gimster, glad I was able to plant a positive seed. I have found that to be true.

Another spin I have put on life is the saying that people use when something bad happens, "WHY ME?"

Well, "WHY NOT YOU," is another way to look at it. Why should anyone get through life without anything bad happening to them? Why do we think we don't deserve something bad? Do we think we are better than the next person.

gimster, I pray like you. I also do prayers I learned in childhood on occasion, and I also dialogue with God the same way I dialogue with friends. Due to the prayer group I've attended for years, I have no problem at all praying out loud like I once did. I think the more we do it, the easier and more connected we become.

Maybe we should start a topic on prayer and what it is to everyone. Hmmm...