The mental gymnastics are Olympic-level for sure and I agree, the limit does not exist. Most of us live in communities. We share public facilities and resources and it doesn’t always go well. I think we’ve all muttered under our breath or aloud, a time or two, about the current condition of something that was once clean, tidy, and operat…
The mental gymnastics are Olympic-level for sure and I agree, the limit does not exist. Most of us live in communities. We share public facilities and resources and it doesn’t always go well. I think we’ve all muttered under our breath or aloud, a time or two, about the current condition of something that was once clean, tidy, and operational. Could be anything really, from a service lobby to a public park. For example-
I walk my dog twice daily in my neighborhood. From time to time, I see excrement on the property. Did they forget their bag? Did they not see it? Who knows. I’ve made it a point to carry extra bags and pick it up. Our HOA dues are astronomical. It’s a historic property, the upkeep is imperative to its longevity and frankly, who wants to see pet waste everywhere? Rather unsanitary but also unsightly, no?
Every now and then, there’s a mess (left by another dog owner) that I can’t clean up. There was one instance in particular, when I miscalculated the situation, and though I went in with my hand in a double-shield of my own fashioning, the yuck got all over me, my dog’s leash etc..
That example comes to mind because it reminds me that no good deed goes unpunished, but it also reminds me to sidestep the mess. See it for what it is, from far away if possible, and then avoid it.
Step over it. Switch course. Whatever it takes.
That applies to petulance. That applies to willful ignorance. That applies to dissociative disorder.
Skip it. Still doing my best for my community while sparing my sanity by actively avoiding exercises in futility. Win! Win!
Also, a neighbor’s camera has identified the culprit and guess what? He knows what’s happening. He’s holding the leash. He waits. He looks over his shoulder to make sure the coast is clear, leaves it and keeps right on walking. Turns out, we don’t all care about the same things. 🤷🏻♀️
As you noted in your last paragraph, and I agree, our energy is better served elsewhere. Onward!
Yeah. The fact that people are willing to accept an authoritarian regime if it gets them what they want has spelled that out in stone. I just wish folks here would be honest with themselves and others about what they value. It would help the conversation move forward. Pretending to value human life in Ukraine, for example, while asking Ukrainians to “come to the table” with their abuser isn’t honest. It’s manipulative.
The mental gymnastics are Olympic-level for sure and I agree, the limit does not exist. Most of us live in communities. We share public facilities and resources and it doesn’t always go well. I think we’ve all muttered under our breath or aloud, a time or two, about the current condition of something that was once clean, tidy, and operational. Could be anything really, from a service lobby to a public park. For example-
I walk my dog twice daily in my neighborhood. From time to time, I see excrement on the property. Did they forget their bag? Did they not see it? Who knows. I’ve made it a point to carry extra bags and pick it up. Our HOA dues are astronomical. It’s a historic property, the upkeep is imperative to its longevity and frankly, who wants to see pet waste everywhere? Rather unsanitary but also unsightly, no?
Every now and then, there’s a mess (left by another dog owner) that I can’t clean up. There was one instance in particular, when I miscalculated the situation, and though I went in with my hand in a double-shield of my own fashioning, the yuck got all over me, my dog’s leash etc..
That example comes to mind because it reminds me that no good deed goes unpunished, but it also reminds me to sidestep the mess. See it for what it is, from far away if possible, and then avoid it.
Step over it. Switch course. Whatever it takes.
That applies to petulance. That applies to willful ignorance. That applies to dissociative disorder.
Skip it. Still doing my best for my community while sparing my sanity by actively avoiding exercises in futility. Win! Win!
Also, a neighbor’s camera has identified the culprit and guess what? He knows what’s happening. He’s holding the leash. He waits. He looks over his shoulder to make sure the coast is clear, leaves it and keeps right on walking. Turns out, we don’t all care about the same things. 🤷🏻♀️
As you noted in your last paragraph, and I agree, our energy is better served elsewhere. Onward!
We have work to do.
“We don’t all care about the same thing.”
Yeah. The fact that people are willing to accept an authoritarian regime if it gets them what they want has spelled that out in stone. I just wish folks here would be honest with themselves and others about what they value. It would help the conversation move forward. Pretending to value human life in Ukraine, for example, while asking Ukrainians to “come to the table” with their abuser isn’t honest. It’s manipulative.