Formative Soundtrack
Another one from The Vault
My parents listened to a lot of Simon & Garfunkel when I was a kid. This song is on my mind today as I continue pondering repetition of patterns. Lots of patterns are repeating in real life right now. I'm managing mine much more admirably than society as a whole since America seems doomed to follow a certain trajectory, and I am making incremental progress in changing the pattern.
I maintain that all we can ever control are our own actions and responses. Whether you're trying to lose weight, quit smoking or stop fighting with your ex-husband or wife, you're the one who must assert yourself over circumstances. Some people might be able to assert themselves on the national level, but the situation in my own happy little world takes so much thought and energy that the national BS will have to look after itself.
Life is somewhat more satisfying now that I've given up the idea that I have to be nice all the time, but changing your pattern can also lead to trouble. The truth is that some of my incremental progress could be viewed as Malicious Mischief. I expect I remembered this song on account of the line, "Deputy Sheriff said to me . . . " It's a melodious reminder that sometimes you might want to wait until you are safely out of town to throw a turd in somebody's punch bowl.
My parents listened to a lot of Simon & Garfunkel when I was a kid. This song is on my mind today as I continue pondering repetition of patterns. Lots of patterns are repeating in real life right now. I'm managing mine much more admirably than society as a whole since America seems doomed to follow a certain trajectory, and I am making incremental progress in changing the pattern.
I maintain that all we can ever control are our own actions and responses. Whether you're trying to lose weight, quit smoking or stop fighting with your ex-husband or wife, you're the one who must assert yourself over circumstances. Some people might be able to assert themselves on the national level, but the situation in my own happy little world takes so much thought and energy that the national BS will have to look after itself.
Life is somewhat more satisfying now that I've given up the idea that I have to be nice all the time, but changing your pattern can also lead to trouble. The truth is that some of my incremental progress could be viewed as Malicious Mischief. I expect I remembered this song on account of the line, "Deputy Sheriff said to me . . . " It's a melodious reminder that sometimes you might want to wait until you are safely out of town to throw a turd in somebody's punch bowl.
posted by PENolan at
9:53 AM
7 Comments:
"sometimes you might want to wait until you are safely out of town to throw a turd in somebody's punch bowl." Thanks for my morning laugh. When my buttons are being pushed I tried to remember, "respond, don't react" to try and keep control over the situation and myself. It works most of the time. My partner M gave me one that makes me chuckle. I have a problem with particularly troublesome teens, very disrespectful and reckless that my son sometimes hangs around. I questioned how the parents could sit back and allow behavior in front of them that I would never tolerate. M said to me, "now K, you know you can't raise other people's kids." But if I could...!
Oh, you ... you're a wise one ;-)
As you say ... "incremental progress in changing the pattern" ... There it is; the key.
*So* much easier said than done ... and there's the rub.
So much work to be done, incrementally ... and there's one of our reason for being: the deep, quiet satisfaction of having made a change for the good ... :-)
Well, I already like your parents if they listened to this album ;~)
Kilkuri - from Yooper in Crackerland - said:
Was going to do a comment on your Simon and Garfunkel video, but couldn't find the comments.
I remember once while on my way back home from Detroit their song "Homeward Bound" came on the car radio (AM) and it seemed so right.
The word is 'etyping'.
Occasionally, when I've posted a video from youtube, the comments get lost. You just have to refresh the page and they appear. Don't ask me. It's another internet mystery.
Libs - my parents are fundamentally great.
V.V. - my rule of thumb right now is: if it's a good idea Monday, it will still be a good idea Thursday and to calm the fuck down.
Jaliya - I'm beginning to think that a change for the good has definitely been made.
Rejoice and be glad.
It's a great song!
"...all we can ever control are our own actions and responses." You know, I need to remind myself of this now and then. Usually when the national stage is getting me down. And it gets me down bad sometimes. At the risk of sounding trite, focusing on making a difference in our own little worlds makes a difference. To the little worlds and us. (Buddhists are right on the money there.)
And anyway, are you going to be thinking about things like teabaggers on your deathbed?
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