Other People vs Me

We are raised, hopefully, to be considerate. Maybe some miss out on this character building chance, but there is opportunity in a lifetime to improve. Some people get the idea via behavior modification experience that other people matter more than self, and it's tough to overcome. I've heard several times in the last month the other people trope used to pacify me. I pulled hard to get a book out of my post office box that had been bent in the middle to shove it in. It was clearly a book. I took the now delta-winged package to the desk. I didn't yet know what I could do about it, or what I wanted done. I showed it to the man. He shrugged his shoulders. The woman next to him said, other people do not want to wait in line to get a package too big for the box. At that point I knew what I wanted to accomplish. No more folded books. I said I want my box tagged as a no stuffing box. Today I was describing a life situation, and the person I was talking with said, "many people have these phases." This is behavior modification dialectics. I am verbally coached to give up my goal, rethink priorities, pull back and be quiet because other people do something or don't do something? It's interesting. Think of a lifetime with this messaging. How do we stand out, feel good about our successes, and get what we want? We learn to ignore the other people dialogue, and focus on what it is we need to have solved at that moment in time, and use our personal power to solve it.

The Reluctant Molt

I'm molting. Someone in this house might find a weird leftover skin. Like the movie Aliens. I have no idea what me will emerge, but walking fast yesterday, my brain bouncing around stuff happening lately, this answer tumbled out. I'm molting. Old ideas aren't serving, defense postures get me nowhere, although I thought the weapons cabinet was fully stocked. Not any more. We used to have the power out often here in rural Michigan for hours at a time. I never stopped flipping light switches on for however long we were without electricity. Habit: up for on, down for off. My personal switch is broken now. Toolkit - missing. Guess I'll have to change some behavior, huh? I started today by facing the stuff I've been avoiding. Major decisions put off, action delayed. Walked to the bank, and got my account straightened out. It was a pleasant experience and the manager advised me to switch to a different type of account. Success! A problem turned into a pleasant solution. I am engaged in facing facts bravely. For now. Check back tomorrow. P.S. That's my new haircut. I can't style it, but it looks okay in a pencil sketch.