It is a good thing to know oneself. It is amazing how long it takes to really understand one’s own behavior. After almost six decades, tonight I have pinpointed a personality quirk that has been an ongoing theme throughout my lifetime. In a word, I am “intolerant.”
I am intolerant of people who feel or act superior, when they are not, and never could be.
I am intolerant of people who “put on” affected snob accents that are not attributable to any real foreign country, just a “superior” way of speaking.
I am intolerant of people who abuse babies, dogs, and horses.
I am intolerant of social injustice and derogatory remarks related to ethnicity.
I am intolerant of belonging to groups of people who are run by women whose main goal is to control others and maintain their own supposed authority.
(Generally speaking, I am often intolerant of groups, but that has not been for lack of trying to be a member of some of them).
I am intolerant of people who pretend to know more than they know, and whose titles are a complete sham.
I am intolerant of cliques. They are “Mickey Mouse” … and the “in-crowd” only reminds me of school days.
I am very intolerant of would-be scholars who produce papers for public consumption after not fully researching their target subject.
I am intolerant of people who attempt to cover-up the egregious and stupid mistakes of others or make excuses for someone else and dumber than dumb actions.
I am intolerant of wealthy people who lord their trips and personal possessions in front of others, simply to show off.
I am intolerant of the “users” of the world: those who only know you only when you can do something for them but have no use for you the rest of the time.
With those listed reasons, we are only touching the tip of the iceberg of my intolerance. I wouldn’t begin to know how to change these thoughts.
Jim and I were comparing notes. I am his best friend and he is mine. We pretty much stick together, except when chores or work separate us. You could call us “joined at the hip,” most of the time. You’ll never see me with 3,000 best “buds” on Facebook. I couldn’t stand relating to that many people. I’d quickly find too many that I would not tolerate, and I would soon become more well-known for “de-friending” than friending.
One Sunday when I was sitting in my studio, hand quilting, I was listening to a Christian station on the radio. Surprisingly, the minister was stating that it is wrong to have a whole bunch of friends. In his opinion, people need to have fewer relationships so that they can concentrate on considering the hereafter. Time is needed to pray and to think about the life that every Christian believes lies beyond the mortal grave. In other words, believers should concentrate on developing a personal relationship with God. The preacher went so far as to say that is sinful to be too caught up in worldly things, yet today, aren’t we all, in some way, living in that manner?
I will leave you with this question: “How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?”
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“Only one, but the light bulb must REALLY want to change.”
Cheers,
Patricia Cummings
Tags: Intolerance
Pat,
This is a great post and really gave me pause to think about my own subjects of intolerance, most being very similar to yours. I especially appreciated your report on what the minister had to say regarding friends and friendship with the world. As a Christian I often am distracted and my attention is easily taken away from my one true, forever friend…the one that “sticketh closer than a brother”. Thanks for reminding me of the need to slow down, get quiet and invest lots of quality time with Him as well.
Great Essay!