'Bout time I posted something lenthy, babble enfused and weighty all at once, eh?
I neither hold issue with my body size nor habits (including the occasional moderate smoking one).
I'm planning my wedding, and I'm human - so of course there are thoughts of oh man my arms are too fat for a sleeveless dress, my feet too fat for proper shoes, etc. But seriously, once I put on the dress I fell for, it didnt matter anymore. I felt that beautiful bride thing, just because I am, regardless. Not because fat is beautiful too. Healthy is beautiful and healthy is happy, happy is healthy.
(DUH).... So this leads right into something that drives me crazy about our society. Doesnt seem to me people get that concept. Now don't read me wrong - this is not to throw out the value of physical health. Not in the least - I'm theres oodles of statistics that tell you how your physical well being contributes just as much as your emotional well being to your overall level of functioning in society - but I'm not talking quantitative, I'm talking qual. I'm talking impressions, I'm talking expressions. How do you express yourself.
Clearly, by the comments in my post 'Case of the Monday's post - I'm subject to some miscommuncation myself. Sarcasm, wit and otherwise expressing whims are not easy in this realm - eaisly mis-interpreted for pity and resolve sure. These are not things this blog will ever be about - and if they're ever present it will be a direct admission thereof. Alas, I'm digressing.
Here's what I see too much of: facades. People with two faces, a (what they believe is) public persona; and a behind the backs of the world persona. How now, is hypocisy healthy or a happy way of living? Why do people say one thing, then say another?
Here's more of what I see all too much of in this society: A life on display. Did I ask to find out how you kissed your gay lover? Did I ask you to pretend you care about me way more than you, in reality do or should? Did I ask your indignation to rise to the surface? and Furthermore, who spit on you, cuz it sure wasnt me and it sure wasnt the government and it wasnt the President and it wasn't my mom or my cousin's mom. It seems to me everyone finds everything in the world way too personal and overwhelming and in turn expresses way too much sensitive/negative energy as a result. For example: A Southern Pastor expresses disagreement with abortion according to his belief in the word of God through the Bible. Does that mean that every resident of this country's south region that professes belief in the Bible is anti-abortion? Does that give people the right to judge a population? How is it that a person can take the expressed views of a few and make them the majority? What makes that person need to feel so crushed by the differing positions in this society? It's like setting yourself up for nothing but negativity - when in reality no on has directly assaulted you. Please show me the person, and the exact situations that defamed you directly and I will listen and sympathize and pray with you to overcome that. That is what you want right? To overcome these things and not mount on further negativity right?
The political examples I use above are just easy conversational ones - this stuff seems to come on all levels - personally, politically, religiously, fanatically etc. None of it healthy and none of it happy.
My question, I'm getting to after all this, is how do I react? (generally I dont but man am I tempted to lay it out sometimes....) What unifying ways are there in situations where someone is persecuting themselves further than need be, or simply largely being hypocritical? Is it just that we all never stop to think of the appearance we create when we open our mouths? Should we not be opening them to only rectify the negativity and not to add to it?
I agree with you on the culture of negativity, irresponsibility and victimhood. What to do about it? I just try to be as positive as I can, provide a flawed and human but earnest example. If that has no effect the only course of action is to remove yourself from the negative company lest you become bitter yourself. Only the individual can change their behavior. And most live by the example of others, too many of which are poor. All you can do is play the one card you have: your own free will.
Posted by: george at August 30, 2005 04:42 PM