Is next year gonna be any better because it’s a new year?
Under penalty of public ridicule and derision, I hereby do solemnly resolve to:
- Have less guilt about not talking to Pearlsky enough
- Have less guilt about barely talking to Pearlsky
- Have less guilt about having a severely disabled daughter, it gotta be my fault, no?
- Have less guilt about not being able to see my son more, for both physical and geographical reasons
- Have less guilt about that thing I did to my sister’s radio 48 years ago that no one knows about
- Have less guilt about not being a fierce enough advocate for Pearlsky
- Have less guilt about being too fierce an advocate for Pearlsky
- Have less guilt about not being a good enough father
- Have less guilt about not telling you about the coffee company I own because the coffee is outrageously great, and I really should send you all some to try
- Have less guilt that in eighteen years I have not figured out how to help my daughter communicate
- Have less guilt thinking that blogging is like being on a podium naked except they just don’t know to be jealous
- Have less guilt about saying that if blogging is like being naked on a podium, then I ain’t reading Blogzilly no more. That best friend thing only goes so far, you know. 😉
- Have less guilt about not feeling guilty enough
Guilt, as well as worry, are really kind of useless, no? Guilt is about past things which you cannot change (although maybe you can make up for) and worry is about future things which often you can change (or control, or properly prepare for, or just accept). But yet, I worry about Pearlsky all too often. How do you “just accept” something? And the guilt? Yeah, it’s there. It always will be. Is it useless? Yes. Is it justified? Maybe.
In actuality, I don’t really do resolutions, per se. I always do promise myself to try to be a better person. I don’t think I’m doing too bad.
Just don’t ask Pearlsky.
I’m so confused. Did you just compliment me or jab me? I can never tell.
A compliment of course! (and, boy, do I feel guilty …)
And of course, Happy New Year to you, Ken, and all the other great bloggers and readers and friends …
Are you sure you aren’t Catholic? Happy New Year to you, dear Single Dad.
I don’t think you are doing too bad.
I wouldn’t DARE ask Pearlsky since you have said before that you think that is (abusive) wrong (during state mandated testing in school).
I wouldn’t mind some coffee either.
Happy new year…I think coffee for all would go a long way to ease some of that guilt. ;o)
I think guilt is a good thing (it keeps us from turning into sociopaths), unless the guilt is completely and utterly irrational – as nicely demonstrated by most of your points. Most, because you are right to feel guilty about the coffee company. I wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous new year!
Cheers to not beating yourself up for things you cannot change, and cutting yourself some slack on the occasions you are less than saintly.
May the best of your past be the worst of your future.
@ Elizabeth, Catholics and Jews have a lot in common where guilt is concerned.
Happy New Year SD (and all the readers here)
imho:
Guilt is a social necessity. Guilt makes you strife to do it better next time. But if there is no “better” to be done, the guilt you feel over something is useless and you should try to get rid of it. Easier said then done 😉
Love the list, totally relate. And I agree, you’re definitely not doing too bad! 🙂
I know what you did to your sister’s radio and if you don’t send me some of that delicious coffee I’ll tell everyone.
Those are good resolutions, BTW.
IF I ever got to meet Pearlsky in person, I would prepare for the meeting with a large supply of chit-chat – no questions. And I would look at her often to see if she showed me a secret response. And jokes. To see if I could get her to laugh.