Change! ... Or is it?

As I was looking through the Internet for pictures of my theory, the most I've found by far are ones about 'white liberal guilt' and Obama. Now I'm not big on politics, and I'm sure some of you aren't either, but we don't need to be to have our eyes opened to what these drawings are portraying. What these drawings are showing are not just this 'white liberal guilt', but white guilt of most of America. I don't feel that Obama should have been voted into office based on skin color alone, I'm not saying he was, and I'm confident that he too would be much happier knowing that he was not voted because of his skin color.

I suppose what this really has to do with my theory is that, everyone, don't succumb to 'white guilt' or racial guilt of any kind. It's not fair to you or those who you're feeling guilty about.

Don't Put Yourself in the Corner

I heard a great quote today, and it really reminded me of my theory. The quote was: Guilt: punishing yourself before God doesn't. ~Alan Cohen

I realize that it could be taken as an anti-religion quote, but in order to avert any arguments or hurt feelings, I'm going to take a different spin on it. I feel that this quote explains my theory in very basic terms: even when no one else is going to punish you, you will punish yourself by feeling guilty. Unless you truly did something wrong, such as stealing something that wasn't yours, there is no need to punish yourself when no one else is going to do it.

Oboe Woes

At first I was worried about what I was going to write today. I had been worried that I had touched over everything I could, but then I was saved during concert band. Several days ago I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed and the stiches were still in my gums. I figured that I would be able to not play in band and have the other oboe player in my section take over, just until I was healed a bit more. Silly me!

As I sat there, pressing the buttons on my oboe to the music without actually playing, I was horrified to hear that it sounded as if the other oboe player had never practiced! I will be the first to admit that I am a proud person, and I hate it when my section in band is not up to par. As I sat and listened to the poor playing, I began to feel as if it were my fault that my section was not playing as well as it should. Inside I knew that it was not my fault that my section was so poor, but I still took out my reed and began to play.

As I type this, my gums ache and I can taste blood. I feel angered at myself for allowing my section to become so subpar and for allowing myself to damage my chances at a faster recovery by jumping in to save my section’s sound.

End the Suffering!

Your suffering, not the polar bears’… Well, their suffering also, but that is not the issue of this particular blog. This little gem is about displaced and misguided feelings of failure, something I am sure almost everyone has felt at least one point in their life. Have you ever watched one of the many “For pennies a day” commercials and felt a bit guilty for not sending money, or watched a news story about melting ice caps and felt like a failure for not recycling more? While you may be able to donate more money to charity or recycle a few more bottles, it is not entirely your fault that those issues exist.

To feel like a failure for something out of your control is not fair to you, and can even be bad for your health, though there is a section of this blog with links to articles that can help you help yourself. Although you may believe that you alone caused one of the many difficulties plaguing the world today, it is not your fault and you need not feel that it is. Reading some of the news articles from around the world that you can find in the sidebar may help show you that you are not alone in these misguided feelings.