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Yetzirah

Guilt... Is It a Jewish Thing ?
Sun Sep 26 2004


Written a few days ago in Ludditeland, far far away from cyperspace......
* * * *

I am hiding out again.

I have turned off the computer and I'm sitting curled up in a ball with my pseudo Goldenrod tablet scribbling away, trying to ignore the bad movie that's on TV right now.

I'm feeling guilt.

About a number of things.

I'm feeling guilt for not working on my novel today, for not using my Sonicare toothbrush just now, I used the old fashioned one instead. I'm feeling guilty for not having a job, for not going to yoga this week, for not walking this morning, for not having cleaned up more of the garden yet, for not cleaning out the gutters, for not reading the Stephanie Plum novel my friend C. loaned to me the other day. I have only read 2 chapters, and I pestered her to loan me the book. I'm having guilt for not having worked up my Apple Hill apples yet, and that my knitted scarf is only two thirds finished and is gathering dust on the end table in the living room.

I'm a puddle of guilt. A boat load of guilt. A herd of guilt. A gaggle of guilt. A blastula of guilt. An index file of guilt. A spit wad of guilt. I'm a regular plumber's convention of guilt over here.

I spoke to my Shrink about it.... (the really real one) and she told me to calm down, that this kind of thing was common in people of my personality type, with as many irons in the fire as I have. And I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Then she admitted she kind of has the same problem. THAT was SO helpful! Does my Shrink need a shrink???

Anyway, all this guilt is swirling around in an otherwise perfectly good brain. And while my gray matter is busy analyzing these morbid, trivial, self-defeating subjects, I'm using up valuable resources that could be better spent on larger matters.

But there we have problems too. For if I dwell on larger matters, that leads to anxiety. Which in its precious way is much more troublesome than guilt. For the world is a scary place right now. A person could go crazy thinking about the big wide world. A person could develop a psychosis.

Hmmmm...... Anxiety, Crazy, Psychosis..... vs Guilt.

I think I'll stick with Guilt.

In the next few days, I'm going to work on my novel. Or I'm going to try and make crock pot apple butter. It's a toss up as to which one will take top billing. And everything else can go fish.

If Guilt went fishing, what do you suppose he would catch?

( That's easy..... Cupcakes.)

Do you SEE what I have to put up with over here?

14 Comments
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    I think guilt is more a women's thing. Still, it's a better emotion over the others you mentioned. Would love to taste your apple butter. Go for it on the novel and let everything else slide. ;-)
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    *If Guilt went fishing, what do you suppose he would catch?*

    ( ) is correct. It IS easy. It's a carp.

    ~Cali
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    I vote for the apple butter.

    Could that be because I'm thinking food after the over-long fast?

    Shalom
  • From:
    CaraSusanetta (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    It's a perfectionism thing. Women seem to have it in spades for some reason. Am reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. With your mystical bent, you may find it congenial. I know I do. :-)
  • From:
    Allimom (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    I'm hoping to make apple butter this week, but it may have to wait until next week when my class is over. My homework is too demanding right now.

    The tomato pickles however won't wait.
    Alli
  • From:
    Fairywishes (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    come on then I have to admit I don't know what apple butter is, so you must post the recipe

    but I do know, as you know, what guilt is all about, and it is horrible

    take care
    x

    x
    x
    x
  • From:
    RealmOfRachel (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    Project your guilt my way I have twenty three years of experience dealing with guilt and my mother- a little more won't kill me and if it helps you any consider it done!

    Good luck with whichever project gets top billing and remember to breathe! Which Plum book is it out of interest?

    Hugs as always
    Rach xxx
  • From:
    Ichandra (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    hello mon amie
    i cant see how guilt is a jewish thing the jewish thing makes everyone else feel guilty ha ha
    maybe what you are experiencing may not be feelings of guilt if i was thinking all those thoughts i would label them procrastination
    it is all in the wording does that word feel better it would for me
    have a gorgeous day mon amie
    love ichandra
  • From:
    Ichandra (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    ps ha ha if guilt when fishing it would fish for cup cakes cute
    see you later mon petit gateau
  • From:
    Ichandra (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    mon petit gateau i had to come back to say it is probably best not to think at all for a breather
    ha ha ha one of my favourite poetry lines written by yours truly says
    jeshua i hear your sacred name whispered across my breakfast table and i feel a peace that cannot be linguistically constructed
    im such a rebel and i dont feel guilty for being one it is fun im going to buy a black leather jacket and a motorbike kidding
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    Well now, I feel much better. I don't have to feel guilty about my list any more. You have all my stuff on your list and are feeling guilty enough for both of us. LOL

    Now I can go and be free to feel guilty about not feeling guilty. hmmmmm......I don't think being Jewish has anything to do with it. :)


  • From:
    Supertrooper (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Sep 26 2004
    DOWN WITH GUILT !!
    Is so darned counter productive .

    Hugs and glad to see you back hun
    Linda
    xxxx
  • From:
    Lightmiracle (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 27 2004
    Am I to understand you have an Imaginary Psychiatrist, as distinct from the Really Real one? If so, it sounds more wholesome than having an Imaginary Friend. Just so long as she doesn't bill you. ;)

    Guilt: not a uniquely Jewish thing. I'm 100% British Isles (mostly Irish Catholic). I need not say more.
  • From:
    Lightmiracle (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Sep 28 2004
    Well then, if I hadn't been so bold and cheeky, I might never have met your delightful duckie. Thanks for showing me the way to "his office." :)