(lygenztia *329) Do as I say....

I wish I could live my life following the teachings of the Dalai Lama. I read his proverbs and teachings and they are always so profound and beautiful. They make me self reflect and think "I should think and act like that." Then, I consciously try to follow the way of Buddhism and end up failing miserably the first time somebody pisses me off.

It's easy to be at inner peace when you aren't facing stress, or dealing with an asshole. Usually, when I get cut off in traffic the last thing that comes to mind is the teachings of the Dalai Lama, in fact......... I generally wish ass-cancer on the person that cut me off. Maybe that's the key...think of the Dalai Lama first? I think i'll put his picture on my dashboard.

I'll give it another try the next time i'm faced with anger, but my hopes aren't quite as high as the mountains of Tibet.

(lygenztia #328) This is a revelation to you?

Clinical Studies, including one from the National Institutes of Health in the United States indicates that teenagers brains are still under construction.

Basically, the early adolescent brain has higher levels of dopamine (the hormone most responsible for feelings of pleasure). The finding being ......teens need more excitement and stimulation than adults and therefore engage in risky behaviour. Ok, I don't have a PHd but surely most of us already knew this? At least anecdotally.

Teens that managed to endure the pre-internet years had the very same cravings for excitement and stimulation as those that participated in the study(s). It just the pre-internet teens risky behaviour came in a different form than our current bubble wrap, snowflake society's teens.

To name just a very small few, the teens of old would...
-jump off cliffs into lakes
-teens flirted before Tinder and Snapchat were even a concept
-canoe without a life jacket
-"blue angels"
-sneak out of our bedrooms at night to meet friends
-build ramps to jump our bicycles (without helmets)
-play pond hockey without helmets
-fight out a disagreement, then be friends afterwards (Oh my, the horror)
-sneak into an orchard to pilfer an apple (or throw one at a buddy's head)
-ride in the back of pick up trucks
-have parties when our parents weren't home
-skip school for no real reason
-play in abandoned factories and buildings
-climb trees (sometimes falling)
-race dirt bikes in fields

Yes, quite the earth shattering study.

(lygenztia #327) Well, yes. But.....

Have you ever found yourself socializing or conversing with the "forever disagreeable" type? My goodness, it is draining and arduous. C'mon, you know the type. You are engrossed in pleasant conversation and the "Yes, but" type comes into the fray. They are not necessarily confrontational, but generally they are condescending...at least from my perch of self imposed perfection. (insert writers's self deprecating sarscasm here)

It all begins with you making your statement, or point. The "forever disagreeable" then counters with disagreement, to every single point that you and every other person in the conversation makes, no matter what the topic may be. It has been my observation that the skilled conversationalists take two actions in response to this scenario:
1-They cease participating in the conversation.
or
2-They leave the conversation entirely and find other people to speak with.

My theory is that the "forever disagreeable" is of the insecure variety. They have a need to be heard, to be seen as superior in intellect. They can't listen, it's not in their repertoire. They can only expel poor taste and bad form.

And don't try to speak with them about this trait, they'll just disagree with you anyway. As Elsa famously sang..."Let it go".