Tolerance

Complaining about people is natural, I guess. I used to be this way and sometimes revert to the behavior. But upon turning 32, I've met a classmate, "J" who complains about others a bit more than normal, but I get along with him and another girl at our lab table well. I forgive him for his complaints, after all, he's only in his mid-twenties (weg). We have a noisy, obnoxious classmate whom, even from all the way across the room, just irritates the snot out of J. Once, I made a comment that the irritating classmate was "interesting." J laughed and told me I was always just so nice and diplomatic, even when describing someone who is clearly annoying. I told him, "well, he is somebody's son and since I have sons, I think about it before I put a label on him."

When I tell the DH about an aspect of someone's personality that is confusing me or disappointing me, he immediately labels the person and I immediately feel as though I have betrayed such person by mentioning he or she to DH at all! It makes me wonder, not that I have any control over this, what people think of me? I certainly say a lot of "dumb" things and present myself in an unflattering light. If everyone does not allow the same sort of personality forgiveness as I do, then how do they make friends (more than I have, presumably) and how do they see the good in the world as a whole?

Too much for now to consider. In any case, I took J's comment to me as a great compliment. It's nice to be known for being forgiving of other's superficial faults. If only everyone around me were so gracious.

This will have to wait

Who is Vasalisa and why is she so wise? In the ancient story, she's a little girl who learns to listen to her grown-up feminine intuition, or mother nature if you will. The story is symbolic of women, culturally expected to be nice and naive like the little girl in them, hungry for knowledge, true nature and power hidden within but untapped. It is believed by some that this was the original version of Cinderella, as the story mirrors some of the circumstances and ultimately the lesson. However, in the modern tale of Cinderella, the details are much less gritty than in the story with Vasalisa and it's a bit harder to dig deep and receive the message.

This blog will reflect my own recognition of intuition, all things a long time coming, the perpetual late bloomer in me and I hope, a record of both the time of my life and the greatest turning point as well.