Thank you fowltemptress! Very well said. That is exactly what I meant when I said "community groups". I was speaking of like hobbies not like spiritual beliefs. Not that I don't enjoy that too but I've never encountered a group that has formed and stayed together on this premise alone (except this thread which has been a lot of fun). I have met some wonderful people when I've volunteered or joined other groups. For instance I sing and garden etc so joining in a musical group or going to a class on gardening is great fun for me. I also got involved in my neighborhood association and help plan some of our neighborhood events.
Prettiest Frog and I have WHAT in my yard? you both said exactly what I was thinking. It is never to late to start a new carreer. I went back to college late and felt very awkward on campus at first until a professor showed me how silly it was for me to feel that way. She pointed out that "reentry students" are actually much better students than younger students are because they appreciate the opportunity more, they take their classes more seriously and they are often more focused (of course their are exceptions to this on both sides).
College is also a great place to make wonderful friendships with other thinking people! I am quite shy when it comes to making new friends at first but school throws you together with others in a way that makes the process of getting to know them seem very natural and seamless. That horrible awkward stage is not there because you are already in class together and discussing ideas together right from the start. Bonds can't help but form. It's great!
I started at community college with only a couple of night classes (more older folks in night classes but I enjoyed all my classes). There were a bunch of grants and scholarships available to me that I had no idea existed (I was the first in my family to attend college) and my college counselor walked me through everything easily even though I was a total idiot when it came to knowing anything about going back to school (I didn't even have my high school diploma). There are also financial counselors on campus that are worth their weight in gold when it comes to showing you how to apply for financial aid and scholarships!
Deb and Prettiest Frog great stories! I love hearing stories like those! We love to think of ourselves as above the animals, especially when we are religious (except for the earth-based religions which tend to revere nature and feel very connected to animals etc). We could all learn a lot about our part in this world by watching animals. For good and bad we are animals too and part of the interconnectedness of this planet (probably not a real word but my brain is tired this morning).
Mom'sfolly what a great suggestion! I had no idea that such groups existed. How do they get through these discussions and avoid the bitterness that can sometimes result from folks that have been hurt by the same church? This would be very cathartic if they could grieve together without fostering too many negative feelings! I wish I had had somthing like this when I left the church. I guess colllege was my place to do this although I still had to tread softly to avoid offending christians in the classes.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love this thread!!!
Prettiest Frog and I have WHAT in my yard? you both said exactly what I was thinking. It is never to late to start a new carreer. I went back to college late and felt very awkward on campus at first until a professor showed me how silly it was for me to feel that way. She pointed out that "reentry students" are actually much better students than younger students are because they appreciate the opportunity more, they take their classes more seriously and they are often more focused (of course their are exceptions to this on both sides).
College is also a great place to make wonderful friendships with other thinking people! I am quite shy when it comes to making new friends at first but school throws you together with others in a way that makes the process of getting to know them seem very natural and seamless. That horrible awkward stage is not there because you are already in class together and discussing ideas together right from the start. Bonds can't help but form. It's great!
I started at community college with only a couple of night classes (more older folks in night classes but I enjoyed all my classes). There were a bunch of grants and scholarships available to me that I had no idea existed (I was the first in my family to attend college) and my college counselor walked me through everything easily even though I was a total idiot when it came to knowing anything about going back to school (I didn't even have my high school diploma). There are also financial counselors on campus that are worth their weight in gold when it comes to showing you how to apply for financial aid and scholarships!
Deb and Prettiest Frog great stories! I love hearing stories like those! We love to think of ourselves as above the animals, especially when we are religious (except for the earth-based religions which tend to revere nature and feel very connected to animals etc). We could all learn a lot about our part in this world by watching animals. For good and bad we are animals too and part of the interconnectedness of this planet (probably not a real word but my brain is tired this morning).
Mom'sfolly what a great suggestion! I had no idea that such groups existed. How do they get through these discussions and avoid the bitterness that can sometimes result from folks that have been hurt by the same church? This would be very cathartic if they could grieve together without fostering too many negative feelings! I wish I had had somthing like this when I left the church. I guess colllege was my place to do this although I still had to tread softly to avoid offending christians in the classes.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love this thread!!!
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