Grump

I'm in a dark and bitter mood today. I'd really like to give up on most of humanity. Our cultural values in this country are trash, intelligence of mankind is decreasing, caring and compassion are subjects of scorn rather than respect...

Okay, I admit my mood has a lot to do with a few rude things some "people" have said recently. But still, all the above remains true.

What's the POINT?

The other day in a waiting room I read the book Tuesdays with Morrie. It's touching, though I must agree with the Amazon.com reviewer who said the book was "repackaged platitudes". The one gem I brought away from it was that if you can't stand the culture you are in, if the mores and assumptions that surround you are detrimental to your own mental health, you must create your own culture. Great idea. I hereby pronounce myself a culture of one. Unlike Morrie, I don't have Ted Koppel banging down my door, so my culture will be a good deal smaller and have fewer visitors than Morrie's.

Maybe that's okay. It might be better off if some folks never found it.

Dear So-and-So

Self,

Snap out of it. This isn't doing you or anyone else any good.

Caringly but firmly,
Me

********************

Me,

Okay, I can see that, but do you have any decent ideas?

Petulantly,
Self

********************

Self,

Here is your assignment:
- Make a gratitude list
- Get one small but satisfying thing accomplished at work
- Tell someone else something you appreciate about them

Authoritatively,
Me

********************

Me,

All right, all right.

Sighing,
Self
enc: Part 1

Gratitude List

Snapdragons
Warm running water
Potato chips
Sunlight
Humor
Kitties
Quilts
Myosin

***************

Self,

Well done! *beam*

Me