I’ve been thinking recently of how it’s often so much easier to have a clear and objective viewpoint of someone else’s life than that of our own.
So maybe we should consider outsourcing the planning, management and direction of our life’s activities to an outside, stable, rational and predictable source.
So, what do you think of this, dear reader?
But our educational system, media, government and its many agencies are already working hard on this project. And how is that working out for you?
To some people, going through the ups and downs of life may seem somewhat like an old sad country song. An example of this might be noticing a poor lonely old fellow who is sitting at the bar crying tears in his beer as he goes on about how he’s been used, abused and kicked around all of his life.
“I’ve been bounced off one too many wild bucking broncos. I’ve spent my life traveling down that long lonesome highway but never arriving nowhere.
My heart’s been broken and shattered so many times, especially by a two-timing floozy named Linda Sue.
My Mama’s gone. My dog’s dead. Now I’m just sitting here listening to the whistle of that lonely distant train.”
But the thought never seems to occur to our unfortunate heartbroken cowboy about who decided to hop on the back of the wild “White Tornado” in the first place.
Sure, he could travel in vain forever down that long lonesome highway, never arriving anywhere, if he didn’t have a destination in mind in the first place. And whatever possessed him to take up with that two-timing floozy, Linda Sue anyhow?
I’ve heard it said that you’re not really a loser till you’ve given up on life and blame someone or something else for the condition you find yourself in.
And boy is there a long list of people, events, situations, tragedies and every day occurrences to blame?
Bottom line: “I was just a poor innocent victim of circumstances doing my best. I never meant any harm to anyone.
They did it to me. Now all is lost and there’s nothing I can do about it. Poor pitiful me!”
It may well seem humorous while looking at this from an objective viewpoint. But it’s sad and true that so many people choose some version of this story as their theme song, the reason they are who they are, where they are, and how they have ended up here today.
“I’m innocent judge. It’s not my fault. I’ve been wronged. I didn’t do nothing to them. It’s what they did to me. I tell you; nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen!”
And in the bitter end, some abbreviated version of this may be appropriate to carve on one’s headstone to explain his or her faded dreams and wasted life.
It’s a submissive attitude that many of us have adopted to get along and to not create waves or rock the boat, as they say. And it could be that we are somewhat steered in this direction by our parents, government, our education and indoctrination system promoting subjugation to the powers-that-be and the so-called norms of our society.
Still, we are the ones who have made the choice to go along with this program.
Of course we have highly paid protectors, lawyers and politicians, to defend our poor victim claim and to prove us right and “them” wrong.
And so, a victim mentality is quite in vogue in our world today. It feels good and comforting to have someone else to blame. It helps take the load off and ease the burden of responsibility, decision making and the tough job of actually running, managing and controlling our own lives.
Oh my. Am I preaching again? I’m so sorry, dear reader.
You see, I just wanted everything to be okay and all to be smooth and everyone to be happy. I meant well. I really tried.
I should have been a winner. I was reaching for the stars. Fortune and glory was within my reach and I could and should have grabbed them. I could have had it all.
Hey I could have been a contender if it weren’t for the government - the economy - the weather - my parents - the Russians - the stars in the constellation - the British - global warming - some awful voodoo curse - my upbringing - fate - destiny - etc. etc.
Hey, have you noticed? I didn’t even mention my ex-wife?
Dan O’Connor can be reached at danhughoconnor@gmail.com