How much do I want to loathe and condemn, in search of an abstract promised land that hides behind unending problems, supposedly deserving of my unending hate?
I hope not as much as I want to be present, and framing our transient and mysterious existence as adventure, opportunity, and healthy engagement with growth and challenge. Because that’s how I experience the most fulfillment.
Well, it sounds like you’ve taken the first very important step toward humanity. Which puzzles me, cuz sometimes I wonder about you…..
If you find yourself condemning something – especially if the emotions around it are strong – you could try to re-frame the object of your ire. Find some way to think of that object as positive, even though you wouldn’t choose it for yourself. For instance, a publisher who turns down your work could be searching for something ‘magnificent’ but within a very limited scope. They rejected your work only because their own limitations prevented them from even considering its potential. And even after a thousand rejections, it’s a very crowded market so you just have to keep trying. Or maybe they’ve seen your wacky ads and felt they couldn’t explain to their boss why they thought your creative ideas needed an opening (if you’ll forgive that turn of phrase). Of course, I don’t know what you do ‘loathe and condemn’ … If it’s those really bad TV adverts that end with “Terms and conditions apply,” then I might be with you! 😉
As a geezer 73 (going on 74 🎵🎶) I have accumulated an impressive list of things and folk which get filed under loathe and condemn. After some reflection as to whether this was / is corrosive to my nature, I conclude thus:
It is part of Human Nature to loathe and condemn (ask anyone who stubs their naked toe on a piece of furniture – what gets the blame the furniture or failing to avoid the furniture- right the furniture every time!). Then there is the old saw ‘Never discuss Religion, Politics or Sport – or whether Captain America could beat Batman’.
Since we are stuck with it, we have to navigate our way out of the feeling into calmer waters and not brood upon the storm or go all Captain Ahab.
It’s the brooding on it is the danger. Locating yourself in a dark corner and scowl at the world. Thus we are better finding other activities to veer ourselves away from the brooding, or activities that work us through the brooding.
Mind you it has to be said a smidge of loathing and condemning is a great charge up the creative juices when writing a piece of action, or impassioned speech. So they can be harnessed too.
OK I’m done (I have to go and write in the complete destruction of an evil army and their leader getting their just deserts)
Well put! I lean towards the let it flow and let it go, although with a few modifications. Without outwardly expressing it (and getting in trouble), I say just let it be for as long as it wants. It will leave of its own accord. So probably I’d lean towards, let it flow and it will go. Just my experience, though.
Oh yes. I like ‘let it flow and it will go’. The brooding and holding on are were the corrosion starts.
One good thing about writing eh? You can certainly work through a great number of issues and use them as inspiration and motivation….when edited they make ‘good copy’
Keep on keeping on👍
Kent Wayne 
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