Naughty Jester
Innuendo’ed musings on life, the universe and nothing in particular
Do you swallow?
When you take a pill do you gulp it down dry or wet?
Me, I prefer it wet. I must have some liquid sliding down my throat with that little button of headache-dethrobbing, fever-deflating chemically induced joy.
I have a good friend hooked on Ibuprofen. It is sad really. She takes the equivalent dosage to stun a horse just to get any sense of relief. She drops them dry, just pops them into her mouth like skittles.
But what I really wanted to know today is why criticism is so hard to swallow? And I’m not talking about the type meant to harm. I’m specifically fingering the constructive type, lovingly meant to help.
I have a theory, of course: (which is not saying much as I have a theory for everything including why the chicken crossed the road) pride and ego get in our way. Anger wells up and we don’t hear the positive behind the best intentions of the critic. We hate to be reminded of our own failings and shortcomings.
I recently held up the mirror and reflected some unflattering behavior to a loved one. They interpreted my words as criticism and got angry. I guess sometimes love is not all rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes it is tough. Sometimes it is about providing an opportunity for a loved one to grow and mature. Even when they do not see it that way.
How do you swallow?
Why did the chicken cross the road?
How do you handle (constructive) criticism?
Comments
4 Responses to “Do you swallow?”
i’m
growing
in this area…
great blog darling man~
ms. swallow | June 18th, 2009, 11:09 amWet. Can’t do the dry thing at all.
All I can say to your second question is that chickens are not overly smart. (Forgive me, but I had a bad experience with a chicken once.)
And I take personal criticism fairly well – artistic criticism not so well. What really gets me going is when people say “Well, I have a camera so I could do that.” I always want to tell them that I have a car but that doesn’t make me an Indy driver!
All Weather Girl | June 18th, 2009, 1:37 pmWet.
My brother got in the chicken pen on my uncles farm once when we were kids. The chickens didn’t like it and chased him. So I would say the chicken crossed the road to peck my brothers eyes out!
Depends on my state of mind at the time. If I’m already feeling kicked, no kind of critism will go over well. On the hand, if I’m feeling decent and confident, I handle it beautifully.
pam | June 18th, 2009, 6:58 pmMary, I think folks have blindspots … like in driving a car … and others love to tuck in there and annoy us.
Pam, sibling love is beautiful (and dangerous) at times. Ability to accept criticism based on mood … sounds like a doctoral dissertation – or a least a blog – in there somewhere.
Naughty Jester | June 18th, 2009, 10:51 pmAdd A Comment