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New Year-ish
Dec. 28th, 2009 10:38 amJust as I tend to read short stories in October/early November -- and usually reread either some Sherlock Holmes or some MR James -- I tend to give into the zeitgeist surrounding the new year and read either magazines or books on self-improvement.
These tend not to be along the lines of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," except when they are, and more along the lines of "Art and Fear."
About once a decade I pick up something on fitness. Research improves, studies change their foci, it's necessary to make certain I've kept up.
Now I don't mind that the book I picked up tells me I need to do more serious weight training. The advice is backed up by research, and, honestly, I loved my triceps back when I drove a car without power steering. (NB: I don't care what exercise you're doing for your triceps, parallel parking a sedan that doesn't have power steering is better.) So a little investment, and asking the nice guys in the fitness room in my building for advice will probably improve my health for years to come. All well and good.
I don't even mind the slightly chiding tone of the book I picked up. It's common in this genre, though I do resent their telling me that walking 5.2 miles a day isn't enough aerobically because I only do it five days a week rather than six. (I'm also slightly amused by the idea that you have to be in good shape to start yoga. I was 70+ pounds heavier than I am now when I started.)
What I do mind is the assumption that I either am or have been married.
Some of this is psychological. I never chose to be single as some women I know did. I would have liked to have someone to share my life with, and, while I loved most of my roommates, I didn't usually share a bed with them. I would have liked that (if anyone could put up with my snoring).
Now there are all sorts of statistical things that say pair bonding is good for people. I have hope that maybe I'll find someone with whom to pair long term. But if I don't, that doesn't make me less, and, somehow, reading this, I feel like I'm a bad person or have lived an inadequate life.
I've had some rough periods in my past. I may have more in my future. But I've made friends, cooked meals, tutored kids, listened to the suicidal and depressed, gone to restaurants, lectures, museums, plays, operas, dance performances, movies, and concerts. The life I live isn't unexamined. I hope that it's getting better; I hope I'm getting better.
These tend not to be along the lines of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," except when they are, and more along the lines of "Art and Fear."
About once a decade I pick up something on fitness. Research improves, studies change their foci, it's necessary to make certain I've kept up.
Now I don't mind that the book I picked up tells me I need to do more serious weight training. The advice is backed up by research, and, honestly, I loved my triceps back when I drove a car without power steering. (NB: I don't care what exercise you're doing for your triceps, parallel parking a sedan that doesn't have power steering is better.) So a little investment, and asking the nice guys in the fitness room in my building for advice will probably improve my health for years to come. All well and good.
I don't even mind the slightly chiding tone of the book I picked up. It's common in this genre, though I do resent their telling me that walking 5.2 miles a day isn't enough aerobically because I only do it five days a week rather than six. (I'm also slightly amused by the idea that you have to be in good shape to start yoga. I was 70+ pounds heavier than I am now when I started.)
What I do mind is the assumption that I either am or have been married.
Some of this is psychological. I never chose to be single as some women I know did. I would have liked to have someone to share my life with, and, while I loved most of my roommates, I didn't usually share a bed with them. I would have liked that (if anyone could put up with my snoring).
Now there are all sorts of statistical things that say pair bonding is good for people. I have hope that maybe I'll find someone with whom to pair long term. But if I don't, that doesn't make me less, and, somehow, reading this, I feel like I'm a bad person or have lived an inadequate life.
I've had some rough periods in my past. I may have more in my future. But I've made friends, cooked meals, tutored kids, listened to the suicidal and depressed, gone to restaurants, lectures, museums, plays, operas, dance performances, movies, and concerts. The life I live isn't unexamined. I hope that it's getting better; I hope I'm getting better.
