Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Pain shared is pain diminished;; joy shared is joy

...exponentiated.

I've found this true; it's a big reason I'm here. All your answers to my "Have you ever..." questions have let me know I'm not alone. I'm certain you all know how much that helps.

So tell us how it's been true for you.

(Warning: I tend to go all philosophical and introspective over the next nine days. In the end it's wonderful, cleansing and much-needed, but it's not a fun place to wander alone. The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called "the Days of Awe", and I do a soul-searching moral inventory of my behavior over the last year throughout that time. Please bear with me...)

all i really have to share is "well said!"

not very deep, i know, but my first reaction!

Yes, I find this is true too. There is something so helpful in just knowing that we are not alone in pain, as we so often and too easily imagine. There's a comfort and camaraderie in trying to help each other get past the worst bits and such a joy in seeing someone find a way to reduce their pain or overcome a fear or hurdle.

It is interesting to learn about and a privilege to be just a little part of your nine days of wandering John... I hope it proves to be a meaningful path!

Hi John

Just wanted to wish you and all other Jewish ASers out there a gut yontif (and a pain free one too).

Jeff

Thank you for sharing with us. You help us learn a little more everyday.
Donna

Actually, "pain shared is pain diminished; joy shared is joy exponentiated" comes from a series of novels by Spider Robinson about a group of people who first meet at Callahan's Crosstime Saloon (Time Trevelers Strictly Cash). Each person who comes in has their pain ameliorated or healed completely because the people (and other things) in Callahan's really, truly listen.

I've found that in only a couple of places so far. A magical and well-nigh impossible AA meeting I attended every Friday night (which sometimes stretched into Saturday or even Sunday, they were that good) during my first year of sobriety is one (and, alas, is no more); this, so far, is the other.

Thank you for the compliment, but Spider said it.

It is a pleasure to share! A lot of Christian friends of mine enjoy learning about Judaism because Jesus was a Jew. In fact, the only mention of Chanukah in the "canonical" Bible is in the Gospel of John, where Jesus went to the Temple for the Feast of Dedication. So I enjoy sharing.

I'm hoping to hear a bit about people's joys on this thread-- moral support to keep me from becoming too self-absorbed and maudlin...

joys? a good place to start is 1000 awesome things in the kicking back part of the forum. tim started it and i think it brilliant!

more later if you give me more direction!

my grandfather was jewish, so i have a bit of the culture in my background. lots of jewish friends, hard to avoid when growing up and going to college in NJ. most important part of my jewish background, knowing how to make a good matzah's and eggs! LOL! just kidding.......well, sort of.......food is very important to me; i think good homemade food brings people together and shares their culture and spreads love better than almost anything (my stepfather is italian (sicilian) so i'm pretty sure i get that philosophy from him.) my jewish grandfather was always big into eating too though!

Thanks, Jeffery! I have to confess I had to look this one up-- I'm learning Hebrew, but any Yiddish I experienced was in my far distant early childhood, and not much then.

Once again, thank you. The spirit is appreciated.

Thanks, Donna, my pleasure!