“Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” — Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight
I recently had an, ahem, “conversation” with a
well-loved young person in my life about appreciation and gratefulness. Or the
lack thereof. (If you have teenagers, you’ve probably had some version of this
same conversation.)
I had built a marvelous head of steam. “It’s not only that you don’t recognize
my ongoing efforts to love and support you, it’s also that you actually seem to
hold these things, and me, in contempt”. (Melodrama, party of one? That’s fine.
I own it.)
I expected an eyeroll in response, but instead I got a puzzled look. “I literally have no idea what you’re saying. I don’t even know what that means”.
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Imperfect Perceptions 