Compliments

I was on my way to out to buy wool socks when I saw this:

That is the face of an angry, vengeful God to whom we are all pitiful sinners, deserving only of His merciless and unceasing wrath. So, I thought I should maybe stay inside of doors, since we all know that God's infinite rage can't penetrate doors.

While the angry clouds pass by, I will spend some time with you good folks, since I'm behind on my advent blogging.

Let me tell you about a recent interaction I had

[BEGIN INTERACTION]

The other day, I was talking to someone. We don't need to give that someone a name, mostly because I'm not even sure if that someone was real or not and once you start giving people who aren't real names, then you know you're crazy.

Let's err on the side of caution, shall we?

This Someone said to me, "I like you, Jason."

Why, thank you, someone! I appreciate your frank expression of affection for me!


"You've got it together. You know what you're doing," Someone said.

Well, shucks! It sure is nice to hear someone say such things about me!


"I don't care what anybody says... you're going to be alright."

Wait, what? We were doing so well up until that last bit... What is this "anybody" saying about me, someone? Who doesn't think I'm alright? Or not going to be alright?


All that came out of my mouth as a simple "Oh?"

"Yeah," Someone said. "I mean, we've all got our problems. Nobody's perfect, right?"

Of course we all have our problems, Someone! But you can't just suggest that there is a very public discussion going on about my problems in the middle of complimenting me. That's not allowed. And anyway, I know I'm not perfect, but if I don't know in what way other people think I'm not perfect, I can't explain to them how they are wrong about my imperfections. I need more information!


Which came out as, "Right. Well, thanks."

"Of course!" Someone said.

[END INTERACTION]

That was fun, right? Look, I've got my fair share of issues, but I like to think that over the years, I've built up massive defenses of alternating layer of detached irony, arrogance and anger dealt with them. Like for instance, a conversation like this a few years ago would've stuck with me. It would've bounced around in my head, becoming louder and louder, like in an echo chamber. I would've overthought it, paced about it and talked about it a lot.

Nowadays, I'd never do anything like that because I'm mature, confident and self-assured... right?

RIGHT?!