Don't Be a Hater

It may actually turn out that I'm a hypocrite, but let's wait and see until we get to the end.

I think I've reached the limit of my tolerance for the popular pastime of bashing anyone or anything that you don't like. You know, like making facebook groups against some pop icon, or filling message boards with all the reasons something is SO stupid, Or writing long blog posts about why anyone who would like or support such and such or so and so clearly isn't playing with a full deck.

Of course I don't expect all people to like and love the same things, but for pete's sake, why does not liking something give you the right to go on and on about how horrible it is and to bash the people who do like it? Why do you celebrate the negative? Don't you have things that you love that you could celebrate instead? Or do you just love hating?

I once referenced a popular TV show in conversation and the reply was, "We don't watch that show," in that judgey tone you use to say "Don't you wash your hands when you use the bathroom?" Jeesh. I don't even particularly like the show and I was offended.

I realize that I'm being a little vague here about what sort of bashing is driving me crazy, but that's because I don't want this to turn into a defense of something I like but other people like to bash. That's not my point.

What's my point? Well, I guess it's that not much looks exactly the same to everyone; after all, we're all standing in different places and so we have different views. Maybe we could accept that whatever it is that we don't like has some value to a person standing in a different place. There's no need to pass judgment on the person who likes the thing that you think is stupid, or over rated, or whatever. Lighten up! Enjoy the things you enjoy and let other people enjoy the things that they enjoy.

So am I a hypocrite? Am I a hater of haters? I'm trying really hard not to be. I'm just offering something to think about. Really. I won't judge you if you want to go on bashing, but I'm not saying I'll listen to you though either.

And after all that, I should probably make one confession. If I'm going to really not be a hypocrite, I may have to stop making fun of Russ and Jeff for watching the UFC all the time!

The house was warm, what with the oven set at 450 and everyone home; it smelled good, that comforting yeasty smell of baking bread, and it was quiet. I tried not to pay attention to the quiet because that would surely jinx it. I could hear the kids playing an invented game not far off, so there were no worries. Russ and I worked quietly on our own pizzas, mine was gorgonzola with pine nuts and Russ's was chicken and mushroom.

"How did the Habitat thing go today?" Russ's staff Christmas party was to spend a half day at a Habitat for Humanity build and then go out to lunch.

"It was great, really great. Everyone was really impressed by the whole organization."

In my head I thought, "Maybe the Y could take notes here," but I kept that bit to myself.

"Had any of your staff done a build before?"

"Tom, I think. He was pretty funny. Dan might have done it before too. I think everyone was happy to be doing it though."

As we continued to talk about how the day went, I noticed how relaxed and excited Russ sounded. That's when it occurred to me.

"I feel a blog post coming on."

Raised eyebrows.

"I think the secret to not freaking out in scary economic times is to give yourself away. Give away your time, energy and stuff. It's counter intuitive I know. When you think you might not have anything soon, you want to horde what you do have. My theory is that that makes you more freaked out. If you give away freely, I think you feel more calm."

I bet I'm not the firt person to think of that. I bet great thinkers and teachers before me thought of it. But when you think of it yourself, it still feels like a revelation!

I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on it.

"Is my pizza done yet? Let me look in the oven!" was the next bend in the conversational road.

More Fighting Evil and Reading Books

I have more evidence of the evil fighting properties of book reading.

I just heard on Satellite Sisters the a study written about in New York Times says that the only activity that improves academic test scores is reading novels for pleasure. Hah! I knew I wasn't wasting time reading Mary Higgens Clark in ninth grade algebra!

JD and I sometimes have more than a little trouble getting along. There seems to be a lot of nagging involved in getting him through a day and, not too shockingly, he gets bitter about that. However, we both know that there is one place that we can meet together and get along perfectly. Actually it's not one place, it's many because it's in the pages of books. Sometimes it's me reading to him, sometimes it's him reading to me and sometimes it's just us discussing a book we've both read. It's nice to have a safe place to hang out together.

Monday, as I was driving to work, I got a call on my cell phone that went like this, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The voice was very squeally and the person on the other end sounded like she was bouncing. What brought all this gratitude and joy? I put the second Harry Potter book in Rachel's backpack a whole four month before she expected it. Now come on, what fights evil more than joy and gratitude?

There you have it; i bet I'll find even more evidence as time goes by.

In case you're curious, we are currently reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Penderwicks. I just finished Fairest and Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. I don't know what I'm going to read next; I've had like a million recommendations.

I was thinking of doing a blog book club in January. I was thinking of reading Jane Eyre. Can you believe I've never read it? Anybody want in?