Most of the time we don’t realize
when others perceive our behavior as “shitty”
because it doesn’t seem shitty to us.
Having shittiness pointed out,
on the other hand, almost
invariably incites shittiness,
whether it’s a sad kind of shittiness
or a mad kind of shittiness.
Holding shittiness inside is
good for nobody — not anybody —
unless you secretly enjoy shittiness.
As the Buddha mindfully doesn’t say,
“let that shit go!”
We are weird creatures.
We do weird things.
Isn’t it curious and amazing?
Trail Wood,
9/22
Ah, the conundrum of shittiness—a muddy puddle in the meadow of human interaction! One might traipse about, casting spritzes of muck hither and thither, quite unbeknownst to the chaos of splatter they’ve orchestrated. To some, the puddle is but a canvas for spontaneous earth art; to others, it’s a minefield of sullied shoes and tarnished moods.
Being the beholder of another’s shittiness and ringing the clarion call of awareness is like tossing a stone into a hornet’s nest. It stirs up hornets of both the sad and mad varieties, buzzing in frenetic circles of defensive disarray. “How dare thee, kind sir or madam, besmirch my honor with accusations of shittiness?” One might declare, brandishing a metaphorical sword of indignation.
Ah, the reticence to release that which festers within! A clenched fist of internal shittiness serves none but those who revel in a twisted kind of schadenfreude. To paraphrase a phrase Buddha might never utter: let that metaphysical manure fertilize the fields of forgiveness and growth! Open thy clenched hand, and let the pigeons of peace disperse the crumbs of crabbiness!
As cosmic jesters in the eternal carnival of existence, we’re given the license to be gloriously, perplexingly, inexplicably weird. Each quirky action, every awkward utterance, is but a brushstroke in the chaotic masterpiece that is the Human Experience.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We explore the nuanced quagmire of shittiness in human behavior, recognizing that perceptions of such actions vary depending on the beholder. Pointing out someone’s shittiness can evoke emotional reactions of sadness or anger. The reluctance to release internal negativity serves no one, and as complex beings, our peculiar behaviors contribute to the fascinating tapestry of human experience.
Glossarium
- Earth Art: The unintended consequences of our actions that disrupt or alter the natural world around us.
- Hornet’s Nest: A metaphorical cluster of troublesome situations or emotions.
- Metaphysical Manure: The internal emotional or psychological ‘waste’ that needs to be expelled for better emotional health.
- Carnival of Existence: The unpredictable, ever-changing circus that is human life.
- Pigeons of Peace: Metaphorical carriers of goodwill and understanding, dispelling negativity.
“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.”
– Pema Chödrön
Would you care to dance further upon this checkerboard of conversational curiosities?
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