Porthole

Europe, eating alone, social media

News: I managed to buy tickets to Europe. I'll be there from the 20th of August until October 8th. About 49 days or 7 weeks.

Today I should figure out where I'm staying the first night (preferably first 4 or 5), buy that flight and make reservations. I've found that my nerves are much better if I have the first night or two planned. I don't worry when I go to Costa Rica because I have so many options, but Europe is different. Once I'm there I can figure it out.

I'll only be a week in Costa Rica before Europe and two weeks after. That will be time enough to see some friends... which would be nice because the weather there in October is awful.

Other thoughts. A friend posted an article about the joy of eating alone. I responded:

"I would come at it from a different perspective. I live alone and almost always (95%) travel alone. Yet I'm seldom alone unless I choose to be so. When I travel I enjoy the company of strangers. I'm not a businessman or tourist, and common people and fellow travelers are one of my cherished opportunities to connect with someone. In other words, I'm that annoying person who will talk to you while we are waiting in line or will sit with you and strike up a conversation. Doesn't always work, but I'm very good at breaking the ice and can talk about most anything. I can be a godsend to someone who is awkwardly shy (that or their worse nightmare). I will agree with the article that social media gets in the way. It's just another barrier to keep the unknown at bay. And it's a formidable challenge. I could rant on about that!'

So... the article mentioned people being attached to social media while they eat. My rant would be sitting with someone and they HAVE TO answer their phone... because... just because. People wonder why I get depressed yet never think that it may be because their phone is more important than I am. (Heaven help they miss a message...)

Anyhoo... today's prompt was about the internet and how it records everything. Well, yes and no. It doesn't record everything and unfortunately what it does can easily be taken out of context. I can understand why some abhor social media. That said, "say what you mean and mean what you say" because your later retraction or apology may never be read.

As I commented to Apondia :

"We must also learn to forgive others ... and ourselves. People hold grudges and societies can believe in generational vengeance. Neither is helpful. Although we need to be careful of what we say and do, we should realize that we need not always worship the past. Once we have moved on ... maybe we can accept that others have as well.

Prosperous Snow celebrating in "Words and opinions"  and Elycia Lee ☮ in "Not Forgotten but Forgiven "  say this much better than I can today.

Since there is an attitude of "never forget" and "vengeance is mine, saith ME", maybe some of the more strident voices need to learn how to forgive. Just my opinion.

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