reo
21d ago
Sorry. No. The two i was referring to were
(1) Passing the Exam and,
(2) reaching the stage of saying "i love you" to a woman.
But I'm not that far gone, it turns out my heart was only shriveled because it was waiting for rain.
Change is the only constant.
reo
21d ago
the sequence of two major events happening back-to-back appears like some sort of things falling into their respective places. maybe they are connected, maybe they aren't.
when you’ve spent enough time losing...
but it is really a good thing that instead of feeling completely cynical or apathy, you still are able to feel things intensely. keeps you human! with warts and all.
significant escalation of the stakes. I’m really hoping this works out...
possibly your saturnian saadhe-saati has finished. or maybe it is in middle. you can only what is in your hands, and cannot always direct the outcomes completely. and it is fun too (at least in retrospect).
girte hai shehsavaar maidan-e-jung me, wo tifl kya girega jo ghutno ke bal chale (only the great soldier on horse can fall, not the toddler who crawls on his knees). even if the soldier falls, then he can get up. again. and again. the forks in life are definitely exciting when you don't know which way you would flow into.
taken enough hits lately
those sound like more elaborate stories. with the kind of writing you do, definitely would be very very interesting. and you do have the next exam planned.
A mishmash of books:
-
Tactical Barbell II (K. Black)- possibly the most useful and practical book on Conditioning. this is IMO a must read.
-
Burn Math Class (Jason Wilkes) - for learning maths. Starts with basic addition rule and takes you to calculus level in a fun, engaging manner with a maturity. It is not kiddish stuff. Great writing as well as great mathing. Unputdownable. I hope this guy churns out more such books.
-
One Rough Man (Brad Taylor): Pure spy-action thrillers. just like Vince Vaughn's (Mitch Rapp series), or the JRs (Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, etc.). Currently, I am on number 9 in the series. (yeah, it isn't brainy stuff matching the main thrust of this forum, or intellectual stuff like in rest of this post and its replies; but i am loving it and recommend it with full force). Whenever there is dull point in my reading, kind of feel lost or too heavy or too disorented, I come back to something like this genre to get the full pleasure of reading for reading purpose, and not for some "improvement" or "great thinking" or "deep understanding". Pure Joy. it is similar in intent to A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, which I liked too, mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
-
The Dragon in the Sea by Frank Herbert: very limited cast, but very tense thriller. early work of Herbert (much before Dune). very enjoyable.
-
Spandrell's Blog: from first to last article. Including Bioleninism. Lot of interesting stories and a different, ?more realistic, worldview. Very engaging style. Highly recommend. Had read about him in this forum only, about his essays (don't remember the original post).
-
The Cicada and The Bird - a new translation of Chuang Tzu (Christopher Tricker): the only book which initiated me properly into the stories of Chuang Tzu (/Zhuangzi). It is a reorganized translation and explanation of the seven Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu. Plus some other stories from later chapters. IMO, his take is the single best introduction to Chuang Tzu (who arguably is the greatest philosopher).
-
Whatever and Submission by Michel Houellebecq (English translations): former is a depressing read, and I didn't feel very good about it. but the writing is powerful and hooks you up. Latter is a very famous novel about a fictional story of how islam will take over France- it does have the feel of Whatever and the plot is very realistic, makes it very readable and definitely must-read in a CW context also.
reo
27d ago
How do people write such long and well-written posts in the CW (or elsewhere in this forum)? What is the mindset and process?
Personally for me, it takes a long time to understand the various things said in a long post, and then to assimilate with my understanding, to put myself in the place of the author to understand that viewpoint, and then to assess both sides (if they are incongruent) - and then to write a reply back equally well and then do this back and forth. Sorry, i am lost. If someone can clear this for me, I will be very grateful. [it is a bit 'embarrassing to ask' question, because in general, i consider myself to be fairly smart, even prideful].
reo
28d ago
Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
will say few things:
- don't hold back yourself (depraved prose is good beginning).
- such uber rides are rides of a lifetime (whatever may happen in the future).
- don't psychoanalyse deeply - let yourself flow. not yourself, and not her. not past, not future.
reo
28d ago
- very well written - engaging, delicious, could not leave it midway.
- horrible themes to write about so openly. horrible because they have so much truth in them. reality about human nature but all the bad ones about it. manipulation, lies, secrets, no-trust. but still very humanly connected.
- i was constantly thinking about SMH_the_writer, SMH_the_character, Girl, and Me (the Reader). Dogs the central axis of the story. While the Poor and Rich guys are the pillars to swing between for the Girl. The dynamics of SMH writer and character was most fascinating. Because it constantly reminded me of my own boredom, my own looking around for people or other's life situations in distress, so that i can try to be the white knight, the rescuer, the solution provider, the philosophical guru who has all the answers for others (but almost none for myself). And it was a painful reminder.
- I didn't want to post earlier because i was trying to process those feelings rather than try to be the knowledgeable / philosophical / more smarter (I am not, not, not) person who could point out the flaws of SMH the character or the girl or the two guys. and ultimately, i went back (to try) to understand myself by my own reactions and feelings and thoughts while reading this.
- i can only thank you for showing me, the reader, a mirror. (ignore if this doesn't make much sense).
i feel that is a deeply tender phrase. to me, all the previous exchanges and phrases suggest to me that:
so, look at things from a holistic point - you are on a strong footing and you should forge your path ahead as you feel right with eyes and ears and heart open.
let the shriveled heart drink rain; but never forget that your roots are green.
More options
Context Copy link