You’re always on
I’m really tired, really brain-fried, but I feel like telling you just this one story from today:
One of the conference speakers this morning was this very vibrant, confident, elegant 80-year-old woman who talked about how important it is to her to always be learning new things, always figuring out the best ways to take care of herself, etc. And whatever she’s doing is obviously working, since she doesn’t look anywhere near 80, and she’s sharp as a pin. Really a cool woman. As my friend and I watched her, we both agreed we would love to be like this woman when we’re 80. Or maybe even sooner, like next week.
But then here’s the thing. Later in the morning we were walking through the hotel and we saw this woman talking to a few of the employees working the conference. And our heroine no longer looked like the wise, serene woman we’d seen up on stage. Now her face was pinched and she was speaking pretty sharply to one of the conference organizers, and generally was not looking like the peaceful person we’d been admiring shortly before.
I didn’t mind it so much–we all have our tense moments–but my friend was over her immediately. “If someone’s going to be teaching me about living a better life, then they’d better walk their talk. When I see you out in public, you’d better not be yelling at someone with a scowl on your face.”
Lesson for all of us, whether authors or public speakers or anyone who might be recognized by members of the general public: do not be a (let’s all say it together!) d–k.
Technorati Tags: Lessons In Being In The Public Eye
I am reminded of Carolyn Myss, the mystical healer, and a story she told about absolutely losing it at the airport (flights cancelled, etc). To add insult to injury, someone recognized her! At least she had the introspectiveness to realize how wretchedly funny it was.
I wouldn’t condemn someone on an observation like that. Sometimes you need to get your Space Lord MO-FO on and beat down the little people. That is part of life. I see that as healthy.
Now, if she was demanding double payment because there wasn’t chilled Dasani water and skittles in her hotel room, then that might be a different story.
Alkelda, this is the kind of conference where Carolyn Myss usually speaks, so you know the crowd I’m talking about. I love that she recognized how non-peaceful, non-centered she must have looked. It is pretty funny. It’s not like coming to a writers conference where you expect some grouchy behavior at times.
Patrick, I think people expect the Space Lord to get his mo-fo on. We’d all be so disappointed otherwise.
Ah, the Skittles defense. Not a speakers’ jury in the world wouldn’t agree with that one!
I can’t stand seeing things like that! I remember years ago, my summer job was working in my father’s office. A woman came in and I knew she was a friend of my parents’, but she didn’t know who I was. She was completely nasty to me — until my father came out and introduced me. Then she was sweet as sugar. Um, sure, lady. Whatever.
i say totally cut her some slack cuz i’m sure we’ve all been there. i remember as one of my (many) most embarrassing moments as having a complete supermarket melt-down involving the three whining, crying, complaining brats in my care (oh yeah those would be my children). just as i’m threatening my son with some draconian form of punishment if he doesn’t do or stop doing whatever it is he wasn’t supposed to do or was supposed to do, around the corner comes the principal of the kid’s school–cringe!!! add to the humiliation equation the fact i was the president of the school board and was in dirty jeans and no make-up–so not a pretty sight.
This is so perfect and such a great lesson! No matter how wonderful someone or their life looks, NO ONE is perfect and NO ONE’s life is perfect!
Hildy, haven’t we all used that one? Except for some of us it would be Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Katie, don’t you love catching people like that? One by one, we will root out the fakeness in the world.
Annette, face it, you’re a monster.
PJ, nice to see you on the blog!
Ummm, PJ? Helllooooo, Space Lord here…Total perfection!
Oh, I meant besides ME, of course. No one (besides me) is perfect and no one’s life (beside mine) is perfect.
PJ and Patrick, you finally meet. Obviously twin children of a different mother.