Boy, I was poisonous yesterday in my Self-Help Sucks post.
I feel immature about it. But we all have those days and I purposely allowed it because it would make me even crabbier to pretend or be dishonest with myself. Honesty makes me feel good. Yes, I can be immature and whiny and feeling sorry for myself. I have pity parties. I rage. I say the f-word a lot on those days. I’m not at my best. It’s shameful.
But it’s okay, I think, so long as I realize where I’m at and get out. So long as I don’t stay in that state. Frankly, it’s too ugly a state to remain in. Even I can’t stand me.
So this morning I’m on a different path. Possibly I feel better because I have today and tomorrow off as well as Thursday and another long weekend after. Possibly this time off makes me feel as though I have some breathing room, finally.
This morning, coincidentally the first day of March, I’m thinking spring. Hop on over to Sirius to see what I mean in today’s guest post.
You had ended that fine little rant saying you knew this wasn’t helping you. Wrong. Writing it out had to have helped, if even just a tiny bit. And look at you today. All springy and sunshiney. You are allowed to feel in the dumps you know. Good for you for being so honest about it.
Bouncing back is what is important. Nice bounce.
Nice bounce! that’s what the boys used to say in high school.
No seriously, thank you. You’re right. I think it did help. Usually ranting does help me but while I’m fostering all the negativity, I know it’s not directly helping me forward. Still, though, sometimes we need the cloak of darkness before we can robe ourselves in light. Which is a silly poetic way of saying sometimes we need to acknowledge our ugly before we can see the beauty and promise.
I think. Hell, I don’t know.
This bouncing talk reminds me of Brazil.
Noooo! DON’T apologize! I loved your rant!!! It needed to be said.
In fact, I’m on the verge of writing a similar post myself.
I’m just so Godamned SICK of this constant barrage of life-changing tear-inducing advice from self-appointed “experts” who never met us. Yet they try to tell us how to improve our so called “unfilled” lives.
Live your dreams. Prioritize your goals. Simply your life. 10 tips on how to achieve inner peace…15 tips on how to wipe your arse….Blah blah blah. I swear, there’s a 1:1 ratio for people giving advice, to those forced to listen to it.
Apparently, these so-called gurus would have us spend every waking minute planning and figuring out how to live life to is absolute fullest.
And if we’re not, then it’s implied that we’re basically screw-ups working mundane cubicle jobs, stagnating, and procrastinating.
Emotional blackmail, is what it is.
And if you read between the lives, a lot of these advice-givers are doing this as a hobby.
Hey, if I had a spouse slaving away in an office supporting ME, I can probably sit home and write E-books about being happy. and self-actualize TOO.
(*There! Rant over.*)
There…now I’ve done it.
I’ve blasphemed.
The Blogoland Police are going to revoke my WordPress License.
Friar: Well, I don’t know that I was totally apologizing but I admit I felt embarrassed after the rant. But you’re right, I needed to get it out. Sometimes I don’t want to be cheered up or told what to do by people who make it sound all too easy. It’s not. It’s a huge lifelong process, and there are those who are living the dream for whatever reason and have fewer troubles, and those who struggle at life day by day, just trying to stay afloat. I’m the latter.
I am not actually against self-help or improvement. I really do want to improve myself as a person and my life; I’m not happy with either. I’m not a subscriber to the whole “you’re great the way you are” spiel. I just find it much harder than some people to change things and when I find it hard, I get pissed at the whole thing, especially the repetitiveness of it all. What I don’t like is how cliché the self-help approach has become. Sure, they try to word things differently. If someone has changed themselves and their lives around and they want to share that, that’s fine, but their approach doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for everyone and I really abhor the salesy way it’s usually presented. In the end, I’d rather read the Dalai Lama’s advice or just something from someone who sounds a little more understanding and human. A little more guidance and a lot less cheerleading and advertspeak, perhaps.
PS. What blogoland police? None here! Here we believe in freedom of speech and opinion.
PS. So long as it’s intelligent speech and opinion.
Intelligent speech…from ME?
Oh come ON! You gotta be kidding!
I expect that from you, Mr PhD.
Steph~
Not that it really relates overly much to this particular post, I love your new theme! It’s really quite fitting.
Also, I’m glad you seem to be feeling better than the day of the Self Help post. We all get that way sometimes.
Keep in touch.
~Kat
Thanks, Kat! The picture reminded me of me when I lived with my parents. I spent all my time lying on the floor (over the woodstove and in the sun!) with a book or magazine in front of me.