Always Playing Catch-Up
Basically this is what’s going on. I suck/life sucks/everything sucks. But I’m NOT going to allow this to be something I stop doing, and thus I will be catching up a few prompts at a time. Bear with me?
K good.
On to the most recent prompt:
December 23 – New Name. Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)
So this question seems made for me – I’ve ALWAYS wondered what it would be like if I’d been given a different name. Don’t get me wrong – there’s an adorable story behind why my mother named me Brittany, and it has heart and history and “aww”‘s in all the right places – but I’ve always pondered how I might have a different attitude toward people in general if my name had been clever and unique, like my sister’s, Altie (AL-tee, not all-tee people). She oft complains of mispronunciations, and I oft complain of comparisons to others with my namesake (and I swear if one more person asks me if I will ever shave my head like Spears…). But as far as introducing myself as someone else? I don’t know if I would. I think my mom is waay too proud of me being exactly what she prayed for and I’d never dream of being anyone other than who she raised me to be.
But just for fun? I’d totally go with Babs – it’s a fantastic old woman name that’s gotten me out of a few tight situations :)
Here’s a few old ones:
December 20 – Beyond Avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?) (Author: Jake Nickell)
&
December 17 – Lesson Learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward? (Author: Tara Weaver)
I doubt there’s any one person out there who can say there wasn’t anything they DIDN’T do tat they SHOULD have. As far as myself? There are so many things I should have done:
I should have called my family more often.
I should have been there in those moments when my good friends REALLY needed me.
I should have spent more time focusing on Architecture.
I should have budgeted better and spent less.
I should have taken better care of the relationships that are important to me.
I should have said more YOU & THEM statements as opposed to I & US.
I should have taken more vitamins.
I should have read more books.
I should have spent more time int the city.
This list is quickly digressing into what I WANT not just what I should be doing – but it’s an interesting dynamic presented. Where do you draw the line of what’s necessary or a “should” and what’s merely a desire. And the title of this prompt has EVERYTHING to do with this digression – if something is beyond our control – we can at that point remain blameless while just plain whining. How selfish.
To sum it up? I was selfish this year. too selfish and scared and worried and unsure and busy to consider thinking of someone other than myself. And while I’m glad I have made these decisions and realized this fact at the point in my life when I’m still young enough to correct it, there’s still always going to be this tiny little wonder in the back of my mind that wonders if now is the beginning of my understanding of the word regret.
I agree that you should have taken more vitamins.