Rings so true. There are comments, particularly from close relatives, that sting to this day. I give them way too much credit. Time to assign them to the trash heap. You are awesome, Melodie. :)
Knowing our matching tattoos have been a reminder to you about how loved you are makes getting that tattoo one of the best decisions of my life! It is reassuring to know that these types of self-doubt are so universal that we are not alone, but it is also such a tragedy that so many people fight it all the time.
Deeply, deeply relatable. I taught for 27 years -- 10 years in high school and 17 years in adult education -- and heard lovely, warm, touching tributes from so many students who loved my classes. But what's clearest in my head -- right down to his accent and intonation -- is the voice of a 14 year old boy at Kingsway when he said "You no damn good as a teacher." That soundbite is readily available to play back in my head whenever I need to remind myself how terrible I am, which is far too often.
Do you know the poem "We Who Are Your Closest Friends" by Philip Lopate? It touches that chord of secret fear that everyone hates us, so perfectly. My friends and I have ongoing jokes about the Thursday night club and who is or isn't invited. https://poets.org/poem/we-who-are-your-closest-friends
Rings so true. There are comments, particularly from close relatives, that sting to this day. I give them way too much credit. Time to assign them to the trash heap. You are awesome, Melodie. :)
Thank you, Pat - so are you :)
Knowing our matching tattoos have been a reminder to you about how loved you are makes getting that tattoo one of the best decisions of my life! It is reassuring to know that these types of self-doubt are so universal that we are not alone, but it is also such a tragedy that so many people fight it all the time.
Deeply, deeply relatable. I taught for 27 years -- 10 years in high school and 17 years in adult education -- and heard lovely, warm, touching tributes from so many students who loved my classes. But what's clearest in my head -- right down to his accent and intonation -- is the voice of a 14 year old boy at Kingsway when he said "You no damn good as a teacher." That soundbite is readily available to play back in my head whenever I need to remind myself how terrible I am, which is far too often.
Do you know the poem "We Who Are Your Closest Friends" by Philip Lopate? It touches that chord of secret fear that everyone hates us, so perfectly. My friends and I have ongoing jokes about the Thursday night club and who is or isn't invited. https://poets.org/poem/we-who-are-your-closest-friends
I read it years ago, but thanks for reminding me! It is so funny and so relatable.