
Circumstances over the last 2-3 weeks have forced me to take a good, long, hard look at myself; at who i am versus who i think i am. At what i do versus what i want to do… and what i can currently do.
I’ve tried to do this ‘realistically’, which is actually quite a difficult thing to do because:
a) My brain never has and never can see anything ‘realistically’ – as it actually ‘is’ – it just sees things as i ‘want’ to see it and as I believe ‘it’ is, and that is far from ‘realistic’. Our brains all have an inbuilt bias to see ourselves in a particular ‘light’, often a more favourable one than we deserve, in truth, but a few of us, through circumstances in our past’s see our ‘reality’ and ourself (mostly) in a less than favourable way. The main point being – we have inbuilt biases that prevent us from ever seeing ‘Truth’ or the Reality (at least about ourselves) fully and accurately.
and
b) What is ‘Real’ is different for each and every single one of us, because each and every one of us has experienced (smaller and different) aspects of a much larger totality of ‘Reality’. None of us is ever really capable of seeing the much bigger picture we are all playing a part in. This causes problems, in the form of opposing opinion and beliefs, within every society and individual on the planet.
It is this latter part, combined with a better understanding of my own personal biases towards ‘Love’ and what it is, and should be about (not always the same thing for us individual humans), that has led me to the inescapable conclusion that my blog’s title, and the idea i had that it encapsulated, is not now going to, indeed, will not ever, happen.
As a result i’m closing this blog and this will be my last post as ‘love’ or LWBUT (Love Will Bring Us Together – for those who never figured it out.) From now on, if i post, it will just be as plain old Bob. I’d like to keep my ‘Brain’ blog happening, but…… (there is always a BUT)…. we’ll see.
LWBUT was a fantasy, plain and simple. Something ‘real life’ never is (unless you’ve decided to see it that way, but then it’s just that way for you – reality continues on in the way it is designed to do for everyone else in your community around you, which actually is unimaginably complicated and complex, since it involves so many different parts and participants). How soon would we die of boredom if everything was plain, simple and predictable and we all liked and did the same things??***
Life contains many, many forms of polarities: Positives and negatives, good and bad (some may use the term ‘evil’), light and dark, black and white, up and down, etc, etc, etc. Expecting somehow i could help something as ambiguous as ‘Love’ help everything ‘come together’, or even as little as 2 people come together (or even one person get ‘it’ together?) – bring ‘us’ together, was a ludicrously idealistic and immature fantasy that was always doomed to fail as it was not built upon any kind of ‘solid’ foundation or understanding of ‘reality’ – especially not my own.
A large part of the unreality of my blog is that i only ever show a very small part of who i really am – mostly the best bits – out of an ego-based mind set. People then form an unrealistic opinion of who they think i am and what my blog is saying (which is mostly half-truths, and that’s being generous!) because i never post anything about the Bob that shows me in a less than attractive light. I’ve had to look more closely at that ‘half’ of who i am quite a bit lately and it’s not a pretty sight up this close. (And time is NOT ‘helping’ any!)
Life is meant to have the good AND the bad, the positive and the negative, The Republicans and the Democrats (OK – maybe that is pushing it a bit too far – do we really need Republicans??) 😉 Sure, most of us seem to get more of one than the other, but overall things tend to average out, just not exactly evenly for every person or for any one given ‘aspect’ of life, such as: money, love, happiness, depression, health, mental health, etc, etc.
Love IS a very great and powerful thing, some claim it is the Most powerful thing, but Love can sometimes seem to be ‘cruel’ to be ‘kind’ (In the Right Measure! See video below). To greatly Love implies there can be great suffering also. Embodied perfectly in the form of the Love of Jesus for His Father, and His Sacrifice for all mankind. (Whether we appreciated it, or asked for it, or felt like we ‘needed’ it, or not).
For no greater love is there than this: that a man lay down his life for his fellow man. (John 15:13)
We live for a limited time and all things of this Earth, including ourselves, end and often not when we were expecting them to. If we have joy in something, if we love something, it is reasonable to assume we will have pain and sadness when we no longer have it. This is inescapable, yet frequently taken for granted and never given much thought until we feel the pain of loss. (And at such times rarely are we in the mood, or right frame of mind, for sound and fair analysis.)
The only way to be ‘happy’ (or content perhaps?) is to be grateful in ALL circumstances, in good times and bad times, no matter what happens to you, or to others; that you can somehow find a way to be grateful for each and every circumstance you experience and accept and embrace it for what it can add to your knowledge and wealth of your experiences in the time you have to live here on this Incredible Planet Earth which we all have to share together.
So – in the words of the late, great Douglas Adams…
So long, and thanks for all the FISH! 😉
My sincerest apologies to all those who have posted so many wonderful and supportive comments here or on their own blogs, or, who i may have mislead into thinking i was something more or better than i really am. Your kindness was deeply appreciated, but i truly am not who you thought i was. I am grateful for having ‘met’ the pieces of you that you have all kindly shared on-line.
Time for me to face, and more to the point to start to deal with/in, the ‘Reality’.
Bye bye from love.
*** This is an all too common error of logic in some arguments were we tend to think that the opposite of ‘A’ can only be ‘Z’ and there must only be a choice between those two ‘opposites’. Options ‘B’ through ‘Y’ (and all options 1 through to infinity) are valid and available and could involve some parts of A as well as some (the best 😉 ) parts of Z. ‘Simple and predictable’ is not necessarily good or even preferable to ‘complex and complicated’ which is not necessarily a bad thing, but we can often only see them as black and white issues and disregard all the ‘grey’ areas.
The current example that really sucks big time is in the climate change ‘debate’ when pro-environmentalists want fossil fuel (coal and gas) power plants shut down and coal exporting banned and the ‘realists/economy profiteers’ say it will ruin the economy and cause massive job losses (A and Z) . What the latter totally disregard is the massive opportunity for economic development of new industries providing sustainable power production in massive quantities (Australia could be a leading exporter of power to many other countries), producing millions of new jobs in construction, design, engineering, science and technology administration, trade, etc, etc,that would replace the proven dangerous and over a century old ‘technology’ of burning coal to make steam to power a turbine for power.
I will truly miss your Blog, Bob! I’ve so enjoyed your pictures – flowers, birds, astronomy, your funnies and your insightful posts. I do hope you may reconsider and stay with us. But whether you do or not, I continue to hold you in my HEART wishing you well. From my HEART to yours in Love, Betty 💞
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❤ 2 ❤
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Non ho capito nulla, comunque mi mancherai 😉 Buon tutto Bob
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Grazie Cara! 🙂
E molte grazie per avermi aiutato a risolvere un mistero di cui mi chiedo da molto tempo ormai …
Non sapevo cosa significasse ‘cmq’ nei commenti sul tuo blog?
cmq = comunque – Si?? 😉
Spero di visitare ancora il tuo blog.
Buona domenica mia amica vero. 🙏 🙂
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Sì cmq significa comunque, grazie a te Bob tantissimo 🙂 Sei sempre il benvenuto, tutte le volte che vuoi, ciao Buona Domenica With Love Simona
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🙂 🙂 🙂
Un abbracio grosso … and thank you for helping me learn some Italian language! 😉
Ciaoooo! 🙂
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Prego 🙂 Io ti dico comunque a presto 😀
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presto! – o più tardi? 😉
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Sempre a presto 😀
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🙂
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Buon weekend Bob 🙂
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Grazie cara.
Un abbraccio virtuale. 🙂
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Ricambio l’abbraccio sentito 🙂
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Come stai Bob? Grazie per tutto
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Oh Bob. None of us is perfect. Having a hope /dream when you a started your blog – we all do. At the end of the day we live with ourselves. Noone else can be responsible for our happiness. I hope you find it in your heart to love yourself. I’ve really appreciated your knowledge and efforts in identifying plants. Grow strong in that beautiful state you live in. I’ll miss your voice.
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Thanks Karen.
True – none of us is perfect, i know this as well as any. Same for being solely responsible for our own happiness.
Problem is we (i) can still put our unhappiness down to another, sometimes.
Like i said… time to get a better grip on ‘reality’. Taking full responsibility might take me some time however.
If things change here, i’ll think about posting again and let you know.
New blog – new reality – ‘better’ me. Hopefully.
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Make sure we know when plain old Bob posts. I trust you are OK.
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To be truthful – i have felt a LOT better – even when i was on dialysis with kidney failure.
This is a pain no doctor can ‘fix’, sadly. Time ( and maybe a stiff drink?) seem the only ‘solutions’. ‘Loss’ is by far the hardest thing to get over – true?
If/when i post i’ll make sure i visit.
My best to all, including Nugget and Muggle.
B
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Yes. Loss is quite definitely the worst. And thank you.
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This has been difficult to read this morning, not because it is difficult in content, but because it signifies an ending. As Derrick says above, do let us know when Bob posts — there will be many more fish when/if you return! Take care of yourself in the meantime, and in the words of a new friend, “I am grateful for having ‘met’ the pieces of you that you have kindly shared on-line.”
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Thanks Janet – and thank you for your friendship and always welcome comments.
It’s not a decision i made lightly (and probably not for the ‘right’ reasons) but it’s something i need to do as being on wordpress has become … painful. 😦
If i make the decision to try another blog, or post to my ‘brain’ blog i’ll let you know.
B
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I’m sorry to hear it’s so painful — but each of us works through the pain of loss in our own way. If you work through it with a break and with new beginnings, so be it — but you’ll be missed. Do stay in touch and let us know how you’re doing!
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I don’t personally feel that love is unattainable, and I’m a pessimist! I also never thought your posts showed a false front. Everyone’s ‘real’ seeps out, whether they notice or not.
Tell Bob to take a breather, do something for himself, and realize that his humanity is what drew people here. 🙂
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Thanks Chelsea – you are very kind.
I feel you might have misunderstood my rambling a little.
I totally believe in Love, It is perhaps the greatest force of all. Having an unrealistic expectation of it is what might make it ‘unattainable’ – but that wasn’t my point.
The point was:
It is unrealistic of me the think that Love can, will or should ‘bring us all together’ (to be as One).
Humans will always love – in various ways – to each one’s understanding – but they will also always be so very different on so many things.
The entire Universe is designed to be divided (Read the first chapter of Genesis and notice how many divisions occur in the creation of Heaven and Earth!)
If God wants things reunited He is taking a very long and torturous route to ensure it happens.
I don’t see it happening in my lifetime, nor do i believe it will. We seem to be more divided than ever. 😦
Like i said in the post – I only show the ‘nice’ Bob here for others to ‘judge’ for themselves… usually! 😉
Good luck with the new Bub!
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Oh, I understood. This pessimistic cynic still believes.
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😉
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Hey Bob – I hope you are ok! ❤
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Thanks Mel!
I’m probably better than you have felt at the lowest times, but i have definitely had better times than this.
I’m working on it.
Good Luck with J, hope it all goes well. 🤞 🙂
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Words fail me. I am so sorry about this turn your life is taking, but know that we are all hear for you if/when you decide to return. Wishing you all the best. xo
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*here
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Many, many thanks, Sandy. 🙂
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I think we all spend our lives hiding 97% of ourselves and desperately trying to flag up our 3% to the world. I certainly do. I really hope things workout for you (that’s the full Bob not just the nose and some other bits). But we both realise their are much bigger fish in the sea than blogging. BUT . I will Keep the fish on ice for maybe your return one day. As someone much braver said. Smoke me a kipper I will be back for breakfast. Take care fella.
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“What A Guy!” 😉
A connection i made on-line unexpectedly made me see the need for a complete re-evaluation of who I am and what i am doing/supposed to be doing… ( I really don’t/didn’t have a clue!)
As another brave person once said: ” I’m just going outside and may be some time…”
Hope you two come out of these times stronger and wiser!
Dig in on those inner strengths, Sir.
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As everybody has said in their own way, you are missed here. One thing you are NOT is a blob! 🙂
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Oh! Now I see! Fantasy can be an interesting pursuit and expressed in a variety of ways. See you around when you return from your journey! Maybe we can glean from your experiences as we witness the evolution of your blog. Thank you Bob for your snapshots of floral and birdlife. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Un saluto e un abbraccio 🙂
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Mi ci è voluto molto tempo per ricevere il tuo abbraccio … è stato molto bello! 😀 😀 😀
A Koala kiss. 🐨 💋 🙂 e felice lunedi, Cara.
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Bob, just remember states are different than stations.
We all go to different ever changing states, its normal, one day we are down, other day up, that is why we call them moods, and yes we are all solipsistic, and people do not get us, or even care to find out who we are, and not surprising, since few knew ourselves.
Things will blow out like the Autumn wind blow dead leaves, its not that important, cheer up hope its eternal, and love dies, but its born again, and as the poet said:
Cheer up ,
And raise a toast to life,
Fortune its a woman,
And therefore fickle,
Therefore your time
To be loved soon
Will come around.
Omar Khayyam.
🙂
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I am always thankful for your visits – and Wisdom. It is much appreciated and the reminders were needed by me. 🙂
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Take care, and have a great Holiday. 🙂
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Auguri di cuore di buone feste Bob.. with love Simona
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Grazie mille, Simona 😀 😀 😀
Christmas Day will be a warm one here – but not as warm as my wishes for you at this holiday time – and for the New Year to come.
Buona 2020! 🎅 🎅 🎅
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Buon Anno Bob, 2020 abbracci 🙂
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Hope your doing ok. Really hope 2020 works out ok for you.
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I think the point in life is just trying, Bob, and you did a great job of that. You still are, I bet..oxoxo
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Ciao, come stai Bob.. mi manchi 🙂
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Ciao Cara Simona! 🙂 Mi manci anche tu.
You must have heard my thoughts… I was thinking of you recently. (on Giovedi)
I am alive – thank you for asking. 😉 ( But mostly just breathing and not much more! 😦 )
I am praying you don’t do any business near Milan? I do NOT want you catching that virus – OK?? 😷 🏥 🙂
Ti auguro un felice fine settimana! 🦋 🦋 🦋
Take good care of yourself.
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Ci sono casi anche vicino me, ma sto bene 🙂 Prenditi anche tu cura di te!
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Io faro!
Buona Sabato. 🙂
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Sì prenditi cura di te, ciao 🙂
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Semplicemente buona giornata Bob ❤
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Grazie mille Bella! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Buona sabato a te!
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💔
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Un saluto e auguri per una serena Pasqua ❤
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Un grande grazie e mi scuso per la risposta tardiva! 😉 😀
Ho trascorso una vacanza di Pasqua tranquilla e insolita…
… sabato ha raggiunto i 39,5 gradi, battendo il nostro massimo più alto di aprile di 2 gradi!
sul positivo, il clima caldo fa male al coronavirus !!
Potremmo ridurre gradualmente le nostre restrizioni di movimento poiché il numero di nuovi casi è ora molto basso.
Spero che arrivi molti giorni caldi! 🌞 🌞 🌞
Buon Giornata! Simona 🙂
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(BuonA 😉 )
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Mi auguro la stessa cosa 🙂
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And maybe for just a little bit of rain? 😉 🙂
(To Dance in!)
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Tanta pioggia Bob 😀
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🙂 😉 🙂 – As much as you like!
( We need it here – very much!)
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a me piace tantissimo la pioggia 😉
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Perché nasconde molte lacrime ?? 😉
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No, non lo so il perché mi piace 🙂
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One of the most beautiful perfumes i know of is the first rain after a long hot dry spell…
It lifts my soul. 🙂
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Ecco, anche a me!
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💕
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Ciao Bob, tutto bene?
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