There’s a (now) hilarious story
we tell in my family
about a time
when I completely lost my shit
due to unseasonably
hot weather at the
very emotional time
of moving my son into
his first college dorm room.
(Did I mention it was very hot?)
I’ve written about it
in this blog.
If you’re new here,
it went something like this…
Me: it’s HOT! I’m SO HOT! I’m DYING!
SWEAT is running down the inside of my jeans!!
I’M SO HOT!
(shouted emphatically and in near crazy tears)
Tessa: HOT! YES! It’s HOT! We’re ALL HOT.
HOT isn’t something that’s just happening to YOU.
(said forcefully, matching my volume level
and tone while maintaining steady eye contact,
squaring my shoulders in her firm grip)
Some may say I could have used
a little compassion at that moment.
But it did the trick.
And was probably consistent with
best practices in crisis training
for emotional shock.
I mention it now because
I’m often reminded
that it’s not about me.
Did I say often?
I meant too often reminded.
“It’s not about you.”
Bad service. Bad behavior.
Disappointments. Dismissals.
It’s not about me.
To be honest,
I sometimes
wish it were.
