Letters to the Editor
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Am I the only one with a good shrink?
Someone commented, "I have never known anyone who saw a shrink and was told, 'No, what you're feeling is perfectly natural; it's called being human, and we all have times where we feel like we're falling apart.'"
I've been told that. By my shrink. Explicitly and implicitly.
If you feel like you need help coping in the world, therapy helps. But so does being true to yourself (supposedly the function of therapy, but not dependent on it).
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Hello Kindred Spirits!
I used to be fascinated with Peter Pan and imaginary creatures too. This letter got me thinking back to looking out my window for Peter Pan and the Pussy Willow that slept in an acorn top in my jewelry box.
I wonder if the LW ever had a copy of ‘Gnomes’? That’s a whole big crazy coffee table book all about how Gnomes live and what their houses look like down to the tiniest detail. Some crazy wonderful adult wrote and illustrated and imagined that. I also used to have a book all about Unicorns that was sort of the same magical world, beautifully illustrated – I think the book I’m remembering is ‘On the History and Truth of the Unicorn.’ As a teenager I let the Vampire Lestat replace Peter Pan – a much sexier way to live forever that captured my imagination in the same sort of way.
I guess my point is that some an adult wrote and imagined Peter Pan. And lots of adults have done lots of magical sorts of things along these lines. Maybe the LW is one of those creators. Or maybe the LW is like me and more of an appreciator of fancy dreams.
And remember that movie ‘The Never Ending Story’? I was obsessed. Oh, and ‘Tuck Everlasting’ was a favorite book too! I’m getting so excited remembering this old stuff. I’ve got some old books to reread and some old, friendly ideas that need to be revisited…
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What is This, Exactly ?
If Cary's judgement is such that he truly believes this letter is authentic in any meaningful sense, I would submit that this is convincing evidence of his inability to skillfully advise anyone on anything. Conversely, if he is able to smell the BS, why does he publish and comment upon this as though he hadn't?
I have always noticed, of course, that CT labors through an epic case of verbal diarrhea, unable to write anything of real consequence. Usually, though, he serves to select letters that *others* might usefully debate and opine upon.
I fail to see any point in publishing this obvious fabrication from this untalented fabulist.
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Fake letters and Peter Pans
I, for one, don't see the big fuss about fake letters. So, someone wrote a problem and Cary spoke his opinion about it. If it is indeed a fake letter, then Cary's answer is insightful to those other than the letter writer, who might relate to that type of problem. If it is not a fake letter, then there is no problem. Really people, the column is titled "Since You Asked" not "Solve my real world Problems".
As for Peter Pans and lying and being in magical worlds, accepting the cold hard reality of meaningless is painful. Not everyone is capable of it. I have sympathy for them but then these people need to be supported by people around them who know them and accept them. Find friends, good trustworthy friends, who will not judge you and become who you are, more truthfully, more authentically. Life might be fine that way.
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The "Big Fuss"
If any response so far can be accurately described as a "Big Fuss," I suspect that it is because this letter is inane and boring. I don't believe there is any real confusion about the title of Cary's column, though thankfully, we can now be SURE of that.
People read today's feature hoping to find something they might identify or assist with and instead got poorly constructed insincere tripe.
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he or she
Please tell me this letter was written by a chick.
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lies?
"The strangest part is that I've never felt genuinely bad about that lie, or any of the lies I've told."
...like the ones in this letter, maybe?
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Amazing Letter and Response from Cary
I have never been so moved by a LW than when I read this.
Whether or not you feel the magic of youth slip away you are nevertheless an extremely creative person and whereas it is sad to leave behind the fabulous joys of childhood - I do believe you will become a creative adult.
I think you should get your pen out and write down all those childhood experiences: just write them down and keep them safe and maybe later (or now!) you can write about that little girl/boy in that wonderful place!
I have no doubt you will find a creative outlet for your imagination - and your creative side will come back in its adult form.
I do it. When my father passed away I began writing and didn't stop.
I, too lamented the passing of childhood for exactly the same reasons as you and I found myself, as an adult, in a Performing Arts Degree (which I loved) and now I am a writer.
Once again, your letter was poignant and beautiful and you can turn those experiences into something amazing.
I hate to be seen to promoting my blog but have a look and see what you could be doing now. Start a blog and I agree with the previous answerer: you could write a lovely children's book.
http://meanderingtrevor.blogspot.com
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and then
And then she woke up.
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I can't believe the responses here ...
I just had to add to my previous response
Letter Writer: ignore the snarky and misguided responses that recommend thereapy, medical intervention and medications
Those responses are just a pathetic symbol of the American inability to tolerate and revere eccentricity and creativity
For God's sake I went to an old boarding school in Ireland and there wasn't a day that went by that one of us didn't fake an illness to get into sick bay and into bed (and out of class) for as long as possible.
Americans in general are obsessed with 'normailty' and anything ever-so-slightly interesting is 'diagnosed' as a disorder.
It's all part of the neurotic make-up of the USA.
I moved here from the UK and I am always flabberghasted by how obsessed the population is with numbing out creativity and personality with dreary psychobabble and psychotropic medications.
Some of the responses here make me want to puke.
Be creative and, No, it is not unusual to be scared of the monsters in your bedroom when you are a child: IT'S NORMAL!
Faking a stomach ache? NORMAL!
I gag with laughter at those people here who mention 'narcissistic personality disorder' 'bipolar' and the like. They are simply the illnesses 'du jour' in America and next year the'illness' banded about on talk shows will be 'sociopathic blah blah blah'
America is neurotic, obsessed with therapy and dazed with medications
Go forth and write a book(s) letter writer