Okay, so here’s the thing, for everyone, every one of us, our good traits are our bad traits. Our strengths and weaknesses are the same things. Compassionate? Taken advantage of. Stubborn? Can do. Free-spirited? Reckless. Dumb? Blissfully unaware. I’m tellin ya, they all go both ways.
One of mine is perceptive as fuck. Don’t act like you aren’t impressed by my spot-on memory of detail. I am always making connections. See also, crazy intuitive and paranoid — let’s all remember that just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean I’m wrong.
On the one hand, I am a fairly reliable narrator who recounts entertaining stories with detail and on the other hand, spending time with me will inevitably result in a pinpoint attack on your personage. Cause while I may bite my tongue or whisper it to my cat for years, eventually Imma say it or write it.
I can’t NOT see it. Unfortunately fortunately, I recognize and value truth.
(Let’s all take a moment to feel sorry for Sassy’s sensitive ass, living here with 3 of us.)
I see it all. I can’t not see it all. I’m not wearing rose-colored glasses, I try them on from time to time, because I am extremely critical and the world needs more positive energy. I can’t see it all and not see the bad shit. Don’t be absurd.
I can’t help it.
Even I do it to myself. I do it to myself THE MOST.
I prefer to focus on all the good things.
Stream of Consciousness Saturday — SoCS ‘critc(al)’ is brought to you by LindaGHill
And I was just thinking about getting to Indy to visit one of these days when it warms up! 🙂 Hee, hee.
janet
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Then we’ll take each other in, in all our flawed-human glory, Janet! 😛
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🥰
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I am a Sagittarius and that is exactly how I apologize! I call it being realistic. I am a cut-to-the-chase kind of gal. That is a good thing. I will be sure to let you know that, too. 😀
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Right? And you can tell, right away who isn’t gonna be able to take it. Lay it on me, Lois, I can handle it. Feel free always to tell me how it really is. 😉
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Joey–you are awesome. Really and truly. I kinda save your posts to read ’cause they are so much fun.
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Lois, that is so kind. Thank you 🙂
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I DO THAT, TOO! lol
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Oh my gosh you guys!!! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Yay for us, Marian! So fun to read Joey’s posts.
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😀
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Cool post. Funny how we look at things differently as adults. We can see the bad along with the good in ourselves.
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Thanks! We can if we pay attention 🙂
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I like straight forward people. I also agree with your assessment of bad traits and good traits being identical. Of course I am beginning to realize that age takes the edge off everything good traits included. I guess that means I am getting nicer every day; and meaner as well. Happy Saturday. Oh and offer my sympathies to Sassy.
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Sassy thanks you 🙂
Nicer and meaner at the same time, well that’s progress either way.
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Poor Sassy 😦
Took me years to realize what you say is true.
Imma go back to all those people and tell em that I was just being passionate!!! Passion is good right?!?!?
Bite me buttercup (not you! you are not the buttercup)!! All the belly aching whiner complainers who cannot accept me and my passion are the buttercups!! 🙂
And now I can blame my astrological sign. Who knew?
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Yeah, it’s a Sagittarius problem, bluntly stating things, callin it out, kind or not. I think we all work on it, especially on holding back hurting someone — but at least when we’re paying a compliment, people know we mean it.
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I still love how your “about” section lists “neurotic bitch” first
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Thank you, Jami! — it’s RIGHT THERE, I made it plain obvious 😛
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Oh my – same here – I can’t not see it and in my early teens my mom helped me to not destroy people with my feedback – words – or oberservations – seriously – I made her cry one time because of something I said (I was maybe 14) and well – thankfully she helped messenger more about empathy (some people never fully get empathy especially those with narcissism – they destroy people because they are so hurt in their battle with feelings superiority and depression and constant need to gratify self) and so slowly I learned to more effectively use my “insights” and ability to “read” people and situations.
I think I missed my calling as a lawyer because the kind of insight and perception is what helps a lawyer argue –
But it has served me well where I can give specific feedback and people are surprised sometimes
– or when occasionally something comes up – like this bitchy lady at the church was snarky back in 2005 about my having a spat with my little sister (long story) but I recalled observing her on the phone in 2003 and she told (her sister of all people) that she was leaving that night when she had two more days –
So minor but is that what you are talking about?
We pay attention
We remember
And we will watch our delivery
But I told her ” yes – my sis and I are having a spat about the labs (I let them in her fifth wheel and no pets allowed – but had to – again – long story)
—
The only other comment is that this is the kind of stuff “trust” is built of –
When you say you are going to write it or say it
– I think that is the real and raw side of you
As opposed to to when people hide – conceal because of manners – or pretend – oh my goodness is that bad for society
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Yes, that is what I mean. Good manners are one thing, open, honest relationships require some real and raw.
I think those of us who are blessed/cursed with the ability to see in detail and beyond are further blessed/cursed when we also possess a passion for honesty and no BS. It can be so hard on others and that makes us feel bad, but also, it’s incredibly helpful to them at times. I know you know what I mean.
“We pay attention
We remember
And we will watch our delivery.”
YEP.
Tact. I have to practice it as it’s completely unnatural to me. *sigh*
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oh I am still working on my delivery.
and we have someone with narcisissm and I just finally learned how he needs to hear truth.
__
I will be back because Emily Dickinson has a nice little poem that comes to mind – be back soon
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😀
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I like the apology method – I think I’ve been the recipient of more than a few of those. Good or bad, our traits are OURS 🙂
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On behalf of the observant AND tactless, my apologies. Hopefully some of it was useful
We are all a work in progress 🙂
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Have you seen The Life Acquatic? The Bill Murry character reads the notes of a reporter who is doing an article on him, and says, “Well, I was a little embarrassed at first. Obviously people are gonna think I’m a showboat and a little bit of a prick. But then I realized… that’s me. I said those things. I did those things. I can live with that.”
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I haven’t seen that, but making a note.
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“To see ourselves as others see us is a most salutary gift. Hardly less important is the capacity to see others as they see themselves.” ― Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception.
Indeed, I have seen your memory at work. This is deep. I must ponder.
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SUCH an excellent quote. Thank you.
Ponder on.
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My dad is a Sagittarius. I don’t think he sugar-coated anything. lol. My kids are always in shock that I know things. I’m pretty good at reading people, especially the ones I live with.
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Mmhm. And especially the ones YOU MADE?!? LOL I don’t know why people bother LOL
I love your authenticity, Amy. I do see you as a kind soul, not tactless at all, and yet, you are genuine.
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Thank you (I’m blushing now). 🙂
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Yep. Every strength can be a weakness. I’m not as compassionate as I used to be after enough of the being taken advantage of. The pendulum swings and finds occasional balance. Thank you for your intuition and perceptiveness. Those things can keep us safe if they don’t drive us crazy.
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You are ABSOLUTELY as compassionate as you always have been, now you are more careful with your energy.
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Ah. Thank you, Joey for this insight. You must be right. Today I started crying when I heard something on the radio about elephants being hunted in Botswana. I had to pray and sing myself out of it because I was driving.
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Praying and singing ❤ Yeah, sometimes it's like that.
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I can relate, I truly can. With friends, I can be snarky and funny. But, with strangers or acquaintances I have to temper my words. I get most of my negativity out each day by watching/listening to one news program (one is my limit), then I can focus on the positive the rest of the day. Happy Sunday!
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Well isn’t that clever??? Just gettin all the snark out and then focusing on the positive? Like snark meditation. I wonder if that would work for me? I’m more of a pepperer.
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I boast/suffer of/from similar Sagittarian traits, Joey.
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I am sad and glad for us, Mark. You tell a GREAT story.
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Well, we came as a package. Ying/Yang, accept it. Take or leave it. Hard to say, eh.
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Every one of us. Yep.
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I was raised to keep my opinions to myself and never to open my mouth unless I had something positive to say. So I have difficulty giving criticism. I always wrap it in a lot of positives….. probably making it useless but …
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I do prefer the positive route, it’s simply not natural to me at all, even though I was raised same as you. It did not stick.
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Well said. Why not focus on doing things in a way that feels right and authentic to you? Online I temper my words and thoughts more than I do in daily life. Don’t know why, but that’s how Ms. Bean rolls. As they say… you do you, I’ll be me.
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I’m more polite offline. I vent here a lot. Yes, you do you — who else could do it? 🙂
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I gave my critic the proverbial pink slip. She still hangs out, but she’s a little kinder since she’s looking for work. Enjoyed your post.
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Smart. It’s best to be open and positive, especially when you’re meeting lots of people.
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JEEzus, Joey! Okay, I’m braced. Sooner or later, Imma hear what I need to hear. Puttin’ on my bulletproof big girl panties. Wait….that sounded…odd….
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Well I got nothin so far. Clearly we have a lot of differences — you like grocery shopping and you do put eggs in your pimiento spread, after all, but I haven’t found fault in you.
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