about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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December 22, 2004

Not about me permalink

nigella and the exercycle
Nigella tries to figure out the exercycle while Sweetie looks on
In keeping with the Reggie Leach quote below, I walked into work. I thought it would make me feel better physically and mentally and emotionally, and low and behold, it did. Hopefully its effects will be long lasting.

(But in case that doesn't work, I've got hot cocoa as a hedge)

I still am a bit cross, even after doing a lot of talking about it, and crying about it, for most of the day. But I think I may have had a breakthrough this morning.

Nigella is the outgoing cat of the household. She's bold, she's friendly, and a lot of times, she's a real pain. She's gotten in this delightful habit of thumping herself against the bedroom door and shredding the carpet noisily in the middle of the night. She has other adorable habits as well. There are times I get upset with her, and occasions when she gets a time-out, but in the end, how can I not love her? She's a sweet cat, and, she's just a cat. Expecting her to not destroy things is just not realistic.

So, why can't I just say to myself: so-and-so is ________________ (insert quality here)? This person is as much a bundle of good and bad qualities as I am, as Nigella is. Why can't I get to the point where it's not about keeping my guard up so much as recognizing that this is the way s/he is wired? We don't expect children to behave like adults (or at least, I don't)...

And also. I'm a horrible klutz, physically as well as socially. Things come out of my mouth that I'm not even aware could be considered malice. Why do I expect others to be perfect when I'm well-aware that I'm not?

I forgot the rule that it's not about me.

Posted at December 22, 2004

Comments

1. Misbehaving cats get a time-out in the yard with the garden hose.

2. Misbehaving adults get the same time-out.

3. Treat children like children.

4. You deserve to be treated with kindness, and people who don't respect that need a time-out (see #1 above).

Posted by: Jon in Michigan at December 22, 2004 2:04 PM