Comments on: Essential nutrients for the gifted

By: TBS

TBS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:11:28 +0000

First things first…NEWBIE ALERT! I was pointed to “The Gifted Way” by a dear, gifted “online friend.” That this friend until now only “exists” online just is what it is. She and I don’t exactly see eye-to-eye [partially, I suspect, because we have never SEEN each others eyes] on the “reality factor” that tends to get glossed over in cyber-relationships, but SOME of my “gifted needs” are fed quite extensively by our interactions. For that, I am grateful. [As a side-note I have also "returned to school" and nearly all of my studies are being completed in an online university "setting." As one might imagine, that presents yet another odd dynamic.] I am truly and duly impressed by what I have read here so far. Thank you, Christopher, for your articulate presentations and dedication to this “labor of love.”

From your post: “I am concerned, though, that it may be a chimera: that its branches may hold false fruit in that they pacify our immediate restlessness without our being forced into action.” What an excellent consideration! I concur with the sentiment. I confess that this has been so–in some ways–for me. Your reference to “chimera” rings true for me as well…
From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Chimera:
2 : an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream

Recently, I have been challenged–more out of some sense of desperation than anything else–to embrace my delusions, my inaction, my flight, my hiding. I am prone to self-delusion. I am also prone to picking up the nearest proverbial club and proverbially beating my self over the head therewith. These have been propensities of mine for as long as I can remember. [I find some comfort in presuming that there are others "here" who identify with me in this respect...even IF they/you only exist in the chimera of cyberspace.]

In my experience the challenges have become most severe and “up front” when I find my self trying to teach my children to live in a world that is filled with inconsistencies. Yes, an overly sensitive parent, prone to self-delusion, self-torture, and every other aspect of personality shared by others “like me”…trying to teach really sensitive children who are prone to similar tendencies…possessing even greater insight, greater talents (musical, academic, athletic, etc.) than their predecessor. It’s a sort of “recipe for disaster.” I often find my self paralyzed by fear. And, yes, while I may find some ways to assuage that fear in “the chimera,” I also find that a realization of the necessity of action tends to be attenuated by this interaction.

So…I’m acting, doing. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again!

By: Gifted adults have a greater grasp of truth than average but must be wary of self-deception. | The Gifted Way

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:32:24 +0000

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By: Raising Smart Girls

Raising Smart Girls — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:28:30 +0000

This is kind of directed at Donna…about the time factor…
It’s a long quote from Hermann Hesse’s Klein and Wagner story in the book Klingsor’s Last Summer. Read the part about time…

“The only thing that stood between old age and youth, between Babylon and Berlin, between good and evil, giving and taking, the only thing that filled the world with differences, opinions, suffering, conflict, war, was the human mind, the young, tempestuous, and cruel human mind in the stage of rash youth, still far from knowledge, still far from God. That mind invented contradictions, invented names; it called some things beautiful, some ugly, some good, some bad. One part of life was called love, another murder. How young, foolish, comical this mind was. One of its inventions was time. A subtle invention, a refined instrument for torturing the self even more keenly and making the world multiplex and difficult. For then man was separated from all he craved only by time, by time alone, this crazy invention! It was one of the props, one of the crutches that you had to let go, that one above all, if you wanted to be free.”

Christopher…I have to tell you. This internet thing…I have NOT met other exceptional minds like me EXCEPT through the internet. I can’t criticize it too much…I spent the past few months engaging in a really wonderful ongoing discussion with an exceptionally bright mind. The last thing we’ve discussed was Hermann Hesse’s Klingsor’s Last Summer. Phenomenal. I just wish I could have in real life access to other bright minds. It’s just not possible anymore now since I’ve become a stay at home mother.

It is really sucky…to have found your true intellectual peer and can’t go wax philosophical/poetical over a bottle of wine. You know?

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:59:02 +0000

The internet is as you say seductive, and addictive precisely because it isn’t really satisfying. I’m struggling with how to use it without getting lost in it.
The challenge for me is to build an environment that invites me to do what I want to do. Years ago I discovered that dedicating a place for writing meant more time spent writing. I suppose it’s a matter of honoring that which I value in a concrete way. The barrier I come up against is “Who are you to do what you love? How dare you devote space and time to something that matters to you, when you could be doing something important?” It’s amazing how convincing that can be.
At any moment I can be interfered with by the thought that I ought to make what I’m doing useful, which ruins the creative flow. It’s a lack of trust, really, that what I make will be of value, which does dishonor to inspiration and play.
It’s just that I feel the best stuff births itself, my best work comes from somewhere I can’t see. It’s me and more than me, my connection to life. So part of nurture is replacing that lack of faith with faith, and maybe that starts with being aware of the problem and noticing when I need to step in with a “trust in the process” reminder.
It’s a huge challenge for me. I’m not sure how to proceed.
Another thought: What I yearn for is timelessness, and I wonder if there is a way to make an hour here and fifteen minutes there count as timeless. As it is I often feel enraged that I spend so much time on rent, food, health, and distractions. Why couldn’t I be more respectful of what’s actually possible, even if it isn’t what I think I want? It would feed me, I’m sure.

By: Phyllis Horne

Phyllis Horne — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:43:09 +0000

Not drinking is significant nourishment for me right now. In addition, I am happy to report that the fruits born of regular but moderate exercise, self-inquiry and exploration, daily spiritual time, and meeting the challenges associated with rigorous honesty, make me feel as if my cup (and plate and salad bowl) runneth over with nutrition; and a bit of sweet to top it all off. There is even more, and more enough in fact, for me to feel confident about throwing off my own golden handcuffs: confident enough to realize tha I have fear around this decision, but to also move forward THROUGH that fear.

As always, thanks for a great post C. ph