Summary

The author recounts how their wife cleverly managed to bypass their arrogance and pride to share valuable insights, ultimately outsmarting them.

Abstract

The article titled "Wedge Salads: How to Penetrate the Shield of Arrogance" details the author's struggle with excessive self-esteem and how it created a barrier to receiving advice from others, particularly his wife. Despite considering himself intellectually superior, the author's wife devised a strategy to subtly introduce information to him, which he would later accept as his own ideas, effectively bypassing his arrogance. This method is humorously likened to an episode of "Modern Family" and is acknowledged by the author as a defeat at the hands of his wife, whom he now recognizes as the mastermind with a superior mind. The author humorously reflects on the situation, admitting that his wife's approach allowed him to accept information without his pride getting in the way, and he now honors her for her wisdom and cunning.

Opinions

The author initially suffered from excessive self-esteem, which they refer to as a "shield of arrogant superiority."
The author's wife is portrayed as patient and strategic, using indirect methods to communicate important information to her husband.
The author acknowledges their defeat and admires their wife's ability to outwit them, referring to her as having a superior mind.
The article suggests that direct confrontation with the author's pride would not have been effective, necessitating a more subtle approach.
The author reflects on their past behavior with a sense of humor and self-deprecation, indicating a change in perspective.
The author now views their wife's actions as a clever way to penetrate their shield of arrogance and considers her the true victor in their intellectual contests.

Wedge Salads: How to Penetrate the Shield of Arrogance

How my wife outsmarted me and beat me at my own game.

I suffered from excessive self-esteem.

Pride and Arrogance, the Price for Being Gifted

Some would contend that I still do.

I won’t debate that one, but I can share how my wife completely and utterly defeated me in a contest of intellect and emotional resolve.

I humbly acknowledge complete defeat at the hands of a master.

She knows what is best in life.

Despite my lofty self-evaluation, my wife found a way to penetrate my delusions and get helpful information to me.

Both sides of this little interaction are aptly captured in Season 2, episode 16 of Modern Family.

This upset my wife for years.

Because I believed I was so much smarter than everyone else, no one could tell me anything. I always knew best, particularly when I didn’t.

Simply telling me things wouldn’t have penetrated my shield of arrogant superiority.

My pride rejected all information, not directly sustaining my lofty self-opinion.

My wife’s information came from a faulty, lowly mortal who doesn’t check her facts, so I didn’t hear her words.

But the words sunk in, subconsciously, through the back door.

Even if I had known she was the source of information originally, I most certainly would have cast a spell upon myself to forget it.

Then, later, when this new, utterly original idea emerged from my mind, it was washed clean of its association with my wife.

Then I was a genius!

More smoke to blow up my ass!

When Wedge Salad incidents occurred, my wife used to go bananas.

Who could blame her?

After a while, my wife stopped becoming upset.

She used to mumble “wedge salad” under her breath and giggle — which was cool with me because I could remain prideful and enjoy the smoke.

She found the wisdom to see what was happening and use it to her advantage.

She planted Wedge Salads on purpose and waited for them to ripen.

When they did, she obtained the delightful satisfaction of outwitting the master.

She beat me at my own game!

Kudos to her!!!

I admit defeat. I bow in honor to the superior mind.

Originally published at https://selflessanatta.substack.com.