Sharing a piece of prose today from my first book, Rhetoric in Motion, that captures an effort to not just articulate, but better understand (and even reconcile) with two different, distinct parts of myself – one tougher, one softer. If it ever feels difficult for you to manage different parts of yourself, like you have to live in a box, or perpetually explain/defend that which you or anyone else believes you to be (but feels incomplete), this one’s for you.
________________________________________________________________
Oh, OK… vs Oh. Okay.
An exploration into my own Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and maybe encouragement for you to explore your own, and/or, the efficacy of your own framing…
“Oh, OK…” is best described as my New York alter ego. She has a chip on her shoulder, gamifies everything. Lives to conquer, put on a show, leverage rage.
“Oh. Okay” leads with love. She speaks less, listens more, is more consistent, more patient, kinder, softer.
Sometimes “Oh, OK” is a shield for unmet needs, unresolved pain. Other times “Oh. Okay” is a crutch to not engage (where I’m scared to fail), concede to “it’s fine” when it’s not fine.
Where is the exact line, the exact moment that my strengths, your strengths, become my weaknesses, your weaknesses? And vice versa?
Couldn’t tell you.
But. It seems… one constant for maximizing your “best” face, in any given interaction, includes genuine consideration for all other faces in the room.
Moral of the story: name your parts, but know there’s always nuance. Let’s be alchemists for adaptation, alright?
12/16/21 WOD
DEUCE ATHLETICS GPP
Complete 5 rounds for quality of:
8 Pull Up
(3,0,1,0)
10 DB RDL
(3,0,1,0)
Then, complete the following for time:
6th Street Run
20 Manmakers(40/25)
7th Street Run
DEUCE GARAGE GPP
7-7-7
Front Squat
Then, complete 4 rounds for quality of:
100′ Sandbag Carry
15 Banded KB Swings
Then, complete the following for time:
9-6-3
Hang Squat Clean Thrusters (135/95)
Burpees Over Bar