Selfies...

Selfies...The new American pass time phenomenon. I once read in an article that the "Selfie" generation was the onset of the "Narcissistic" generation. I was on my way home from a meeting this morning, when at a stop light a man on a bike had to stop to take a "Selfie". The light had turned green, yet I had to wait for this man to take his "Selfie" before he would go in order to post this on god knows where. Although excessively annoyed by his behavior, it got me thinking.

I thought about the article I had read about the "Selfie" generation creating a world of narcissism. But I wonder if it actually goes further than that. After speaking with my friend "Yoyo", and dissecting her emotional drama, I realized that maybe the idea of "Selfies" isn't so much about creating a world based on narcissism but one of denial.

As Yoyo spoke of her anger about an old boyfriend, she began to tell me the other issues behind this anger. A patient that had died due to an allergic reaction to medication she (Yoyo) had no control over. Her daughter's half ass attempt of suicide. And it made me realize that Yoyo was holding on to the drama of the boyfriend past was nothing more than a smoke screen; a way to avoid what she really needed to deal with on a conscious level.

And Selfies - is it really about a generation's addiction to themselves or is it merely a way not to have to look at themselves. A passage way of not having to look beyond the surface of their life and be forced to see what it is they too are avoiding in their lives.

Everyone does the Selfies, even the sheeples president does Selfies. Is that also his way of avoiding the issues that all Americans are facing? Is that the purpose of Selfies? "Hey, look at me", so that I don't have to look at myself, or the things in my life that I am avoiding".

Sounds good in theory, and as a new budding therapist - as long as they eventually land on my therapeutic couch - I say it's a win-win situation for me and them.

As long as they don't take "Selfies" during session...

Amazing Grace....

And as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...God is my guide, my strength, my light...

Undone...

System Failure...

"Alert, alert, Will Robinson, danger, danger!" said Robot B-9 from Lost in Space; reminding his young charge of the dangers lurking, the system failing. System failure - many systems can fail: family, friends, computers, social services, the government and I believe this list can go on and on.

But what do we do when the system fails us?  Do we jump ship? Leave it all behind? Or do we just implode as the system fails and all signals are lost. How do we know when the system will fail? Do we then just walk away from the wreckage of our lives, hoping that this system failure will not take us down with the ship?

The system has failed me, time and time again. And has it failed me because of the color of my skin? Although it pales in comparison to most, it is indeed colored. It has not been seen so because no one has bothered to check. How many systems have failed me?

Back before it was "in" I was fired for sexually harassing a vice president. How does one sexually harass a superior? Is it because the system in place was meant for him and not for me? Yet when the tables were reversed, it once again failed me due to the color of another's skin. And because my skin  pales in comparison with others, the system has failed me as well, time and time again.

Yet I will bring it back. I will be the one that other's will be hoping that Robot B-9 will be alerting all for the looming danger. I am writing a book entitled "System Failure". And everybody is in! Are you all excited yet? You should be. The very system that was put up to protect me and only failed me time and time again will pay its due, but this time to me.
The system itself will fail, as it has failed me.

System Failure...

The real question is...

Power...

TRAVERS
Well. We can begin the review at last.
We'll skip over the more obvious—

 

BUFFY
There isn't going to be a review.

 

TRAVERS
Sorry?

 

BUFFY
No review. No interrogation, no questions
you know I can't answer, no hoops, no jumps...

 

BUFFY
...and no interruptions.
(to them all)
See I've had a lot of people talking
at me, last few days. People just
lining up to tell me how unimportant
I am. And I finally figured out why.

 

BUFFY
Power. I have it. They don't.
This bothers them.
(strolls about a bit)
Glory came to my house today—

 

BUFFY
--Just to talk. Tell me I'm a bug,
I'm a flea, she could squash me in
a second... Only she didn't squash
me. She came to my house and she
talked. We had what in her warped
brain probably passes for a civilized
conversation. Why? Because she
needs something from me. Because
I have power over her.

Fear...

"Terrible thing, to live in fear.
Brooks Hatlen knew it. Knew it all
too well. All I want is to be back
where things make sense. Where I
won't have to be afraid all the time."

Red

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION...