Talking to Yourself
You can say almost anything
I stood in line at my bank, looking at my checkbook, and trying to decide how much I could safely withdraw. I needed to buy something with cash. I don’t remember what it was, but I do remember that I didn’t have a lot in my account. I must have been calculating out loud because a woman in front of me turned and asked, “What are you mumbling about?” I answered (irritably, I’m afraid), “I’m having a private conversation.”
I still have private conversations because for me spoken words are more tangible than thoughts. I talk about all kinds of things, sometimes praising myself, sometimes criticizing.
I’ve learned I can say anything — with one exception. As my dear friend Audrey told me, “Never say to yourself, ‘Now, if I were you . . .’”
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Copyright © 2024 by John Porter. All Rights Reserved.
