But every so often I meet someone who "jumps the shark". The outlier who truly believes that they are a gift to the world, yet are so undeserving of that mantle. I could wax on poetically about the amazing ones, but I'd prefer to discuss the one who is confused. I’d like to speak to the one that was a lot like the 23 year old…..me.
My Grandma Ratliff used to have a saying. She would say…
"I'd love to buy him for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth. Then I'd be a wealthy woman."
Have you ever known a person like that?
I do, and I feel sorry for him.
Not in that, “oh my, that’s a horrible disease" way, but more in the “Man the reckoning is going to be hard for you” kind of way?
I have an acquaintance that definitely falls into the latter category.
Bright, 20 odd, handsome, so much potential
The world hates him. Well, not everyone, just anyone who spends more than five minutes and see’s the real him.
Yet he walks the earth as a self righteous man. Arrogant to a fault, he is self serving and judgmental of everyone he comes into contact with.
I feel sad for him because I used to be him.
He believes that he is the smartest guy in the room and sadly is not even the smartest guy on his end of the table.
I feel sad for him because I used to be him.
There will be a time, when he gets a real job and he will act then like he acts now and Joe Paisley Tie across from him will crush him. Sadly my acquaintance will not understand why.
I feel sad for him because I used to be him.
He thinks the world loves him….and they don’t. Because they quickly realize that he is only cordial if you can do something for him.
I feel sad for him because I used to be him.
You may ask why I feel sad for this person. He is obviously not a worthy person.
I feel sad for him because life has a way of bringing down some heavy stuff. When it does, self opinion has a way of paying the toll for your failings. During those times you stop being an ignorant 23 year old and you become a man. That is a hard transition. It will be hard for him to question himself. It will be hard to recognize that he did not know everything. It will be hard when he realizes that there were great people in his life that he dismissed so easily, while he now sits alone.
I feel sorry for him, but in the same time I would love to meet him at 33, 43 or 53 and watch the progression. I guarantee this, the 43 year old version or the 53 year version will be a different person…a better person. By definition alone, they would almost have to be.
“But time I cannot change. So here's to looking back. You know I drink a whole bottle of my pride and I toast to change to keep these demons off my back,
just get these demons off my back.
just get these demons off my back.
‘Cause I want to shimmer, I want to shine, I want to radiate. I want to live, I want to love. I want to try to learn not to hate,
try not to hate.”
try not to hate.”
- Shawn Mullins
Thanks for the inspiration J.L. - you know who you are.
