Skip to main content

The Lamentable Loss of Self-Actualization


I wish I could be happier. Strike that. What I mean to say is that I wish I could be happier more easily. There are a great many things in life that I have to be grateful for. And, often, I am. But the tendency is to focus on the negative first. It often takes a conscious effort to be fully appreciative of things. This is something I'm working on. Indeed, it is one of many things in life that I strive to better about myself. Sometimes it's successful, sometimes... well... it's a work-in-progress.

Why do I mention all of this, I ask rhetorically? Good question. It's because I spend a lot of time (too much time) on social networking sites (specifically, Facebook and Twitter), and have noticed an uneasy trend developing amongst certain folks. It is along the lines of, 'Here I am world, take me as I am!' (although it isn't always put so expletive-free). Here is an example of what I'm referring to:



Charming, no?  A few things come to mind whenever I read something like that:

1) The person probably cares a lot more about what others think of them than they are willing to admit.

2) If they don't, then they're an anti-social asshole.

3) It's impossible to please everyone, but sometimes there is legitimacy to the issues folks may have with us. If a (serious) response is to scoff at them, then we've chosen obdurateness over the human flexibility to perhaps change oneself for the better.

I see this a lot on Facebook, et al. People with issues (i.e, most of us) admit that we have issues, but then post some sort of snide, defensive remarks to the effect of how it's ok that we are who we are, and if someone doesn't like it, then they can just move on. Folks, this sucks. Sorry, but it does. I mean, it's one thing to acknowledge the good things about yourself. But we should also listen to the criticisms from others, right?

Look, no one is perfect. Not you, certainly not I. And, sometimes, our imperfections are what make us unique, quirky and lovable. But not always. So let's end this trend of pretending like we don't care what others think about us. Let's realize that, as long as there is breath in our bodies, we should strive to be better. Otherwise, what's the point?


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Orby-D

Twenty-four-years ago today, we lost one of the greatest singers of the rock & roll era. While Roy Orbison will be forever known in the pantheon of rock/pop legends, for me he will always be the voice that I melded with during turbulent high school years, and that I love to this day. Roy Orbison wrote and (more importantly) sang about love. Mostly, it was tragic love, not the happy-go-lucky love that so many of his contemporaries sang about. No one could do depressive songs better than Mr. Orbison. This is probably why I identified with his music so much. I mean, we all have had our down times but, during high school, I'd cornered the market.
Post a Comment
Read more

Watching The Hours

A Twitter friend named Paula has asked for folks to submit ideas for a blog-a-thon about what we think will be the classic films of the future. In other words, what relatively recent movies (namely, from the 21st century), do we think will be considered classics in the decades to come, possibly airing on such venerable stations as Turner Classic Movies ? While a number of films come to mind for such a category, one in particular stood out from the rest, and thus is my entry for Paula's blog-a-thon.
5 comments
Read more

The Year in Music

There are times in your life when you will read or watch something, stop for a moment, and think to yourself: "This is truth. This is gospel, right here." For some, it may have been the first time you read the Bible, the Tanakh, or the Koran. For others, it could have been when you read self-help books such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , or Chicken Soup for the Soul . Still, for others, it's going to be this blog post right here. The truth is, dear reader, that 1993 was the best year for music. Full-stop. Some of you already know this. For others, it will be a revelation. Please, allow me to explain. Following are some of the albums released in 1993, with a bit of commentary from yours truly. During or after reading this, I think you'll agree that there's really no question anymore that 1993 was king. Ok, here we go.
Post a Comment
Read more