For those who might ask “What does that even mean?”, this is what I’m reading that triggered the question: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transformative-experience/
Recent can mean the most recent you can remember, even if it was years ago. Interested in what y’all might say.
Something has always been wrong with my brain. When I was a kid it was called “ADD”, somewhere along the line they added an “H”. Various medications were tried when I was younger to try and combat this, but they either didn’t help or would cause other more serious problems. As a kid nobody had to tell me not to do drugs, because the drugs given to me made me feel terrible and I couldn’t understand why anyone would WANT to feel like that. A little later on in life I got drunk a few times, and that wasn’t fun either.
A few years ago, my wife got her medical marijuana card. Because my wife and I are two halves of a whole idiot, whatever she tries I’m going to try as well. She gave me a gummy with 10mg of THC in it.
Suddenly, I could decide what to pay attention to.
That seems minor, doesn’t it? But I want you to imagine: you’ve struggled with everything for your entire life. You have to force yourself to do anything at all, even if it’s interesting. And then one day a beautiful woman gives you a small piece of candy and it’s like a switch was closed, and now I could just decide what to focus on. Laundry? Washed, dried, folded, and put up. I can keep the house clean. I can focus on things at work. And the really cool part, is I don’t have to take so much that I’m high to get the power of divine focus.
In fact, I don’t have to take it at all, because one of the things I like to do is figure out how stuff works, and it’s worse when I’m high. One night I decided to sit down and look inwards to see if I could make my mind cooperate with me without needing THC, and I was able to. I can sort of function as a contributing member of society now. I haven’t missed a bill for years. My credit score went from 500 something to mid 700s. I don’t get mad at stupid stuff anymore. My home life was pretty good before, but now my wife and I get along so well that if I were to tell everyone how we are with each other, it would sound made up because it’s too good to be true.
New job that’s WFH if you want.
I can now see my kid every day, stop wasting annual leave for a delivery or CBA days. I can keep on top of chores while working.
I don’t get paid any more but I’m spending less and more importantly I’m gaining back time and seeing my family.
It’s made me happier, more fulfilled and a better dad.
It is a nice change in a lot of cases - getting that commuting time back can be a game changer, particularly if you have kids.
Do agree with the other person about it being a double-edged sword (I’m definitely in the ‘it’s kind of isolating’ camp) - though at the same time it can serve as a push to creating more connections outside of work.
(Though some of us, myself included, don’t really respond to the push I guess).
Good answer! I’m glad this is working for you!
Adopting a cat. I don’t know how I managed to live without her.
Getting a social worker.
They’re like small, bratty but loveable children you don’t need to start a college fund for. Definitely game changers for many.
I’m glad your were able to get assistance from a social worker, no matter what the circumstances were.
Dodo isn’t even all that bratty. She has her own baggage. We just fit together well.
And seriously the social worker! Without them I wouldn’t have moved, I wouldn’t have household help for being chronically ill and currently they are fighting tooth and nail to get my name legally changed. Among with all the other everyday red tape germany is so fond of. And there’s still loads more to address eventually.
I got my very first pet 2 years ago: a cat. She’s shy, selfish, whiny, sometimes annoying and yet, I love this creature. I see why some people compare pets to kids because this is what unconditional love must feel like.
Hiking across Ontario. Go dive balls deep into nature. Safely and responsibly, of course.
Niiice. I’d love to hear more details - where was your favourite place/experience on the trail? Are you talking just going for hikes more often weekend warrior style, or is there some through-hiking involved here?
One of my bucket list items (I have a very small, not too hard to fill bucket) is through-hiking the Rideau Trail from Ottawa to Kingston. So far, I’ve gotten as far as Kanata…from the trail starting in Nepean.
(To those outside of Ontario, this is about a 20-25 minute drive, without leaving the Ottawa area)
Bruce Trail. Started in Niagara weekend warrior style. Just putting in as many as I can one weekend at a time. One marathon ended at my literal front door. That was a special hike. I’m 250 km in and am utterly enraptured with it.
Picking a favorite part is really REALLY hard to do. Each hike is unique and finds new ways to make me fall in love. The trail turns and you get gobsmacked by something you never expected. Over and over again
My wife told me she’d leave me if I kept drinking and driving so i… dropped that bitch 🤣 sorry honeybuns, but BEER COMES FIRST 🍺🥴🍺
