Damn the Man,  This is Me

My Dammit List

I’ve been meaning to write this for years, since before starting this blog. However, I resisted for a long time. Partly from fear, partly because words have power and I’m afraid of speaking something I can’t take back, and partly from vague notions that I’m still figuring it out.

See, I’ve always been sort of a boundary-less person, someone who compromises herself in the face of stronger personalities and perhaps economic necessity. But I don’t like this about myself. I wasn’t always this way, but years of muckety-muck and you develop some gnarly coping mechanisms. I transform myself so I don’t get hurt. Believe me, defense mechanisms that rob you of your sovereignty as a human being are not healthy.

So I need a Shit I Stand For list, a Book of Me that I can refer to when I feel my edges wearing away. When I feel like I’m losing myself. Because sometimes I feel like the cord tethering me to Earth is slipping, and that I might disappear, or become a ghost. No one wants to be an amorphous nothing.

So I need to know where I stand, so that I can stand. This is my Dammit List. Imagine punctuating the end of every bulleted item with “dammit,” for emphasis. I reserve the right to update this as necessary.

– – –

  • When I take care of myself, I am not being selfish. I cannot be of service to others if I am drained of my capacity. Though I may be an overachiever, I am human, not a wunderkind. So if I need a day off, I will take it and not be ashamed.
  • That said, I will not let anybody shame me. Ever.
  • I don’t need to take on other people’s pain. Or anger. Or displeasure. Or disappointment. In fact, I am starting a campaign to recognize when I’m doing it, and immediately stop.
  • I don’t like self-promotion. It’s icky. It makes me feel less-than, waving my hands and yelling “look at me, look at me!” I’m more of a believer in attraction rather than promotion. I may say, “hey, look at this cool thing I did,” but I will not beg for your attention.
  • I don’t need others to validate me.
  • I will not work for The Man again. If I am working somewhere and I feel The Man creeping in, I will immediately jettison the emergency escape hatch. I neither wish nor need to sell my soul for money.

John Cusack

I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that.

  • I don’t have to like going out to bars or parties just because it’s someone else’s idea of fun.
  • What I’m feeling is okay. Don’t ever tell me it’s not.
  • Also, I’m sensitive, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t need to “toughen up.” I am strong. Just because I feel a lot doesn’t mean I’m not strong.
  • Don’t tell me my dreams and goals are unrealistic. If you do, I reserve the right to ignore your opinion.
  • I love what I love. It may not be cool, but I don’t care about cool.
  • It’s not my job to make everybody believe I’m worthy of their admiration. If they figure it out, great, but I won’t jump through hoops to earn anyone’s respect.
  • I reserve the right to grow and change, without any reference to your comfort level.
  • This list is about me, not you. You can have your own list.

Go ahead, make your own list. When you do, let me know. I want to read it.


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