Just today I had a conference with on old acquaintance, “Average”. I seem to see him from time to time lurking about my daily routine, and it makes me uncomfortable to see him coming because he always tends to slow me down. The conversation is always the same, filled with excuses and non-interesting topics that has nothing to do with me or where I see myself going. I was also tired of politely tolerating his untimely intrusions in my day to day activities. I knew what I had to do. I simply had to (as the old folks would say), “cut his tail loose”.
So as candidly as I could muster, even to the point of offence, I simply said, “No more of you Mister Average. You are a thorn in my side, with your constant excuses, and lackadaisical attitude about life and your unwillingness to take risks. I need more from those with whom I associate, so you absolutely must go!” His reply was an unexpected one: He said, “I knew for a long time this conversation would come. Although, today is the first time you finalized this severance, you’ve been pushing me aside since you were a young girl. I could never get you to compromise your gut instinct. You are defiant and stubborn as ever. A dreamer is what you are: Always expecting the impossible, always making crazy claims such as “favor is better than money. You, my dear Carmen are as intolerable as you’ve always been. Frankly, I’m exhausted with trying to keep up with all of your shenanigans and desires that far surpass your ability to ever attain them.
You know, your thinking is lofty and Mediocrity thinks that you were a real waste of my time. She’s been begging me since you were a child to give up on my notion of having you as a friend. Frankly, she hates you and didn’t know what I could ever see in you in the first place. But you seemed to have needed me at one point in your life. I thought that I could be your safety net, and protect you from these wild dreams and outlandish hopes to change the world somehow. Change the world Carmen? You do understand that is a rare fantasy, and you’re already in your 40’s, there’s not much time left to leave your mark now, is it girlie? Don’t come crying to me, when you find that your efforts didn’t pay off, and your hope bank is in deficit. Yeah, well just so you know, unlike Mediocrity I do like you, but I don’t want to have to be the one to say, “I told you so.”
Carmen what you’ve got to know is, I’m no monster. I only want to help you stay in your comfort zone, so, no; I don’t promote "taking risks” as you say. It’s not safe! Can’t you for once see things my way? How come, I’m always having to chase you, and try to run ahead of you to stop you at your next opportunity? Why do I always have to argue with you? I’m tired little girl, and I can’t do this with you anymore. Anyway, I’m glad you are so called ‘cutting my tail loose’. Why, I NEVER! For that, I will never forget you or even forgive you perhaps. However, I am glad others are not vulgar like you; I simply couldn’t take that type of crass and unacceptable behavior. There’s no need to be nasty you know! I’m so offended, but I must admit, I’m equally relieved. But just so you know that there aren’t any hard feelings, I’ll be around, because I see some hard knots in the road to where you are headed, and besides that, what I couldn’t do, there are some people in your life whose agenda is just like mine. So are you gonna’ cut their tails loose too? Um, hum lets see how well that goes over. You’ll be back, I can almost guarantee it!"
At that moment, a slow smile crossed my lips as I gently replied, “Mister Average, I think you’re sadly mistaken, as you have correctly stated, you have been chasing me all these years. It’s never been the other way around. As for my “friends”, need I remind you that birds of a feather flock together? Trust me, if their feathers are not equipped to soar the turbulence of the storms of life and soar with me like the eagle I am, I won’t have to ‘cut their tails loose’, the challenges of attaining higher velocities will weed them out. Besides that, this conversation is strictly between me and you for the time being. So if that’s all, excuse me while I soar!”
©2009 Written by Carmen A. Gray. All rights reserved. Unlawful duplication of this article is prohibited unless authorized by the author.
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