My own sense of self
Me: If, one day, you find out something horrible about me, I hope that you’ll remember that I was a good friend to you.
Him: How bad?
Me: Not murder or rape bad. But bad. I never said I was a good person. I like to think that I’m a good friend, though.
My friends wonder why I keep certain people in my life. I suppose it’s because – despite their faults – they’ve always been good and loyal to me. For the most part.
Told this to one of the people I mentor. Because, I think, he holds me in high esteem. And that worries me. Cause I’ve made so many mistakes in my life.
Do you know what Charlie Chaplin, Hugh Jackman, Adele, and Bryan Cranston all have in common? They’re all poor imitations of themselves.
For example, Charlie Chaplin entered into a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition. He came in 20th place. Same with the rest of them – you can click the links to read their stories.
There’s this line from Elton John’s Rocketman that goes, “I’m not the man you think I am at home.” That’s kinda how I look at myself these days.
You see, I realized that Mouse saw the worst parts of me and still stuck around for over 18 months. Spoke to her about it recently:
Me: Why did you stay so long?
Her: I was hoping. Then I stopped hoping.
It’s almost like I’m waking up from a nightmare and realized how crazy everything made me. How crazy I was.
Mouse sees me as this terrible version of myself and I can’t really blame her because – at best – I was a poor imitation of myself, of who I thought I was. At worst, I was exactly who she thought I was.
But maybe I can be better. I’d like to be better.
Fucking cancer took so much from me. Even my own sense of self.
I’d like to be the best version of myself again. For Mouse, for myself, for the boy.
I suppose, even if I come in 20th, at least that’ll be closer to who I thought I was versus who I actually was after everything went to hell.
Another friend/mentee:
Him: You’re the strongest guy I know, Logan.
Me: Sheyeah, I’m a goddamn rock. (shaking head) I’m not sure if you’re saying that seriously or not.
Him: I’m dead serious. I dunno many people that coulda gone through what you went through and be ok.
Me: That’s the thing: Am I OK? I think I am now, but I’m not sure. And that’s what’s scary.
Location: this afternoon, the 17th floor of 1 New York Plaza
Mood: regretful
Music: I think it’s gonna be a long long time
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3 replies on “A poor imitation of myself”
Listen, Logan. You’ve been thru some major shit. Be kind to yourself because you’re a normal human being who’s trying to navigate this thing called life. We’re our own worst critics and our internal mirrors are often skewed or broken. You’re doing amazing and are so strong and brave. I don’t think I could handle what you went thru. I had a cold earlier this week and had a meltdown cuz I wasn’t feeling myself and couldn’t do anything. I’m weaksauce. Every day is just putting one foot in front of the other and just getting thru. If you do that you’re doing your best.
Thanks for the kind words. I’m not sure that’s necessarily true, that I’m trying my best. Up until July 4th, 2019, I really wasn’t but then I really tried my best. And I found out recently from Mouse that it wasn’t good enough. So I’m looking at my life, trying to reassess what’s right and what needs work again.
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