Get A Grip!
Who do you think you are?
I took a few days away from my keyboard because I was feeling a little burned out lately. Mostly, I was spending a couple of days feeling sorry for myself.
Call it what you like. Imposter Syndrome, Writer’s Block, or just plain COVID Overload Misery. After a while, I guess it all becomes too much and you ultimately slip into the “woe is me” pit of despair.
I used to be the kind of person that flapped off at the drop of a hat. Every little squeaky noise would set me off. If I was cut-off in traffic, I would flip the bird and yell obscenities.
Anywhere I thought I or other people were being cheated or duped, I would scream into the machine, demanding the perpetrators be brought to justice, post haste.
Every time I witnessed another example of a total lack of common sense, I would shout, “Darwin was right! Save them from themselves.”
Then I started to rethink the stuff that was affecting my psyche and bringing me to the boiling point. Triggered by the brilliance of an amazing partner, I started to realize how much is just not worth getting worked up about.
With her help and understanding, I’ve worked hard on that part of myself for the last few years, and I finally feel like I have my temperament under control. Howling at the moon doesn’t help me anymore. Actually, I finally learned that it never did.
There’s always an occasional backslide though. Sooner or later, the bottled up emotion erupts like a geyser. You just gotta blow, but where you channel that kinetic energy is what really counts.
This morning was rock bottom for me. My self-pity lumped to the surface like passed dated milk in my coffee cup. Even the dog wanted nothing to do with me, so I let her out the back door to escape the negativity.
That’s when those soft, welcoming, lovely green eyes looked up and gazed into mine. Without speaking a word she told me she completely understood.
One, unspoken word struck me between the eyes.
Gratitude
What the hell am I moaning about, I thought? What the hell are the rest of us whining about? Nonsense, mostly.
No matter how crazy this world gets, most of us still have it better than most, hands down. Like me, if you have a roof over your head, food in your fridge, and a device with which t read and write on with the will to express whatever it is you want, then what’s the problem?
Express, by all means.
Even if it’s crap! Even if it’s a self-serving attempt to extract attention and money from gullible readers; go ahead. On Medium lately, there’s been an inordinate amount of bellyaching about the charlatans who prey on the poor unsuspecting newbies, peddling their latest “make your dream come true” scheme. Guess what?
I choose! You choose. Everyone else can choose whether to buy into your inane hypotheses or simply ignore you and get on with their lives. Why is this garnering more prominence than the real problems in this world?
You know. Stuff like world hunger, racism, pandemic, greed, and power-mongering.
The writing prowess of others is not something to bitch about.
How about some constructive observations? Go ahead and publish it all. If you see the potential, add a useful comment. If it’s not your cup of tea, don’t pay attention. Sooner than later, the crap will fade away. Like my foul mood just did.
Ah…that feels better.
Good talk.
As always, thanks for taking the time. I always appreciate it. You are welcome to learn more about me here.
