Richard Cor de Lyon's reply history at Help.com

I believe it was Ben Franklin that said, “I can not trust a man that can only figure out one way to spell a word”.

But that being said, the chat room, text message, techno world we live in has changed the face of English. I’m pretty sure you can now purchase books that will provide the definitions of most acronyms. I believe it will eventually end up in mainstream dictonaries (i.e. Webster), if it has not already.

In answer to your question. Good luck, I don’t think will have much luck. You might try writing a book to combat that next Dummy book; “Chat lingo and emoticons for Dummies”.
Bright blessings ~ R

You’ve been talking to someone for 3 weeks, and you don’t know her? What do you talk about? Sorry I don’t understand. If you like her, why do you care that she called you, that is not important. But if she won’t talk to you, then there is no relationship, and you should move on.
~Rich

Nope… I wanna have a Christian or pagan Russian girlfriend that lives in San Francisco… any help??

I understand your perspective AKS.. but you used the same word I used (I just misspelled it ;) prejudiced. There is a BIG difference between prejudiced and racism (so I’m learning). Racism springs up out of slavery here in America… slavery was a social construct… it was out and out LAWS passed by the white majority for economic reasons. These laws were oppressive and wrong. Even after the civil war… little was done to fix… even after M.L. King Jr. a great deal happened but you know not enough. Racism is by definition exclusive to white people against the people of color they oppressed. So, by definition a person of color can not be racist. Prejudiced… ohhhh hell yeah… anyone can pre-judge. As I said before anyone can be prejudiced. I’m sure we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one… but I too will stand firm on my position, which is in alignment with many of the leaders (including whites) of the anti-racism movement.
~ Rich

Racism is and has always been systemic. Any “ism” is a broad social schema. So by definition a person of color CANNOT show raceism… it is and always has been the white power structure that CREATED the oppression of raceism. Anyone can have sterotypes that they act off of… or prejudges… but racist/racism… sorry that is exclusive to the oppression of “whites” to people of color. Can I as a white man understand all that a black person has to endure in this great country??? NEVER. I will forever empathize… sympathize.. but I’ll never know the oppression they endure even today. To call a person of color racist is wrong.. just plain wrong.
Bright blessings ~ Rich

I have fasted… but only lasted 3 days :( The mind was willing but the flesh was weak. I’m sure if I tried now I could go longer. I agree, it is an awakening and very beneficial.
~ Rich

WOW… I know just what you mean. GO FOR IT!!! I didn’t when I should have… mostly because of the lack of support I had, and not it’s too late. But if you never want to work another day in your life… you have to LOVE what you are doing. Follow your dreams - regret nothing!
Bright blessings ~ Rich

Fasting is an ancient and valuable spiritual practise. Masters from Jesus to Buddha have fasted. We are spiritual beings, and must take the steps necessary to “feed” that energy ~ fasting is merely one tool to do this. Fasting is a redirection of pyshical energy to the spiritual ‘body’. Queen, need not justify her practise to anyone, she was just sharing her life, a generous gesture if you ask me.

I understand what you are doing Elizabeth and wish you success. I personally think you’ve got quite a bit going already, but YOU are the only one that knows your empty spaces, and what you missed on your path. I’m very proud of you. Thank you for consulting your doctor before doing it.
Love and Bright blessings ~ Rich

hmmmm doesn’t sound too much like love to me. Rebound relationships are always tough. Sounds to me like you needed more time to be by yourself, and make sure you fully understand why you first relationship didn’t work AND are you taking responsibility for that where it is appropriate. When I say more time to be by yourself… I’m not talking about quiet walks in the park (although that is a good idea) but I’m talking about ending your relationship with this woman and making sure your life is together enough to have a relationship (especially one with a ready made family). Believe me… at 21 YOU GOT THE TIME!
Bright blessings ~ Rich

cool… Bright blessings ~ R

What do you do? and more importantly… what do you WANT to do?

No… it’s not bad. What that seems to mean to me though is you are not quite “comfortable in your own skin”. You admit to changing… you know what, we all change (this is one of the larger chapters in my book). Change is actually a pretty good thing usually. We all change many times over the years for one reason or another. The problem is not the change, but how we relate to the change, and how we cope with it.

Alot of people laugh when they do that exercise because they are just nervous… it’s not something that we are taught (to love ourself). We are actually taught that is a bad thing… you are concieted… or stuckup… a snob if you love yourself… and that teaching is hogwash! WE MUST FIRST LOVE OURSELF. Why you cried, you seriously need to discover for yourself (get help if you need by talking to someone, reading the right books…etc). There could be many reasons, and only one of those reasons could be this guy. The goal is to go to mirror, see your reflection and say, “I love you”… just like you would say it to your lover… and FEEL just as good as if you were saying it to your lover.

Bright blessings ~ Rich

K ~ I’m not sure you read my post.

Darling… you can change back and forth… get fat, skinny… you can wear leather or silk… you can strip dance or ride motorcycles. You can do anything your heart and mind wants. But if you are doing it to appeal or apease a mans whim… your relationship will suck big time ultimately. You need first to discover who you are. I’m starting to feel like you don’t know who you are. If you don’t know yourself… if you don’t love yourself… then you will never have a strong healty relationship. Because if you cannot (know/love yourself) than no one else can either. Do me a favor… go into the bathroom… look into the mirror and say out loud (you must say it out loud) “I love you” if you can tell your reflection that you love yourself… without cringing or laughing out loud… that is a good sign.
Bright blessings ~ Rich

Of course. Anything that makes you get out and do the opposite of what you are used to will change you. I’m an amature performer on stage and a little TV. You’d be surprised at the number of actors that are actually what you would call introverted. I want to make sure that you understand what introverted is. It has very little to do with being shy. You can be a shy extrovert, and in terms of speaking in front of large groups… well that is the number one phobia today. Being an introvert merely means that you would rather seek out the solitude of your own mind to rest or find answers. It is easy for you to be by yourself. An extrovert needs to be in the middle of something. If they have a problem they will talk about it to everyone… not stew over it internally for weeks. If they want to relax… they’ll go grab a friend (cause they do very little alone) and go play some racket ball or take in a movie. No worries Shivanii, I’m sure that you will be just fine :)
~Bright blessings ~Rich