Wednesday, 10 June 2009

  • Spreading the Wealth of High Self-Esteem

    What's going on, here?  I thought the recession was limited to the economy.  Call me late-to-the-party, but is it me or has society's collective esteem dropped dramatically?  Yeah, dropped, like the first hill of a high roller-coaster, complete with that "should have eaten something else" feeling in my stomach.  The main differences are that my hands aren't up and I'm not screaming like a teen girl after a Zach Efron sighting, only to deny it later, like "What?  I was just in the moment!"  And then I go win myself an obnoxiously large stuffed animal, because I'm that good.

    See?  "I'm that good."  That's what life is like when you put the "self" in self-esteem.  It starts with me.  No one has to acknowledge it, ahead of time, because I have the big red dogs and fuzzy snakes to prove it.  I'd invite you to my room to verify that for yourselves, but this is the Internet, and I'm older than some of you, so that might be construed as semi-creepy.  I don't want emails from your parents asking me what my "intentions" are.  I hate that question, especially when fathers ask.  I feel like saying "They're the same as what yours were when you dated your wife, dude.  Don't try to play me."  That's television sit-com material.

    I'm wondering, though, why people practically make a living out of putting themselves down, and thinking they can't overcome life's difficulties because of... who-knows-what.  That's not some modest way of saying I have it all together, because I sure don't.  You guys knows that.  There are no less than five typos in this, guaranteed.  I think life is hard enough, already; the last thing I need to do is join my non-supporters in piling on myself about the mistakes I make, opportunities I miss, and regular failings that make me human.  Yeah, I eat late at night after I've brushed my teeth for the last time, and I haven't seen Love Actually, but that doesn't make me a bad person, nor does it mean that a woman won't one day love me, even though I have too much pride to type "Hello Kitty" into Wikipedia, and find out what the hype is all about.  I suppose I could ask, but I haven't spent much time with twelve-year-olds since I was... thirteen.

    I'm far from perfect, but I don't focus on it, you know.  That's something to take for granted, since that won't ever change.  That's why I've made the decision to focus on what I do well that I can improve, to make sure my strengths outweigh my weakness... both of them.  You want another one?  Well, I don't drink diet drinks, because I like real sugar.  I know, I know.  Not hot, and you're saying "No wonder he's single.  pfft."  Somehow, that doesn't really stop me from believing in myself when I'm out with a friend and I have to be the wingman.  I have all of the confidence in the world that I can embarrass him sufficiently enough to make him appear extra attractive to a group of strange women we'll never see again beyond that one moment in time.  See?  That's what healthy self-esteem sounds like.

    Seriously, though.  You guys are better than you let yourselves believe.  I can see it, and you're a bunch of strangers to me.  I'm not even sure that's you in your profile picture.  Still, it's a good thing that somewhere in every self-deprecating person, there's a small voice that reminds you of several redeeming qualities that you choose to allow to go unnoticed.  Turn it up.  Your faults aren't going anywhere, you know.  There's always something wrong.  BUT your talents, interests, abilities, and confirmation from the people, like me, who appreciate you are the bridges you need to get over them.

    Start building.  And be glad I'm not charging you for the motivational speech.  I'd be rich if I could conjure up some competence for public-speaking.

    TheBigShowAtUD©

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