Admittedly, I’ve been going through some personal crises, but I find that increasingly I just feel like a very backward hick, here on the forums, and elsewhere.
It’s like everyone is suave and sophisticated and so broadly cultured, and I am left without a clue where they are coming from.
My close friend said “you’re just from a different culture,” but I have a little trouble buying that. Canadians, British, people from the Orient, Americans, they all seem to be more cosmopolitan than I am. It’s not as if I lived all of my life in the holler. I’ve lived overseas. I’ve gone to international school. I’ve lived in one of the world’s largest metropolises. I’ve been around. I’ve dined with the well-to-do. Yet… I feel… somehow left behind in time or something.
If it’s any consolation, Walden, you are not alone. I’ve been feeling like an eejit. And the board seems quiet of late. I wonder if a lot of people are feeling that way? What did we say to each other?
And if you were fishing for compliments, I’d describe you as knowledgeable, witty and helpful. Is that any good?
Actually, Walden, I think it’s more what you found important in your life and that’s what YOU concentrated on.
From your posts, I find you very diverse and knowledgable. Your interest in the Cherokee language, for example.
Others have other things that are important to them and that’s what they concentrate on.
While I may have opinions on national and international things (hah!), in “real life” I concentrate on volunteering and making my own neighborhood a better place. THAT’S where my effort goes.
And, remember, there’s all ages represented here. The young and the old may have time for all the diverse things, while us working shleps have a hard time balancing work and family issues (if you saw what my calendar looks like for next week, you’d run screaming!!!)
And, I happen to LIKE backward hicks - much more so then city slickers!!!
You’re a tough one. How about fair-minded, sensitive, and uniquely clever?
But seriously now, most normal people feel stupid and out of it on a regular, cyclical basis. I tend not to post as much during those spells because I don’t want to come across as a shlump, and that’s how I feel.
I feel like that pretty often. I’m guessing you’ve passed 30. We live in a world that worships youth and changes quickly. No one will refer to me as youth, ever again. I like and appreciate change, but I change less and less each day. That’s okay. Every age has it’s advantages.
No, no, I think it’s important that we investigate more deeply.
Tell me, what are your earliest recollections about your father, and what are your emotional reactions to these recollections?
On second thoughts, if you really are suffering personal crises, I apologise for being trite and thoughtless.
Walden, you’re much more worldly than I am, for sure. I did live most my life in a holler and I’ve only been out of the country one time. Admittedly, I do feel “behind in time” a lot as well. So you’re not alone. I’m sure that’s little help though. I’ll pray for you.
We are all from very diverse backgrounds, social strata, educations, etc. We each have our own interests and values. That does not make anyone’s preferences better than anyone else’s, nor does it invalidate your own experiences. People refer here to books, poems, films, music, etc. that I am not familiar with. I look into these to see if they might be of interest to me.
I would suggest you accept these differences. Don’t look at them as personal challenges to your integrity or insults, but as opportunities to grow - or not, as you choose
Walden, I have an immense amount of respect for you. You bring a knowledge to this forum that most of us have never been exposed to.
I wouldn’t describe you as a hick, but I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be called a hick myself. And I don’t think being cosmopolitan, worldly, whatever is something to strive for. There’s a lot of bad stuff in the world that I’d just as soon not be exposed to myself.
For me, when everyone or everything seems a certain way, I can almost always attribute that to my mood. Something in my head is causing me to perceive things or interpret them in a way that isn’t how they really are. The feeling is real, but the situation isn’t. Just speaking for myself.
Absolutely. If you’re not well, you don’t think straight, but it needs someone else to tell you that you are not thinking straight.
You were poorly a while back, Walden. You said you were better. Are you still okay now?
Walden, I experience the feelings you describe rather frequently. I agree that much of it relates to mood or external influences, as Cynth and others have pointed out.
On reading your thoughts, I’m minded of Burn’s truism about “Oh wad some power the giftie gie us/To see oursel’s as others see us!” I certainly have never seen you in any way other than as a bright, wise, gracious, open-minded, and often hilariously funny person. 'Nuff said.
