Comments on: CHRISTA - the paths http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/ Thu, 17 May 2012 22:42:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Deb http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-478 Deb Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:10:35 +0000 http://www.blog.therefugeonline.org/?p=112#comment-478 Christa, Hi, how are you? (toothy smile) I love knowing that as I walk my various paths (some more poopy than others) there is a good chance I'll look up and see you, or another safe and real person who wants to see...and be seen. With so many of my refuge family, it's exciting to know that I don't have to worry about awkward eye contact, putting on a happy face, or not being seen or heard as our paths converge. I'd love to be the kind of person that I want everyone else to be for me. I'm working on it. (quick nervous hug) Christa,

Hi, how are you? (toothy smile)

I love knowing that as I walk my various paths (some more poopy than others) there is a good chance I’ll look up and see you, or another safe and real person who wants to see…and be seen.

With so many of my refuge family, it’s exciting to know that I don’t have to worry about awkward eye contact, putting on a happy face, or not being seen or heard as our paths converge.

I’d love to be the kind of person that I want everyone else to be for me. I’m working on it. (quick nervous hug)

]]> By: mike http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-458 mike Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:18:59 +0000 http://www.blog.therefugeonline.org/?p=112#comment-458 wow girl. you hit the nail right on the head. i work in a retail environment where it is part of my job to greet people. i have had some people answer the question, "how are you?", honestly. sorry to say, in my former life i actually responded to their honest answers (i just lost my spouse, i have a terminal illness, my child is in jail, i'm homeless etc) with a cheery "that's nice". and then trying to do damage control to appear concerned. lol. at celebrate recovery i learned to not only listen for the answer and be actually ready to listen to the answer, but to gently challenge someone who said "i'm doing ok" with the question "are you really?" Christa, i'd much rather stroll down the messy, less traveled, scary, stinky goose poop path, with you, than fake my way, alone, through the emptiness of the slick, plastic, cold uncaring road most traveled. i've noticed that path smells of something too. is it bull.... or maybe death? wow girl. you hit the nail right on the head. i work in a retail environment where it is part of my job to greet people. i have had some people answer the question, “how are you?”, honestly. sorry to say, in my former life i actually responded to their honest answers (i just lost my spouse, i have a terminal illness, my child is in jail, i’m homeless etc) with a cheery “that’s nice”. and then trying to do damage control to appear concerned. lol. at celebrate recovery i learned to not only listen for the answer and be actually ready to listen to the answer, but to gently challenge someone who said “i’m doing ok” with the question “are you really?” Christa, i’d much rather stroll down the messy, less traveled, scary, stinky goose poop path, with you, than fake my way, alone, through the emptiness of the slick, plastic, cold uncaring road most traveled. i’ve noticed that path smells of something too. is it bull…. or maybe death?

]]> By: Katie http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Katie Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:49:09 +0000 http://www.blog.therefugeonline.org/?p=112#comment-454 Thanks for taking that step forward. I love hearing your real answers and know that when you ask how I'm doing, you actually want to know. :) Thanks for taking that step forward. I love hearing your real answers and know that when you ask how I’m doing, you actually want to know. :)

]]> By: Steve http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Steve Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:51:37 +0000 http://www.blog.therefugeonline.org/?p=112#comment-442 Christa, I love how this piece cuts through the 'goose poop' and goes right to the chase. I've often wondered what people would do if one took the time to answer all the rhetorical questions they ask in place of salutation. A look of shock, perhaps? A quick retort followed by a spontanious excuse of why they can't actually stick around for the end (often given as they are walking backwards) of the answer? The possibilities are restricted only by the creativity of the individuals. Your piece does make me wonder which path is really laden with 'goose poop'. I'm grateful to share space in a community with you and Paul. Thanks for sharing, Steve Christa, I love how this piece cuts through the ‘goose poop’ and goes right to the chase. I’ve often wondered what people would do if one took the time to answer all the rhetorical questions they ask in place of salutation.

A look of shock, perhaps? A quick retort followed by a spontanious excuse of why they can’t actually stick around for the end (often given as they are walking backwards) of the answer?

The possibilities are restricted only by the creativity of the individuals.

Your piece does make me wonder which path is really laden with ‘goose poop’.

I’m grateful to share space in a community with you and Paul.

Thanks for sharing, Steve

]]> By: Heather http://blog.therefugeonline.org/2008/07/21/christa-the-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Heather Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:54:01 +0000 http://www.blog.therefugeonline.org/?p=112#comment-438 Christa ... I loved this piece ... and I can so relate! I too remember getting tired of the question to which no one really wanted an answer. I tested this theory by actually telling people on occassion that I was miserable or tired and people just looked at me like I was crazy. Crazy for breaking the rule that you don't answer, you keep walking (away) - you don't actually stay for an answer silly child! It is also tempting too to answer the question with a question - "How are you?"; with "Do you really want to know???" Boy, that makes people think twice! :-) 'Course what makes me the most crazy about the question ... is that I still struggle to honestly answer. Christa … I loved this piece … and I can so relate! I too remember getting tired of the question to which no one really wanted an answer. I tested this theory by actually telling people on occassion that I was miserable or tired and people just looked at me like I was crazy. Crazy for breaking the rule that you don’t answer, you keep walking (away) - you don’t actually stay for an answer silly child!

It is also tempting too to answer the question with a question - “How are you?”; with “Do you really want to know???” Boy, that makes people think twice! :-)

‘Course what makes me the most crazy about the question … is that I still struggle to honestly answer.

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