Random Memories of Old Friends

Sometimes while I'm sitting relaxed in my favorite chair my mind wanders. Names frequently pop in my head, old friends, acquaintances sometimes even people I've met on a trip who I had a connection with but knew little about.

     On most ocassions it's a pleasant memory, but sometimes it's regret for the way I treated them. It's too late to appoligise or ask for a do-over, but thankfully my good memories far outweigh the bad.

     This post is about the random memories of people in your past, good and bad. Why do these thoughts surface after so many years? Is it because of my age, that I’m reflecting on my life? Are these people thinking about me at the same time I’m thinking of them? That’s possible, but it seems unlikely. I don’t have any answers. 

     Apparently these people had some impact on my life and maybe I did on theirs. For whatever reason they have resurfaced via a memory. A life filled with memories especially good ones, seems like justification for living. 

     I’ve heard that a person exist as long as memories of them still circulate. I’m not sure about that, but I like the idea. Our time on this earth is short, but the impact we have could last forever. Never stop making memories. They could be your legacy.  “Just Saying. . . “

The Facebook Community

There are many opinions on Facebook, but I rarely comment on them. It seems like people are yelling their opinions, or challenging your intelligence if you don’t agree with them. 

     It appears they are trying to convince me to change my opinion, because their argument is irrefutable. Most of the opinions leave no room for negotiations, which shows that they are not willing to hear your viewpoint. That’s because, they know they are right, therefore no other opinions are needed. What’s interesting is that many of the comments taking the opposite opinions are frequently stated with strong, nasty and challenging words that are designed to jab the writer of the post with the real facts. I said facts, but in reality it’s just opinions the same as the post, both masquerading as facts. It’s like eight year olds arguing in a school yard.

     Opinions are worthwhile, but they are not necessarily facts. I believe opinions can lead us to facts, but only if we listen and entertain the idea, that your opinion may not be the only viable or worthwhile option. Listening to anothers opinion won't necessarily change your mind, but it could open up a new thought path which could lead you to modify your opinion.

     An intelligent discussion by two people of different opinions is worthwhile, but it's unlikely that you will see this happen on Facebook. I could be wrong, but I have found that my listening skills are suppressed when people yell their opinion at me or treat me as if I'm stupid, which is how opinions are expressed on Facebook. 

     I am not swayed to your side by intimidation. Maybe it's time to try another tactic. How about an open discussion without prejudging each other? I imagine this would be extremely difficult, because people are passinate about their beliefs. Even if I had an irrefutable answer to offer on an issue, it wouldn’t make a difference, because no one on Facebook is listening. 

     So, that’s the end of my rant. I will remain a member of Facebook, but only to read the jokes and interesting stories of my friends. “Just Saying . . .”