nothing matters very much and in the end nothing matters at all - in the end here meaning in the ultra-long term. In that sense then yes, anything and everything we do is ultimately inconsequential and unimportant. However, things that we do right here and now do have an impact and can effect changes, so ironically short-term thinking, usually written off as A Very Bad Thing, here can work for the good. The planet's climate for example will be nobody's concern in another half a million years, but the things we do or don't do now have an impact now.

[Nearly Sane]

That depends on how much historical perspective you have - some have it, some don't. In the words of Arthur Balfour, nothing matters very much and in the end nothing matters at all - in the end here meaning in the ultra-long term. In that sense then yes, anything and everything we do is ultimately inconsequential and unimportant. However, things that we do right here and now do have an impact and can effect changes, so ironically short-term thinking, usually written off as A Very Bad Thing, here can work for the good. The planet's climate for example will be nobody's concern in another half a million years, but the things we do or don't do now have an impact now.

Yes, I agree. I was just thinking that It's not just about humility, rather it's a combination of things. As for the rest, here's a viewpoint I prepared earlier


http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=11217.msg570822#msg570822

[Rhiannon]

Yes, I agree. I was just thinking that It's not just about humility, rather it's a combination of things. As for the rest, here's a viewpoint I prepared earlier


http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=11217.msg570822#msg570822

Blimey. A blast from the past. Outrider, BA, Jack Knave, Samuel, even FastFlint getting a mention.

[Rhiannon]

Yes, I agree. I was just thinking that It's not just about humility, rather it's a combination of things. As for the rest, here's a viewpoint I prepared earlier


http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=11217.msg570822#msg570822

For me the humility is essential for good mental health. I don't think it leads to one thing or another exactly, but as I said before, it just helps me to get a bloody grip.

[Nearly Sane]

Blimey. A blast from the past. Outrider, BA, Jack Knave, Samuel, even FastFlint getting a mention.

Some of whom I miss a lot..

[Rhiannon]

Some of whom I miss a lot..

Yes. Quite a few posters that I miss. 

[Roses]

Blimey. A blast from the past. Outrider, BA, Jack Knave, Samuel, even FastFlint getting a mention.

I was pleased when one of those five posters stopped posting on this forum. 

[Robbie]

A result for you then.
Won't ask which one not that I know them.
(I've opened the link, read and now sit on the fence  )

[Roses]

A result for you then.
Won't ask which one not that I know them.
(I've opened the link, read and now sit on the fence  )

No point in asking as I am not saying.

[Robbie]

Don't wanna know anyway . Blimey I'd be the last one to ask about something like that, petty arguments irritate me.

[Roses]

Don't wanna know anyway . Blimey I'd be the last one to ask about something like that, petty arguments irritate me.

Then why bother commenting?