Blog Dis
Becoming what I fear most...
2024-08-20
It's like what I had said to my buddy, Tinny Peete, that most blogs become narcissistic rants with the blogger going on and on about the minutiae of every day life. And that is precisely what this vehicle has become for me, a place to describe the various pitfalls and highs of the writing life, and life itself, which is to say my particular spin on our crazy world, which by all rights, appears to provide the same uphill battles that most of us face.
Whew! That was one breathless sentence. Breathe.
We always want more money, more love, more space or more time to do the things we need to do. I love that expression 'feeding the soul' which implies that if you do not take an active part in feeding your own soul, doing the things you crave, who will? Surely, not the temple you pray to will feed you or perhaps the empty bottle of gin you're peering deeply into, after you've consumed its entire contents.
Ah yes, feeding the soul and narcissism. As an active member of the world, living in a community, we are destined to think of ourselves the minute we get up each day. It starts the same way, too. We wake up in a distinct state of mind, thinking about how our bodies feel and what agenda we wish to fulfill. A parent would tell you that they are obligated to fulfill the agenda of their child; their Id, if you will. And I say hats off to you for being so selfless. I think parents become parents because its serves a greater need to procreate for the purpose of prolonging a gene remnant, announcing to the world: I was here! I existed! Whereas, a single person isn't propelled to slog it out at work or manage the trials of life for their child alone. Nope. A single person is here to be selfish and to present to the world a level-headed, thinking brain that isn't persuaded by the needs of kids. I've seen this all too many times, working with parents who subjugate their morals and principles to get ahead because they have to build a college fund for their ungrateful offspring who harbors resentment out of a sense of entitlement.
Maybe in some ways we are all narcissistic. I ran into a young woman who I hadn't seen in almost two years. She vented her frustrations to me about living in a world that rewards selfishness and ego, and how the value of money and earning it far outweighs the value of living a true and easy life. Well, my sensitive one, this is a perspective which will send your thoughts into a tailspin of depression. Most definitely the world can be a disappointing place (at times) but on the whole, this life of being alive, of eating, drinking, feeling and wanting is pretty darn good when things are going your way. So, sometimes it's OK to behave as a narcissus providing you balance out the needs of other people, and allow their moment to behave like one too. Sometimes you get to spend an entire conversation ranting about the issues plaguing your mind and at other times, it's your turn to shut your trap and listen.
The writing life encourages narcissistic behaviour. To be a writer, you live in a state of contradiction because you have to willingly withdraw from the world to write about it. It has been pointed out to me by one friend that I'm selfish because I steal time away by myself when I could be with them. I think the best axiom to keep foremost in your thoughts should be this: Don't complain. Don't explain. This is a philosophy I try to adhere to and those who know me know that I am not one to incessantly complain. But I do have complaints about blogs and their navel-gazing writers. And yet, if the writing is interesting enough, and the individual is capable of stringing a sentence together that is at least half intelligent, then I suppose that person should not fear becoming the kind of person whose blog is entirely about themselves.
Honestly, I'm not sure if any of this makes sense. I can hardly understand myself at times much less all the time. Oh what the hell. It doesn't really matter does it if anyone understands you? You'll have your interpretation of events and life, as will I, and we can both read the same book, watch the same movie, listen to the same piece of music, and we'll come away with a different interpretation, and reaction. I call this individuality.
Do not fear that which is intrinsic to being human, to your life - your individuality!
Whew! That was one breathless sentence. Breathe.
We always want more money, more love, more space or more time to do the things we need to do. I love that expression 'feeding the soul' which implies that if you do not take an active part in feeding your own soul, doing the things you crave, who will? Surely, not the temple you pray to will feed you or perhaps the empty bottle of gin you're peering deeply into, after you've consumed its entire contents.
Ah yes, feeding the soul and narcissism. As an active member of the world, living in a community, we are destined to think of ourselves the minute we get up each day. It starts the same way, too. We wake up in a distinct state of mind, thinking about how our bodies feel and what agenda we wish to fulfill. A parent would tell you that they are obligated to fulfill the agenda of their child; their Id, if you will. And I say hats off to you for being so selfless. I think parents become parents because its serves a greater need to procreate for the purpose of prolonging a gene remnant, announcing to the world: I was here! I existed! Whereas, a single person isn't propelled to slog it out at work or manage the trials of life for their child alone. Nope. A single person is here to be selfish and to present to the world a level-headed, thinking brain that isn't persuaded by the needs of kids. I've seen this all too many times, working with parents who subjugate their morals and principles to get ahead because they have to build a college fund for their ungrateful offspring who harbors resentment out of a sense of entitlement.
Maybe in some ways we are all narcissistic. I ran into a young woman who I hadn't seen in almost two years. She vented her frustrations to me about living in a world that rewards selfishness and ego, and how the value of money and earning it far outweighs the value of living a true and easy life. Well, my sensitive one, this is a perspective which will send your thoughts into a tailspin of depression. Most definitely the world can be a disappointing place (at times) but on the whole, this life of being alive, of eating, drinking, feeling and wanting is pretty darn good when things are going your way. So, sometimes it's OK to behave as a narcissus providing you balance out the needs of other people, and allow their moment to behave like one too. Sometimes you get to spend an entire conversation ranting about the issues plaguing your mind and at other times, it's your turn to shut your trap and listen.
The writing life encourages narcissistic behaviour. To be a writer, you live in a state of contradiction because you have to willingly withdraw from the world to write about it. It has been pointed out to me by one friend that I'm selfish because I steal time away by myself when I could be with them. I think the best axiom to keep foremost in your thoughts should be this: Don't complain. Don't explain. This is a philosophy I try to adhere to and those who know me know that I am not one to incessantly complain. But I do have complaints about blogs and their navel-gazing writers. And yet, if the writing is interesting enough, and the individual is capable of stringing a sentence together that is at least half intelligent, then I suppose that person should not fear becoming the kind of person whose blog is entirely about themselves.
Honestly, I'm not sure if any of this makes sense. I can hardly understand myself at times much less all the time. Oh what the hell. It doesn't really matter does it if anyone understands you? You'll have your interpretation of events and life, as will I, and we can both read the same book, watch the same movie, listen to the same piece of music, and we'll come away with a different interpretation, and reaction. I call this individuality.
Do not fear that which is intrinsic to being human, to your life - your individuality!
