[2853] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: balance
mhbraun@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (mhbraun@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Tue Mar 31 04:11:17 1992
Well Dave, you seen to be confused about a few things...
1) Help: There are people that actually *like* helping people, and some of
these people can be found in organizations that you often associate. These
people derive pleasure from helping other people, and for the most part, the
tougher the problems, the more pleasure that is derived when the person is
helped through it. This applies to classwork, insecurities, emotional
probkems, and anything else, the catch is that a person that is giving the
help should be familar with the material, meaning, if it is classwork then a
person that has taken the class would be more helpful than someone that has
not, and if it is emotional, someone that can empathize would be better than
someone that can't. "Over-burdening" someone with your problems is not just a
function of the number of problems that you have burdened them with, it is
also a function of the receptiveness of the people that you are burdening. A
person that *wants* to help you may help with a virtually infinte number of
problems without ever thinking *they* were being over-burdened. Often these
people are more annoyed when you *don't* tell them your problems, because the
get frustrated because then think they can help and you are not letting them.
2) Most people do not have as easy a time with some of the things you
mentioned as they appear. Classes are hard, and the important thing is that
they are a means not an end, and they are not the only means to any particular
end. It is possible that you have chosen the wrong means, or it is possible
that you have chosen the right means, just make sure to keep your focus on
ytour end to know the difference. And you are not nearly the only person that
has trouble keeping control over their goddamn hormones.
3) Birthdays: You may not be fond of the practices of celebrating birthdays,
but they are something that should *at least* be celebrated privately and
inwardly. You should celebrate having had another year of joys and overcoming
the problems of another year. This is something that you should reflect on
and say "I overcame last years problems and the year before's, I will over
come this years problems and whatever problems come my way." And that has
*nothing* to do with singing "Happy Birthday", having a cake, and getting
presents.
I hope that cleared some things up.
