Here I am, back from the Thanksgiving trip, trying to get some writing done and I can't because I'm too busy wallowing in self-pity. I'm hoping writing it down will get it out so I can get back to the story.
The trip back was about three hours too long and apparently I'm a failure as a human being. That's ok though, as I see it, because lots of well-known writers are failures as human beings. It just ensures that we have lots of time to write.
It's entirely my fault that I ask a simple opinion question and get a Socratic method answer and when I object I'm told I'm being passive-aggressive (someone shoot me if I ever use that phrase to describe another person - I believe it is one of the least helpful criticisms one can give another person, except perhaps "defensive"). The nice thing was I actually did get to hear the discussion I was seeking in the first place, it just had to be phrased differently by another person in the car.
I know everyone should be cut some slack because we were trapped in a small space for a long period of time and everyone was stressed. But I'm tired of being told what's wrong with me. I'm tired of twisting this way and that trying to accommodate people I work with and people I'm related to. It makes me feel like my feelings don't count. Maybe they don't. Maybe the "higher" way is to subvert all personal "ego" and bend as the wind blows. If one has nothing one can call "feelings", one can't have one's feelings hurt. If you're being called passive-agressive, you wouldn't feel upset because thier feeling validated is what counts. That's certainly the approach I've taken at work. "The customer is always right." or coworker or whatever. I'm nothing. I don't count. What can I do for you?
See, having no feelings means you can toss out self-pity as invalid too. It's just the ego trying to be heard. Ignore it and it'll go away. Oooooohhhhmmmmm.
Like now.
(Now 5000 words are calling my name... ciao)
3 comments:
Hmm... I don't know if you like country music. But, that thought reminds me very much of an old song by Kenny Chesney titled "Tin Man" good song, I'd definitely recommend it. (that is if you can stand country)
Good song, Nate. Country songs I'm ambivalent on (some really good, some not so much) but I'd like to hear this one. I looked up the lyrics online (posted below for the rest of the audience). Really moving lyrics.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Tin Man
by Kenny Chesney
(courtesy of www.lyricsdepot.com)
Saw a man in the movies that didn't have a heart
How I wish I could give him mine
Then I wouldn't have to feel it breaking all apart
And this emptiness inside would suit me fine
It's times like these
I wish I were a tin man
You could hurt me all you wanted
And I'd never even know
I'd give anything just to be the tin man
And I wouldn't have a heart and I wouldn't need a soul
I couldn't see your leavin' comin'
You took me by surprise
Even now it still seems like a dream
But I know I can't be dreamin'
'Cause as I lay down each night
The pain so great that it won't let me sleep
It's times like these
I wish I were a tin man
You could hurt me all you wanted
And I'd never even know
I'd give anything just to be the tin man
And I wouldn't have a heart and I wouldn't need a soul
Well I'd give anything just to be the tin man
And I wouldn't have a heart and I wouldn't miss you so
Annie, I'm sorry you had such a rough time on the way back in the car. I really enjoyed helping you flesh out the story, I think you are a great writer and I can't wait to read the finished product! As far as your difficulties during the trip . . . just remember that we all have our challenges, things that people constantly harp on about our personalities that for goodness sake we just can't seem to shed. Regardless, we all love you very much and wouldn't want you any other way than the way you are joyful, expressive, bouncy (at times!), intelligent, creative, and loving.
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