Life is like a game of cards

or: does anybody really know anyone else?

Published on December 30, 2004 By dharmagrl In Blogging

*this is slightly jumbled - i wrote as it came to me. Hopefully it makes sense...if not ask and I'll try to clarify*

Does my telling you things about myself mean that you know me?

Does my telling you negative things about myself, things that I'm ashamed of....does that mean that you know me?

Could it be that I'm playing my cards close to my chest? That you really don't know me at all....you just know what I choose to show you? That I'm playing the hand that I've been dealt to my advantage, and I'm only showing little pieces here and there? Because of that, you assume that you know me, you know all about me......

..well, you're wrong.

Don't assume that you know me, because you don't. You see what I want you to see. There are very few people who really know me....my husband is one, but there are a couple of people online who are pretty damn close to seeing all the cards that I'm holding.

If I'm doing this, playing my hand like this......who else is doing it? If other people are doing it (which I truly believe they are)...does anybody really know anyone?

I kind of like the idea of not really knowing anyone. That makes friendships more interesting....because we're always discovering new things about each other. Some good, some bad....but new and different.

Like the song says " You gotta know when to held 'em, know when to fold 'em...know when to walk away, and know when to run..."

I think that life is like a game of cards. We're all dealt different hands, some good, some not so good. It's not about the cards that you're dealt so much, it's about how you play them. It's about what you show and when....and to whom.

I'm holding a bunch of stuff. I'm not folding, and I sure as heck aint walking away.

Comments (Page 1)

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Dec 30, 2004

does anybody really know anyone?

Do we even really know ourselves?

dharmagrl

on Dec 30, 2004

Do we even really know ourselves?

That's a very good question. I don't think so. I know how I am to a certain extent, but I sometimes do things or react to things in ways that I find surprising. We're always changing.....physically and emotionally....so I think it fair to say that we never really fully know ourselves either.

You've got mail, btw.

TasT

on Dec 30, 2004

" You gotta know when to held 'em, know when to fold 'em...know when to walk away, and know when to run..."

It's damn near time for me to walk away and find another dealer, the one at the table now is dealing nothing but crap hands.

BlueDev

on Dec 30, 2004

I think back to things I have written, and while I have been open and honest in my writing, you are right in your assessment that no one here really knows me. Some know me a bit, but it is limited.

So we show a little more with each blog, we get to know each other some, but we hold back what we feel we need to. I suppose it is part of life.

Dr Guy

on Dec 30, 2004

does that mean that you know me?

Not unless you want them to. We can hide behind the keyboard and screen and say anything. If you do not want to let anyone in, no one will get in. If you open up and bare yourself, then you invite people in.

The choice is always yours, and only you know yourself. No one can pretend to know you that well.

dharmagrl

on Dec 30, 2004

Some know me a bit, but it is limited.

Exactly. You all know what I choose to show you. I think we're all like this to a degree.

No one can pretend to know you that well.

Ah, but people do. There's one person in particular who thinks that s/he has some kind of power over me....that s/he's got some inside info on not only me but a few other people as well. It's really quite funny, because s/he only knows what I have chosen to show them...and that aint much.

Phoenixboi

on Dec 30, 2004

Has the ripples of the tsunami started to affect humanity everywhere?? OMG even queens couldnt dramatise what is going on here the same way that everyone is doing it!! I dont know whether to laugh or stare in shock.. This is absolutely amazingly stupid what is going on.

Is it going to take another SLAP to make us take notice? OR am I gonna have to pull all the handbags out and start hitting???

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Dec 30, 2004

OR am I gonna have to pull all the handbags out and start hitting???

Please do... start with me...

dharmagrl

on Dec 30, 2004

This is absolutely amazingly stupid what is going on.

I agree, but as much as I try to stay out of it I can't. It hurts, P. So, I'm taking a time out for a while. I'm not superhuman, I can only ignore so much...so I'm going to have to walk away or else my anger will get the better of me.

I'm not the only one that's angry. D's seen what's going on ....and to say he's pissed is a huge understatement.

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Dec 30, 2004

Hey...UHM

(you have mail)

Signing off for the weekend at least....

Me

dynamaso

on Dec 30, 2004

Even after knowing someone for a long time, they can still say and do things out of 'character'. Nothing is stable, particularly the human ego, as it is directed by chaotic emotions. I like the idea that each day brings little surprises, be it a beautiful view not previously noticed, or a kind word or gesture. But this includes new aspects to the personalities around us each day that we haven't noticed or the individual hasn't expressed. I think you understand better than most that to accept change as inevitable also means accepting the fact that you may never be known or truly know anything. In some ways, I find this a relief because it means I can concentrate on the things I want to know and hopefully gain a greater understanding of life, the world, etc.

I hope what I'm saying makes some sense to you.

Happy New Year to you, Dharma. May 2005 bring you peace.

Cheers,

Maso

dharmagrl

on Dec 30, 2004

In some ways, I find this a relief because it means I can concentrate on the things I want to know and hopefully gain a greater understanding of life, the world, etc.

I hope what I'm saying makes some sense to you.

It makes perfect sense, and I feel the same way too. Impermanence, once you've got over the shock of realizing it, can be quite comforting...!

I don't think that I ever want to know someone totally. I think that I'd be left with a feeling of 'is that it?'...does that make sense?

Happy new year to you too, maso! I hope that 2005 brings all of us peace....and that the universe has nothing but good things in store for you and yours!

DylanZimmerman

on Dec 30, 2004

I don't know...people are strange things. You think you know someone, and then they go and do something crazy. I kinda like it, like you said,it keeps things interesting.

I suppose the sides you see are the sides people choose to express- or maybe its just how they feel at a particular time (or is it just me who's ridiculously mercurial in her emotions?). I think almost, if not everyone has some aspect of their personality they're kind of ashamed of, and I guess that's the part they try not to show.

I'm holding a bunch of stuff. I'm not folding, and I sure as heck aint walking away.

this one line really sums up the things I admire most about you dharma- your genuine humanity,- someone who has gifts and flaws and is prepared to admit to both- and your strength, in the face of that hardship (that hardship of being human).

Dyl xx

dynamaso

on Dec 30, 2004

Thanks so much Dharma. I would really like to have a better conversation about this at a later date. Now I must go make preparations for our celebrations.

Cheers,

Maso

dharmagrl

on Dec 30, 2004

Of all the people that read this, Dyl, I think you're the only one who got what I was talking about with that line. I was talking about life in general, as a whole...not just some acute circumstance (although it does fit that rather well too!). Thank you for your kind words....I think the same thing about you too. You're not one to let life beat you down and keep you there...

I would really like to have a better conversation about this at a later date. Now I must go make preparations for our celebrations.

You tell me when you want to resume, and resume we shall!

I keep forgetting that you are so many hours ahead of me...it's still the 30th here!

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