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All Kinds of Somethings
Who are we when we leave virtual reality?
It’s a religious holiday here. I slept late and wasted the morning scrolling. I breathed through yoga but still haven’t run. And I had plans for the day.
I hope this isn’t an indication of how the summer will pass. Haphazardly. Regretfully. I am already beginning to regret all the time I have spent on social media over these past years. It seems that being there creates needs that didn’t exist for me before. It plants “shoulds” in my mind. I should feel this way or that way, or tolerate what I would never tolerate from someone were they sharing a physical space. Or argue knowing there was no hope to convince anyone to change their mind. Or allow people to bombard me with unsolicited advice. It is possible to just leave the room and close the door.
Stop comparing. Needing validation.
It is funny. I think I hear “needing validation” and think of someone with low status, low self-esteem wanting a pat on the head. But really, the leaders, who do have a measure of status, are constantly seeking validation of their superiority or their expertise. They continually test their influence. I think of the American radio personalities who seem to throw out the wildest theories (which they sometimes admit they don’t actually believe) just to verify…
