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I'd be up for it. heart

Hey, as lonjg as your fingerprints are on it, and not mine . . .

Do you drain or evaporate the water, or use the broth mix with it? If not, it kind of reminds me of my stepdad's receipe for fish... it's really good that way with the crackers for taste!

I absolutely loved the novel. It's very long, but I read the unabridged edition with all the extra tangents.

Basically, it's about a former convict and his efforts to change himself while also hiding out and evading capture, with strong themes of redemption and a commentary on society at the time. If you don't mind a long read, I'd certainly recommend it; the abridged version may also be a little more friendly for a first reading. It is originally in French (by Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame), but as I am French-illiterate, I read one of the many available English translations.

The movie...the one I have seen, at least, is not so good, and messes around a lot with the characters. But Geoffrey Rush is a freaking awesome Javert, so I still enjoy it. There are a lot of versions, so I don't know about any others. The score for the musical is fun to listen to, too. whee

Okay, I really need some advice, and since you guys all seem to have a great imagination/creativity, thus, knowledge on your shoulders, I figured I'd ask.

I have a friend who has problems with tension. I won't say any names. This friend admited to me that this tension results from an obsession with sex-related material. This friend finds themselves in tension because it has become a problem when encountering other friends in conversation and various activities while visiting with people. From my understanding of the situation, it's a nerve/impulsive or obsessive action that governs this, not the heart of the friend. But I may be wrong. I like to think people mean to be good people.

From my talk with my friend, they have confided in me that they do not wish to remain at this level, but it is difficult to stop. Instantly, I thought of addictions (alcohol, caffine, other drugs).
Last night in my sleep, I thought of a similarity to Pandora's Box. Maybe when the time isn't right, those acts are not meant to be touched until one can engage regularly and without fear of such activities? Perhaps proper maturity was not reached before such activities became known to this friend? Perhaps this is the problem? Kind of the idea of a horror movie. When one is very very young, it isn't good to see too scary of material or it will scar one for life. I am a classical example with watching "Hand that Rocks the Cradle" at a very young age, and it scared me permanently and made me scared of horror or disturbing images.

Anyway, off topic.

I made a variety of creative solutions to this problem of my friend. I suggested exercise as, according to my mother, there is some kind of relaxing chemicals, which are released upon extreme exercise, which is healthy and makes one feel better. I attribute salsa dancing to working in this case.
The friend said that this doesn't work but my wonder is that they weren't listening or was in a negative mode (making everything worthless), so maybe it will?

Second, I suggested Buddhism, which emphasizes mental discipline. A matter of making the self stronger by engaging in meditaton to get to know oneself, and/or also prioritizing thoughts/acts by being able to focus on the duty at hand and completing it to the best of abilities (I do this by temporarily ignoring other tasks while focusing on successfully completing the task which I am engaging in one at a time). Apparently, mental discipline for my friend is not very strong.

Third, I suggested finding other hobbies/trying new things, or moving around/engaging in other activities (somewhat spontaneous, but with some imput to politeness/respect for others' feelings, maybe not necessarily society expectations, but meeting ones own to an extent).

Anywho, I thought that perhaps it's a lack of being able to do things on my friend's own -- draw, go on walks, play video games, paint, chat on gaia, go fishing, drag race, ! My friend has a lack of interests, which I guess, is a problem as it reduces friends. They say that they dislike things when I don't know if they have actually tried them or are in another pessimisize everything mode. They also say that it won't matter if they have hobbies. It won't change the obsession. I dare challenge that maybe it would?

I have not had an obsesion of this case before, thus, I am unsure how to challenge solutions to it.

Are solutions gendered and will only work on specific genders?


I spoke with my parents, and they said that it's hobby-related (obsession out of boredom, I question a victim of Media culture) or that music/listening or performing an instrument (ie guitar, drums, piano) may help.

Are there any media (books, documentaries, self-help) that I can bring to my friend for counsel? Are there any personal experiences which any of you have had which you are or have overcome, which could help this friend?

Please let me know if you have any more questions or please leave me comments. I really don't know what to do and I hate not being able to help people... crying stressed

nice

i peed a little xp