New July Resolutions
by beccaborrelli
A Woman and a Cat. Max Lieberman. 1878
They say… (“they” meaning those who have authority on such things) that:
“We hate in others what we hate in ourselves.”
Which got me to thinking about what
I hate in others…
Namely upper middle class, white, educated, overly concerned yuppies. The types who buy energy saving light bulbs to promote feelings of a progressive variety. Those who can conversate on an array of topics (and make up words like ‘conversate’) over martinis with great dexterity- yet becoming curiously stagnant in nature when action-orientation is involved. Namely, someone like… well you get the idea.
And while posts highlighting my personal flaws aren’t normally fodder on this blog… I feel it’s important for those who stumble here (“here” meaning this log of a Caucasian, 28 year old, yuppie teacher rambling) to understand that they are reading the material of a reformed whiner who occasionally falls off the wagon. Of course, if we’re being truthful… I’m off the wagon so much I’m walking the trail behind it. And while whining without doing creates fabulous illusions of self-importance, it poses roadblocks to personal evolution.
Which has led me to conclude that a whining restraint is in order. At least no more intentional whining… or rather, “no more intentional repeated whining.” It is a self-appointed intervention lest I turn into a sixty year old cat woman, lecturing on topics of disinterest to others without abandon, whilst retreating from society into a cave of internet chat rooms and glasses of boxed wine. Currently I’m 32 years, 4 cats, and 3 hand-knit sweaters away… which is awfully close for comfort*. Your help with this matter is greatly appreciated.
*Use of exaggeration to create urgency**.
**Use of Disclaimer, lest readers believe brazen teachers to drink boxed wine whilst staring at computer screens in an erroneously literal sense.
This Brazen Teacher 
According to this post, the only differences between me and you are that I’m not Caucasian (I’m the other side of that spectrum), a year younger than you, and not a teacher.
But I think you should remember that, although you are right about whining about something and not being active about it, your “whining” isn’t necessarily just that. Good ideas appear anywhere. You whining about it on the internet may awaken someone else to the problem and get them to be active about it as well. Additionally, if I were to talk about corporate lobbyists paying corrupt politicians off to change policy and law to assist their business, what can I do but whine? Sometimes we whine because it’s only thing we can do. You should always voice your opinion, regardless of who thinks what about you.
Well, not the only differences, but I was trying to say that I have those sentiments as well.
A reformed whiner…..now that’s good. 🙂
Question: can we “Follow” you here at the new blog? Or is that option not available? Basically, I use my “Following” reading thingy at Blogger as my Reader. This means if I subscribe to you it won’t do much good (for me) because I never check the reader! Maybe I should discipline myself to use it, but…..
Excuse me now. One of my cats just chirbled (that’s conversate in cat language) that she’d very much like for me to come to bed. With my husband sound asleep it’s nice to know that someone wants to cuddle. I can tell you this because I’m only two years from 60…..god where did the time go. Your “self-appointed intervention” is wise, wise, wise. Use your 32 years all up. Let them use you up. Not that winding up with a fat gray chirbling cat isn’t a comfort for me, but you are on a different path!
Samurai: Indeed I think your summation of personalities is right on. I often read your blog and hear myself.
Lydia: As far as I can tell WordPress doesn’t carry that feature. I’m going to investigate. I don’t use Google Reader very well either… I shall return with an answer!
Well.. I thought that’s what blogs were for!?…. that and mindless ranting, laying down of self indulgent posts and being a good excuse to spend half your life looking at you-tube videos to waffle on about… 🙂
Bingo!
I figured out how to post a comment. Duh!
…
I hate whining.
Whining to me smells too much as self pity as “look at poor me” attention begging.
So if you are serious about it.
Light up yourself in fire.
Burn and be reborn like the mythical Phoenix!