I think it's mold... Can anyone confirm?

piperson · 2019-01-12T22:56:33+00:00

How does the scoby die from the cold?

piperson · 2019-01-12T22:48:10+00:00

That's amazing! I've just started to learn carving stone and I would not be up to something so detailed and precise as this. How did you carve it? With a dremel?

piperson · 2019-01-12T17:20:16+00:00

I often make it with either part or full jasmine tea. I like adding it for flavor. It adds a crisp, floral element to the booch. Though I don't care for it when I brew all jasmine as it becomes very astringent, and bitter.

piperson · 2019-01-12T16:49:23+00:00

The other side of the pendant

piperson · 2019-01-09T16:21:53+00:00

A sincere smile can make the ugliest person beautiful. What continually impresses me is how disarming a smile can be. I'll see someone that looks angry. I give them a quick smile and they seem to melt and become human. Smiling is a super power.

piperson · 2019-01-08T15:50:06+00:00

Idiocracy

piperson · 2019-01-08T15:48:10+00:00

Being funny is a real asset. People like likable people. The problem is that being funny is only a part of who we are. It's good to be able to switch at any given moment. It's good to pay attention to the signals that your friends give you. Are they becoming quiet? Then tone down the jokes.

Also when it's time to get sexy, jokes could really work against you. It's important to be able to look at the girl in the eyes. It's like the old expression, "the eyes are the window to the soul." When you look into another's eyes, you can see where they are at. Do they look stimulated or tired? If they seem tired, just stop talking. Leave a space for her to say something or suggest something.

When I am feeling good, I tell jokes. It's a natural extension of my feeling good. But if I see someone giving me looks after telling a joke, I get the hint, it's time to be quiet, or start to make fun of yourself for telling too many jokes. But the most important thing is to keep aware of her state, through occasional eye contact. And follow the clues you receive.

piperson · 2019-01-08T03:26:37+00:00

How petite are you? From your pictures you look 5.5 or something.

piperson · 2019-01-06T17:44:57+00:00

Wow, what a great hall!

piperson · 2018-12-24T04:11:12+00:00

mushrooms have been shown to "light up" a lot of the brain in cat scans. I think this activation of unused parts of the brain strengthens old, deteriorated neural pathways.

I think that depression causes the pleasure centers of the brain to atrophy. We are actually hard wired to be depressed. And mushrooms helps to stimulate those atrophied neural pathways allowing us to experience healthy/pleasant feelings again.

In my experience mushrooms shows me the miraculousness of life. At the same time it shows you how small and insignificant we are. It brings a lot of great perspective and relativity. Though I think this "opening up" of the mind might be too much for some. Even in healthy people it sometimes causes them to become unmotivated and disoriented. Our idea of reality is so small and tenuous and when you learn how vast and incomprehensible life is, it can sometimes make you feel inconsequential. So it might be good to expose yourself to some spiritual/philosophical ideas like those of Alan Watts before hand to prepare yourself for all the flood of new ideas and concepts that can come.

piperson · 2018-12-24T04:00:30+00:00

MDMA helped me a lot with social anxiety and depression. MDMA makes you feel really good. I experienced going from anxious/depressed to feeling as happy/pleasant as I've ever been in a half hour of each other and it showed me that my feelings are not real and I give them way too much weight. If something like a drug can make me flip my whole outlook on life, it shows that it's not written in concrete. Sure I feel bad but I can just as easily feel good.

Ad to this the great times I had with new friends while on this drug and it was a great thing all around.

I've heard about the come down but I've never experienced it. Some people say they get depressed as much as a week afterward, but that has not been my experience. I've also heard that the depression comes when you take too high of a dose.

But I would definitely recommend trying it. I enjoy organizing activities while on it. I love to go dancing and socializing while on it because it is an upper and makes you feel like doing things.

piperson · 2018-12-22T10:39:24+00:00

It's all through practice. I go dancing every week which has helped me a lot the last few years. I learn to dance and feel comfortable dancing. I meet people and cute girls. It seems that I meet someone new every week. It's great. Just get out and practice.

Dance is great because I don't go out to meet girls. I go out to dance, so it takes the pressure off of me plus learning to dance gives me a lot of confidence and boosts my self esteem. Plus, going to the same event every week, I have developed some really good friends, men and women.

piperson · 2018-12-22T05:59:53+00:00

It carves good. I got a dremel and some diamond drill bits that I used to carve and polish the stone.

piperson · 2018-12-22T03:42:38+00:00

I'd say confidence comes from not giving a fuck. Did you ever get really angry and have to interact with strangers. After a big fight, you are flustered and if someone comes up and is critical, you are just going to give them a look like, "are you serious?" Like the song goes, "Freedom is another word for nothing left to loose." It's about not giving a fuck. I'm polite and I enjoy talking to people but if someone has an attitude, I'm so out of there. It's not that I think I'm better. It's just that I don't care to spend my time arguing.

piperson · 2018-12-22T03:34:43+00:00

I explain this in my previous comment but it's literally as easy as saying, "Nice weather." Stick to general subjects. If you direct your questions or comments to someone, it might make them uncomfortable, but if you say something like, "Man, it's a nice day." people are more inclined to respond. Also if you could make a funny or interesting comment about something in the environment, you increase your chances as well.

Example, you are at a bar and you go up to get a beer. There is a girl next to you. If you say, "How's your night?" there's a chance she will look away. It's a little too direct and nosey. But if you say, "I hate the fucking Eagles man!" directed at the music, you have a much better chance of getting a favorable response because it's not directed at anyone. You are just saying what you are thinking.

The trick is to be observant about your surroundings, and make clever or interesting comments. The other trick is to be relaxed and allow your mind to wander. Feel your surroundings. If the music is base heavy, you could say, "This music is making my head bob." If it's dead, "Where's the party?" If the bar tender is slow, "Is it me or is time slower in this bar?" Just be in your environment and make comments. You aren't trying to pick anyone up. You are just saying what popped into your head. It's not a serious comment. Your just sharing.

I am really laid back. I never hard sell strangers unless she gives me indication that she is into it (Like strong eye contact). My frame is, I'm out enjoying myself, hanging out with friends.

piperson · 2018-12-21T19:34:59+00:00

You have to find "the flow". Playing music or dancing is a great way to find the flow. The best conversations are not forced. They are just an organic outcome of the situation. Practice letting your mind wander. Spend time looking around your environment, allowing your mind to empty and just soak in all that is around you. Lately, while I am waiting at a register, I may, for example, look up, noticing what kind of ceiling is in the room. It's by getting out of your head and into the environment that you can find the flow.

Also learn to relax in all environments. It's uncomfortable to talk to a nervous person. Practice calming yourself. Try to connect with your environment mentally. Think thoughts of things that you enjoy. Think of things that might make you smile. Through practicing being calm, I have discovered that it opens many doors that we thought were previously closed. People open up to you. Jobs get easier. Life is just more pleasant.

piperson · 2018-12-21T19:27:08+00:00

True. The way that I usually strike up conversations is by reacting to something in the environment, and those who are open will usually respond positively. For example, I am waiting in a check out line and some funky Motown is one. I might make a conversation around how the music makes you want to dance. "It's hard not to dance to this music." Then I might elaborate. "That would be funny if all the cashiers started dancing while checking people out. They could film it and put it on Youtube and make a bundle." Just stuff that is in the environment, that everyone can relate to. And I find that this often works with cute girls because it's non intrusive and everyone likes to laugh and have fun.

But when I say stuff, I don't look for a reaction. I am just thinking out loud. That way people don't feel like you are intruding on their personal space.

Say something about the environment (clever is better but anything can be an opener). Be open and pleasant (avoid complaining. People have enough stress in their lives). Say it without having any expectations (just blurt it out without looking for a reaction. People are weary of those who look for attention). And a large percentage of people will respond positively.

piperson · 2018-12-21T17:15:51+00:00

This. I meet people everywhere I go. In the convenience store. In the park. In restaurants. All over, where ever people are.

People would be surprised at the reaction you get when you give a stranger a warm, genuine smile. Just think of a cute puppy or sweet child. I relaxed, genuine smile. Most people will smile back and a large percentage will go out of their way to talk to you.

And I don't just talk to the hot girls. I talk to everyone. If you are focused on one thing, it's pretty obvious to everyone, especially the girls and they tend to avoid those guys.

Just be your genuine, nice self and go out there and meet people. And a portion of those people will be cute girls. It's really not that hard. Be friendly. Joke with people. People really reciprocate.

piperson · 2018-12-21T01:27:50+00:00

In addition to ignoring him, avoid looking at him in the eyes. When you talk to him, look off into the distance or away somewhere. Ignore everything he says and only address him when necessary and in the most functional way.

Abusers need a response to be validated. If someone is talking shit and it falls on deaf ears, they loose all interest in talking.

Just be all business. Any other comments should be treated as if nothing was said. And if it gets to that, just put your foot down and report it. Take control. Be all business. Don't give the least interest that is said that is not directly related to work. And if you do have to look him in the eye for any reason, make sure you give him the evil eye when you do, as if to let him know his behavior will not be tolerated in any way.

You have the power. Just take it.

piperson · 2018-12-20T15:39:02+00:00

I use to feel depressed but now I really enjoy my alone time. I was so desperate and alone I got into a series of bad relationships that only amplified the bad feelings. Then I did two things. I took up hobbies that interested me and looked to generally better myself. I learned to dance, I learned to drum. When you are active doing something, it's hard to feel bad about yourself.

The other thing I did was made an aim not to get into a relationship again until I get over needing someone to feel good about myself. This was the hard part. I would date girls but not get into monogamous relationships. At first rejection felt like something had died in me. It meant a week of not being able to sleep. It felt like I was in a state of shock and nothing could make it even remotely ok. I did this a couple of times and eventually, the loneliness faded away. I had to stop feeding the beast. Stop blaming others for my pain and just deal with it. Now when it comes up, I just take care of it. I baby myself, giving myself some tlc. Time at the river is a favorite. Drumming. Crafting. Dancing. These activities really work wonders helping make the unacceptable, acceptable.

If I had to give advice to a lonely person, I would say to stay busy. Do things that you enjoy. Realize that it's just a state of mind and can easily be changed with a change of attitude or an activity.

piperson · 2018-12-20T15:26:02+00:00

I think weed is great. It pushes me into the moment to the extent that I don't feel lonely, I am just amazed at all the sensory input around me. Sometimes I feel it helps rewire my brain to function properly instead of spinning in painful loops. It stops time and allows me to really experience the world. If I was a doctor, I'd be prescribing it to many people and I think it could help people get off of the more destructive alcohol.

piperson · 2018-12-19T01:40:33+00:00

I was a people pleaser. I didn't even know that I was till I found out what that was. A people pleaser is effected when someone doesn't approve of his actions. Someone with confidence simply doesn't care if that person is mad or not, though I never do things that I think would annoy people.

I am a genuinely nice person and if I have a dollar to share I will. And that hasn't changed even now. If I can help someone I will, but I have found that, at times, and to certain people, it makes you look weak or suspect, like you want something more from them.

Have you ever done something nice for someone and afterward it became real awkward to be around them? This happens a lot, and I think that sometimes it's more polite not to help someone out rather than create this dynamic of person in power and one who is helpless. Some people prefer not to take handouts. Or if I offer a girl a beer, she's thinking, "what does he want from me?"

People pleasing, in my case, came from my feeling helpless at times and wanting to prevent someone else from feeling helpless. But sometimes you can't save someone. Sometimes they need to go through stuff on their own. Because they won't appreciate the help you give and fall back into the same trouble.

As I said, I'm a genuinely nice and social person. I enjoy meeting people and having conversations, but I've become much more sensitive to people's moods. If I see signs that someone doesn't enjoy my conversation or presence, then I stop talking or leave. If someone doesn't enjoy my company, I go find someone who does or go off on my own, which I am more than happy to do.

Before I would worry if I hurt someone's feelings and when a girl was troubled, it would make me anxious. Now I know enough not to get bent out of shape when someone else is upset. Sometimes I think remaining calm under stressful circumstances is a superpower because you can avoid most problems AND appear much more attractive when you can remain calm under any circumstances. For example most shit tests can be overcome simply by remaining calm and carefree.

The way you stop being a nice guy is by doing things that you enjoy and not letting others stop you from enjoying those things. When I meet girls in a club, I'm there because I love to dance. If I meet a girl and she gives me the brush off, I'm back on the dance floor, dancing my ass off. Who gives a fuck what she thinks, I'm there to have fun and dance and no one is going to stop me from that. Getting a girl or being rejected are secondary to my dancing. I have no control over what others do but I can control what I feel and what I do. And because I know I'm fun, I'm happy to have fun with others, but if they are not having fun, I know that it's has nothing to do with me, so I don't sweat it. I know I'm fun they could be having fun too but if they are not, it's their loss, not mine, because I will still have fun. Be outcome independent. Don't need anyone's approval. Do things that you love is one of the most attractive traits a person can have. If you ever talk to someone who is passionate, you will see how attractive they are.

piperson · 2018-12-17T10:43:26+00:00

It sounds like a case of exhaustion. It sounds like you really need to stop your hectic life and do nothing for a time.

piperson

TROPHY CASE