Is a Maple any less a tree because it doesn’t keep its green all winter like the Evergreen? No. The cycle of losing its leaves opens up the possibility of turning a crimson red each fall.
A very negative post from Rara, who CAN put together some pretty awesome words, reminds us to celebrate our can’ts. And so, as imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I took a page from Rara’s blog, so to speak. This page, in fact:
I can’t. | rarasaur.
I commented, “Everyone has things they can’t do. It’s time we stop telling people they can do anything if they set their mind to it, because it’s just not true, and it only serves to make people feel like complete failures. Sure, I can do a lot of things, but what I can’t do makes me who I am too!”
I can’t climb a rope.
I can’t follow pop culture.
I can’t remember things I don’t actually see.
I can’t be president, win an olympic medal, step on the moon, or walk a fashion runway.
I can’t put eyeliner on straight.
I can’t run without hurting my knees (or peeing my pants for that matter).
I can’t dive without plugging my nose.
I can’t sing and play Rockband® at the same time (unless, of course I’m doing the singing part — come to think of it, I technically can’t do that either but it doesn’t stop me from trying).
I can’t watch anyone handle a spider without freaking out.
I can’t — CAN’T — let a spider touch me.
I can’t remember anything about my Grandma Habig.
I can’t wear skinny jeans or fashion boots because my calves are too thick.
I can’t understand insurance documents or investment statements.
I can’t, and that’s okay with me. Because of all the possibilities these can’ts open up. Just as the Maple is no less a tree, I am no less a person because I can’t. Nor should Evergreens boast that they stay green all winter, because I have leaves of crimson in the autumn, and together we make a beautiful landscape.
Thank you, Rara, for reminding us all to honor every part of us — the cans and the cannots!
Peace . . .
November 10th, 2013 at 10:08 am
Awesome post! Thanks for your kind and funny words. I can’t do a lot of things, but I can live with that and celebrate what I can do!!!
November 10th, 2013 at 11:13 am
There should be a National Can’t Day. Then we could all celebrate at once!
November 10th, 2013 at 11:00 am
Love this! “I can’t watch anyone handle a spider without freaking out” either! 😉
November 10th, 2013 at 11:15 am
I noticed, just reading your comment made me want to jump out of my skin! — which would not be very attractive.
November 10th, 2013 at 11:15 am
I can pee standing up… I just often choose to sit.
November 10th, 2013 at 11:19 am
TMI, Bubba!
November 10th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
This is great. I can’t write words that make sense to anyone else, so I just take pictures. Thanks for stopping by and the like of my Weekly Photo Challenge post “Habit”.
November 10th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Love this post. Love, love, love it. Accepting/admitting what we can’t do/be isn’t pessimistic or negative. It’s living an authentic life. I agree wholeheartedly with your comment to Rara’s post. As a society we are so overboard with the whole, “you can do anything you set your mind to”, combined with awards for everyone, just for showing up. We are raising an entire generation of delusional youth who carry an air of entitlement into their adulthood. A recipe for disaster when real life comes knocking.
November 10th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
I can’t do a lot of things, like not fall off my chair laughing when Bubba gives out tmi!! 🙂
November 11th, 2013 at 3:47 am
OMG don’t encourage him!
November 11th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
I can’t help it…it made me laugh!!
November 11th, 2013 at 10:45 am
[…] year at this time, I might have added “I can’t grow grass” to my list of can’ts. You might have read a post I published way back when I started this blog, In Lawns as in Life, […]
November 11th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Jean, you always crack me up. I’m okay with spiders but don’t let a cockroach touch me. I took my boys to a science center in New Mexico when they were 4 and 7 years old. All of a sudden I see this woman setting hissing cockroaches on my boys’ arms to walk around. I shook. When she removed them I grabbed my boys by the collar and made them scrub every spot those roaches had touched their bodies. I couldn’t stand to touch them even until they were washed. Only then could I enjoy the rest of the exhibit.
November 11th, 2013 at 10:47 pm
That sounds like when I took my kids to the MN zoo. We turn the corner and there’s a guy sitting with a tarantula on his palm. My soon walked up and grabbed it’s leg! The guy scolded me for not minding my kids because he could have hurt the spider. I knew that, but I was paralyzed!
November 12th, 2013 at 12:53 am
Jean, I can just picture it as that was my reaction to the hissing roaches.
November 24th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Loved this. There are many things I choose not to do since I’d probably never do them as well as I’d like. I love the idea of celebrating the things we can’t do and I absolutely loved the giggle I got from you and Bubba. I can never be president since I wasn’t born in this country. As if I’d want the job. I have enough gray hair. Wow, I have lots to celebrate! Thanks. MH
November 25th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
And I forgot to mention we should probably break out a bottle of wine as long as we’re celebrating!
November 25th, 2013 at 9:53 pm
Sounds like a plan to me. Red or white? 🙂
November 25th, 2013 at 10:01 pm
I “can’t” decide . . . 😀
November 25th, 2013 at 10:03 pm
I’m giggling hard now. 🙂
November 25th, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Me too. 🙂