My Old Brain
I do wish they had shown me compassion; a kindness.
I remember my old brain on occasion, usually when I’m drifting off to sleep.
It’s always a memory of someone alluding to me being “not so smart.’
My old brain wasn’t less intelligent; it hadn’t been nurtured, given the proper environment to learn, to soak up information and expand. It had no knowledge of the larger world. It didn’t have any footing in the subtle nuances of social interaction.
I can’t fault them — those someones — for making those assumptions, but I do wish they had shown me compassion, a kindness.
To Be and Not to Seem
Who ARE you? If asked, could you reply with ease?
Mavisville Preparatory School – 3 Nightingale Avenue – Kingston 3
This is the motto written on my brother’s grade school report cards when we still lived in Kingston, Jamaica. They were in a pile of “stuff” in my closet. It’s definitely not a coincidence that I only now discovered them. It’s more than halfway through the year and I’m no different from the masses in that I’m hitting the reset button and really sitting in who I want to BE, and not who I SEEM to be.
“To BE and not to SEEM” sounds like a Yoda quote. SEEMING is equal to something nebulous and temporary, not sure of yourself. BEING is grounded, solid, deep-rooted; knowing who you are and expanding to fit the world.
Who ARE you? If asked, could you reply with ease? Would the words effortlessly dance off your tongue, regaling all those who ask? Would the question be unnecessary because who you are would be like an advance guard, greeting everyone before you even got to “hello”?!