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Author Topic: Anyone else out there experience this?  (Read 1556 times)

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Änσnymσus

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Anyone else out there experience this?
« on: May 28, 2018, 11:22:51 PM »
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  • Seven days have come and gone without speaking to anyone or anyone speaking to me, despite seeing lots of people, riding in crowded trains and buses, going to laundromat, ATM, and grocery. My phone has been on, but no calls or texts except a robo-call in Chinese, (I don't speak a word of it.) and an email from Target, with whom I've never done business and never will.  

    I could vanish from the earth and not be missed. Should I break the silence or see how long it will last?  When I leave my apartment everything seems odd, as if I've never seen it before, although it is simultaneously quite familiar.  Maybe I'm in an episode of The Twilight Zone, for those old enough to remember the show.


    Offline Nadir

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #1 on: May 29, 2018, 12:27:05 AM »
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  • Break the silence. 

    When you walk in the street or in the supermarket or wherever you happen to be, look the people you see full in the face, give a nod of the head or squeeze out a quick smile. It won't hurt you to do that. It might help another person who's in a similar state.

    Offer to help an old feeble person across the street, go volunteer your services in some charity. Don't hang back. Get on with life.

    Just a few thoughts that may help.
    Help of Christians, guard our land from assault or inward stain,
    Let it be what God has planned, His new Eden where You reign.


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #2 on: May 29, 2018, 02:16:43 AM »
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  • .
    I went to a Memorial Day ceremony this morning. I couldn't help but notice a number of outgoing people who seemed to be absolutely bent on making lots of noise and interacting with everyone around them. 
    .
    A couple of them were talking non-stop, in a loud voice and from what I could tell they weren't saying anything of importance.
    .
    I was having a hard time understanding how they could possibly think that everyone needed to hear what they had to say.
    .

    Offline Neil Obstat

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #3 on: May 29, 2018, 02:18:49 AM »
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  • .
    That was me. By the time I'm finished writing in this forum I always forget to check the stupid box.
    So the only thing that works is to check the box before I start writing. But I can't remember to do that either.
    .--. .-.-.- ... .-.-.- ..-. --- .-. - .... . -.- .. -. --. -.. --- -- --..-- - .... . .--. --- .-- . .-. .- -. -.. -....- -....- .--- ..- ... - -.- .. -.. -.. .. -. --. .-.-.

    Offline poche

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #4 on: May 29, 2018, 02:45:10 AM »
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  • The Abba Arsenius said, "there are many times I have said something that I have regretted. but I have never regretted remaining silent."


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #5 on: May 29, 2018, 04:46:09 AM »
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  • Seven days have come and gone without speaking to anyone or anyone speaking to me, despite seeing lots of people, riding in crowded trains and buses, going to laundromat, ATM, and grocery. My phone has been on, but no calls or texts except a robo-call in Chinese, (I don't speak a word of it.) and an email from Target, with whom I've never done business and never will.  

    I could vanish from the earth and not be missed. Should I break the silence or see how long it will last?  When I leave my apartment everything seems odd, as if I've never seen it before, although it is simultaneously quite familiar.  Maybe I'm in an episode of The Twilight Zone, for those old enough to remember the show.
    I agree with Nadir- there is a huge need for people to get out of their own world and help others. This can be done through prayer as well as physical volunteer work.
    Here are a few ideas:
    Visit and pray at a home for the elderly
    Visit cancer patients at a hospital
    Make meals for the homeless
    Pray outside and abortion clinic or volunteer at a pregnancy crisis center
    Clean your chapel or volunteer in an another way. I will tell you that at my chapel- we are always short on volunteers.
    Make meals for a woman who has just had a baby
    Let us know how things work out for you!

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #6 on: May 29, 2018, 06:57:27 AM »
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  • I wouldn't be as concerned about not speaking with anyone per se as I would be if something were to happen. Who would call you an ambulance, or a priest? 

    Offline jvk

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #7 on: May 30, 2018, 06:20:13 AM »
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  • I hope you don't feel as if you don't matter.  God knows you exist, and Our Lord even died for you.  Even if it seems as if everyone else has forgotten you, HE still cares.  They left Him all alone, too, during His passion. 

    I agree with everyone else: make a small effort to smile at someone; make an effort to engage in pleasant conversation with the cashier at the store.  Those small things can make a difference in someone's day--and yours.  Start small, if you can. 

    I used to feel as if I was invisible, too.  It's not a pleasant feeling.  But now I see that it was God's way of protecting me from becoming part of the world, and too worldly, and thus losing my soul.

    Anyway, remember that you're always in God's mind.  You're His creation, and He made you out of nothing...because He loves you and wants you in Heaven someday.  So don't get discouraged!

    ****Do please let everyone know how you're doing.****


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #8 on: May 30, 2018, 08:41:38 PM »
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  • OP here!  I think people mostly misunderstood my post.  It was not about feeling lonely or abandoned so much as just a very strange experience, like being on a silent retreat while going about my normal business in Manhattan.  (NYC)  I do thank everyone who was concerned for your kind responses and good advice.  The “spell” was broken by a rude panhandler in the subway.  He was dissatisfied with the amount of money I placed in his cup!  I wished him God’s blessings anyway.  “Only in NY!”  (Sigh)

    In retrospect, I rather enjoyed the silence now that my phone rings, people text, I get robo calls about switching my electric or web service!

    Offline Nadir

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #9 on: May 30, 2018, 09:13:04 PM »
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  • Interesting...
    then I wonder why you posted anonymously.
    Help of Christians, guard our land from assault or inward stain,
    Let it be what God has planned, His new Eden where You reign.

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #10 on: May 30, 2018, 09:45:48 PM »
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  • Seven days have come and gone without speaking to anyone or anyone speaking to me, despite seeing lots of people, riding in crowded trains and buses, going to laundromat, ATM, and grocery. My phone has been on, but no calls or texts except a robo-call in Chinese, (I don't speak a word of it.) and an email from Target, with whom I've never done business and never will.  

    I could vanish from the earth and not be missed. Should I break the silence or see how long it will last?  When I leave my apartment everything seems odd, as if I've never seen it before, although it is simultaneously quite familiar.  Maybe I'm in an episode of The Twilight Zone, for those old enough to remember the show.
    Been there, done that, & I still experience that today.  It’s the way of the world, nowadays. I’m not sure if it’s spiritual despair or human despair.  Either way, seeking out a good confessor priest is the best.  I don’t have any Catholic parishes, churches or chapels within 300 miles of where I live.  I travel once a year for confession and Holy Communion to the closest Catholic chapel (300 miles away). I still feel alone amongst most people I deal with, day to day, but I take some solace in being in the presence of Christ and His Mother through my meager prayers and small devotions.  I live a solitary lay-person’s life but I do struggle with despair a lot.  


    Offline poche

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    Re: Anyone else out there experience this?
    « Reply #11 on: May 31, 2018, 11:08:55 PM »
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  • Interesting...
    then I wonder why you posted anonymously.
    It could be that the poster feels isolated and uncomfortable with the fact that even though he lives among a lot of people he feels as though he were invisible.