I’ll say it again. I am the problem.
Do you ever get that feeling? I get it from time to time.
I must confess, I have not gotten it lately. I have been too busy reacting. Yes, reacting. To this, that and the other. Anger, frustration, outrage … to a degree I don’t recall experiencing when Dubya was the outrage in chief.
The ‘outer’ distractions have kept me from thinking about ways in which I am the problem.
More below.
Top Comments recognizes the previous day's Top Mojo and strives to promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send comments (before 9:30pm ET) by email to topcomments@gmail.com or by our KosMail message board.
Yes, I know the Serenity Prayer.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
And, of course, the insightful variation on that prayer, whatever it may be called. The It’s Mostly About Me Prayer, perhaps.
God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,
the courage to change the one I can,
and the wisdom to know it’s me.
I had an insightful moment a day or so ago. I was in a [circumstance I don’t care to identify more explicitly], and I found myself becoming very impatient with [someone else I don’t care to identify more explicitly]. It struck me, because I think of myself as being much better with patience than that.
So, why the uncharacteristic impatience? Why the unusual level and intensity of impatience?
And the answer came to me.
It’s because I have a task before me that I am not making progress on (enough progress on). It is a scary project. It is a project with some ego risk. But, it is a project I believe in and am committed to. I am just not investing enough in progress on it. I am not pushing enough. I am not being aggressive enough.
I realized that that was the real origin of the impatience, and also why the prospects of improvement with it are so low. Because it is really me who I am impatient with. I am the problem.
So my apologies to my friends near and far. It really isn’t you. It really is me.
As so often happens in the ‘real world,’ cathartic insight alone doesn’t cause the consequence to disappear. I have, in fact, become impatient since the realization. There was no inoculation.
But … with the impatience comes recurrence of the realization, so it very quickly is robbed of its immediate intensity, of its persistence.
And work on my project is moving forward. Never fast enough, never fast enough. But one small roadblock has begun to dissipate. And I look forward with some eagerness to better mood. And to more effective advocacy.
On to tonight’s comments! (Special thanks to brillig for the assistance!)
TOP COMMENTS
Brillig's ObDisclaimer:The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything withoutregard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do notpublish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From ZenTrainer:
In my diary asking folks how they get energy, I gotta say I loved
this comment by
Mrcynical!
Highlighted by inkstainedwretch:
Is this fine comment by 4CasandChlo, about our candidates, and conducting our primary vetting well.
Highlighted by 100fishhooks:
Is this sarcastic comment by stlawrence about Elaine Chao.
Highlighted by VEURA:
Is this comment by Friend of the court, also competing in the Elaine Chao sweepstakes.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, September 15th 2019, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures
Top Pictures for yesterday, September 15th 2019. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!