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Is it beneficial to hold on to the past?

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Maurice H.
Is it beneficial to hold on to the past?

Details

IN-PERSON MEETING-

Topic: Is it beneficial to hold on to the past?

  • Some people think we should leave the past in the past.
  • Some have memorabilia that they would never get rid of because of the sentimental value.
  • Some think we can learn from the past so we don’t make the same mistakes.
  • Some will judge others solely based on their past actions.
  • Some believe that we are the product of our past experiences and those experiences are what make us who we are today.

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Standing note to group (and self):
Reminder/note to help keep the dialogue open and flowing in a naturally occurring atmosphere of civility/kindness:

  1. Dialogue allows people to have their say within the allotted time period.
  2. If a negative reaction to others’ speech or person occurs, that indicates it’s time to look at/ perceive one’s own thought process.
  3. There is nothing to stop you from verbalizing your disagreement when it’s your turn to speak, however, it’s more important to look at one’s own reactive thinking as that helps bring about dialogue.
  4. If one remains unaware of the flow of one's own thought process, one inevitably becomes a victim of it.

***Please note that a major aspect of this group is to engage in dialogue not debate. While maintaining the freedom to be ourselves and honestly state what we think and feel, we want to generally do so in a civilized way. In dialogue, there is an emphasis on listening to understand, in debate one listens to find flaws and to counter back to win or convince.
In dialogue, an open exploration is primary, in debate one only reaffirms and protects one's own point of view. Dialogue explores assumptions, conclusions and/or beliefs in open consideration, Debate defends assumptions, conclusions and/or beliefs as fact and or truth.
Additionally, an emphasis in this group is to be aware of one's own immediate and direct perception and experience as opposed to simply referring to past conclusions or worse referring only to what someone else has said. Narrative or knowledge considered to be "Facts" are welcome but not to be taken without checking in with ones own direct, immediate experience. This emphasis is meant to encourage one to go beyond a mere intellectual or conceptual "knowing", to a more holistic or healing awareness and experience.

Freedom of thought and expression are valued greatly. There is no designated expert, no guru, no leader/facilitator per se. Diversity of perspective and opposing points of view are frequently expressed and the value of each person expressing their point of view is acknowledged.
Also valued ( and sometimes missing from our group and also from our nation's discourse/narrative) is a sense of true civility and or kindness. When civility or kindness (or whatever you want to call it) is missing, hate, discord, and pettiness (egotism) enter in. So although this group may fail in maintaining civility or kindness in any final or complete way, the importance of freedom of speech in an atmosphere or milieu of civility and kindness is recognized.

COVID-19 safety measures

Event will be indoors
The event host is instituting the above safety measures for this event. Meetup is not responsible for ensuring, and will not independently verify, that these precautions are followed.
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Dialogue and Human Experience...
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Pinellas Park Library
7770 52nd St N, The corner of 78th Ave & 52nd St. · Pinellas Park , FL