Paper Dolls
“Every reader has different pictures of us in their head?” Calliope asked. “What we look like… and how we behave?”
“I believe so,” Nia replied. “Typist has been doing her best to build us into relatable characters… and yet, Jack, Karen, Gary… each of our readers filters Typist’s stories through their own experience. The same thing happens with real people. They build up stories about who they think someone is, or who they’d like them to be, and then miss the living, breathing person sitting across from them.”
“Did you see Paintist dangled a ballet slipper over my shoulder?” Thalia twirled on her toes.
Attention wandering, the Muse of Wit smiled and remembered the Johnny Carson video Typist’s husband shared at dinner last week. Did he suspect the clip’s alliteration would bring a smile? After 29 years of marriage, he’s still curious about the person sitting at the table with him?
A word from Typist:
Since I started writing, it has become clear to me that we are all walking around with stories in our heads that might, or might not, be true. The only way we know for sure is to ask?
Last week I shared a conversation with somebody I have had a relationship with for quite some time. It became obvious to me that this person carries an image of me that differs from the one I hold of myself, a traveler, learning and growing. Interesting, I thought.
I’m still pondering how to apply AAA.
Now that I’m aware, and have accepted the discrepancy, I can choose to act — to share my authentic views with this person — or I can choose to do nothing and allow the false image to stand.
There is no right or wrong.
It depends on how I want the relationship to go forward.
I have been following haileypaigemagee on Instagram. She speaks of setting boundaries. I find her shares helpful… You might, too?
What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do — especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right then and there. People don’t have your past to hold against you.
~Excerpt from Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
Never a doubt in my mind! If this were horseshoes, you’d be throwing ringer after ringer. Full steam ahead!
CURE!
Another tour de force masterpiece! The vibrancy of all three Muses was palpable. The sunshine and storm clouds atop Nia’s head resembled your weather forecast!
My sides nearly split watching the alliteration gem. Greg must surely have known this would bring a smile to your face. And gosh! Jack Webb and Johnny Carson must have found the fountain of youth.
You posed a fine point about friendships and human interactions. The “easy” path would be to do nothing, except that seems a way to further the differences in perceptions. Which, taken to extremes, could weaken the ties of friendship. If you chose to use the recent disparity of views as a teaching moment, I feel certain that your human skills would make such an effort non-threatening. You might not be able to “make” your friend shift their view.
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” So glad I didn’t skip school today!