The introduction of my grandfather’s book starts with this:

It is the first two decades of a man’s life that shape him. What he learns during this time of love and hate, justice and injustice, right and wrong — stays with him a lifetime.

I knew that this was true, but never really experienced it. While I grew up in a strict family, I was never abused or beaten while I grew up — sure, I was disciplined at times, but nothing beyond that.

However, I was made fun of relentlessly when I was younger, for various reasons — being gullible, being relatively nice to people in general, and most of all… probably just having one of those easily-teased personalities.

So imagine my surprise when I came to the realization that this harassment from 20+ years ago cost me my recent relationship of 5 years.

Oh, yes — I’m diggin’ the irony here. Mr. I-never-had-any-baggage taken captive by his own baggage.

I’ve started meeting with a shrinktherapist, so we’ll see how that goes.

How’s that for some unexpected insight?

🙂

Every so often a meme comes along that I can jump aboard with. So here goes:

• Grab the nearest book.
• Open it to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
• Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

My Result:

Mack felt like he was moving in slow motion inside the eye of a hurricane of activity happening around him.

– William P. Young, The Shack