“Whence cometh thou?’ ye might ask. “Ho, I hail from the Tell-it-all Tribe, from Yaksland!” We’re a well-meaning lot, but we tend to ‘overshare’, and a common thread in our DNA is that we don’t often catch all the social cues — like when we should lower our volume, or when we should stop talking altogether. We can be found expressing our deep feelings over a phenomenal or troubling event in our lives and/or revealing sensitive details over issues, which other tribes would probably keep secret. We’re not good at keeping secrets. We do try, but our concern for others spills over into discussing their situations. We’re trying to take it all in, trying to evaluate and understand. You see, we’re ‘external processors’ and seem to constantly need sounding boards, off which to bounce our insights, ideas and challenges. My tribe members are extremely sensitive, we have leaky eyes and leaky guts, we weep easily; however, our sensitivities don’t necessarily equate to sensing if we’re impacting on your boundaries. Most of my tribe members aren’t very proficient at acknowledging, respecting or navigating boundaries. I may even intuit I’m transgressing a boundary issue, and in the midst of an intended self-correction, I inadvertently over-ride the possible auto-correct function. Oh Geez!
‘Internal processors’ may need to learn to speak-up and assert their boundaries more effectively; not everyone knows about or is vigilantly mindful of such matters. We do often suffer remorse, we vow to do better at our next encounter, but then — there we are with another person or group opening up another rich vein for discussion and discovery, spilling our guts out, spilling inappropriate details with colorful language. It’s especially difficult when in the company of compassionate peeps whom we feel safe with and cared for, and sense, perhaps they WANT to hear our stories. If you don’t …. be mindful NOT to ask us, “How are you? How have you been? Are you feeling alright? What’s going on with you?” These salutations open many viable veins. Why do we seem to require so much attention?! Why are we so emotive?! What gifts do we bring? Our tribe contains many starving actors and artists; we are the teachers and storytellers who intermittently amuse, inform, bewilder, frighten, and oft-times inspire and motivate our audiences. We might be excitable, passionate, angry, ecstatic, befuddled, maybe even sorrowing. We have a wide range of emotions and are quite capable of expressing them all.
This is NOT a resolution! This is a declaratory statement of tribal being-ness! In this time of high-anxiety and collective overwhelm, we aren’t likely to modify our behaviors much. I write this declaration to inform others, not of our tribe, and to ask of you …. to try to break it to us gently, when we’ve ‘stepped on your toes’, filled your ears to full measure, possibly you could say something like, “I’m sorry you’re going through that; hey, I have something I want to share with you, listen to this”. Or if we’ve exhausted our welcome, one could say, “Oh, I gotta hop ….. running late for an important date, nice to see you again, goodbye”. We’re very kinetic; we like hugs! We really do mean well in trying to traverse the emotional divide. It’s that dang DNA! We’re so grateful when we ‘run into’ our fellow tribe members (known or unknown), those who GET US! OMG, a fellow tribe member! Welcome, Friend! Our totem animal could well be the American Crow: dark, noisy, inquisitive, intelligent, gregarious, playful, loquacious, (and they disperse their offerings everywhere, appreciated or not). Do they offer apologies or ask permission to be? No, they are simply crows, acting in accordance with the way of crows, following their DNA imprints! So be it!
If you are one ‘of my tribe’, hail me with a big smile and a hug,v and if you are NOT, and you see me approaching, perhaps you will RUN in the opposite direction. F-A-S-T ! I could misread the signal and give chase, catching up to you …. to regal you with my latest ‘conquest of understanding’ or to wring my hands, seeking your sage, much-needed advice. Like it or not, that’s how we are! We seek to understand and communicate; that is the way of our TELL-IT-ALL-TRIBE!
Trish Forsyth Voss
Dec 8 2019
Letter to the Editor: Democrats upholding Constitution.
“Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders, and a heart full-of-love for America, today I’m asking our chairmen to proceed with articles of impeachment”, stated Pelosi 12/5/2019 — (made necessary by the Inspector General’s report of “credible and urgent wrongdoing by the president”, evidenced by facts attested to on record). Pelosi asserted that Democrats were undertaking their solemn obligation to uphold our Constitution, our safety, and our democratic republic. This comes as news that Barr’s appointee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, John Durham, informed “inspector general that he can’t back right-wing theory that Russia case was U.S. intel setup”, as Trump and Barr have long asserted. Pelosi reiterated that — with Trump’s actions “all roads lead to Putin”. History has found us and will judge us!” If GOP refuses to legitimize the process, shirking their obligation to hold a rogue-president responsible for his actions, that is THEIR failure to fulfill their oaths of office. If Republicans are willing to be complicit in the president’s illegal actions, and lose their legacy according to the principles they uphold or abandon, so be it!
House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy stated, “while Trump was overseas, making America stronger, the Democrats were weakening U.S.” Malarkey! Trump’s actions weaken us daily! New York Times headline screamed, “Trump mocked abroad and assailed at home”. Trump is incapable of world leadership.! The world is alternately laughing and cringing at his actions and foibles; he is unraveling in real time! The Trump administration just tightened work requirement reforms for SNAP; in rural and high-unemployment areas this may result in another 700,000 poor and disabled (if unable to prove disability) losing supplemental nutritional assistance; THIS after delivering billions of dollars in subsidies and welfare payments to farmers to offset trade-war effects. AND, after declaring he was bringing our troops home, Trump is NOW considering sending 14,000 more troops (without approval from Congress) to the Mideast to counter Iranian attacks. (I thought we were OUT OF THAT FIGHT!)
McCarthy stated that ‘their scholar’, Jonathan Turley, in Wednesday’s televised-hearing described these accusations as “the weakest, thinnest impeachment evidence” ever brought forth; and McCarthy then invoked the warning of founding father, Alexander Hamilton: that the time would come when persons in power would wield that power ruthlessly; INDEED! Hamilton had unfortunately been unfaithful to his wife; I assert that Hamilton would have viewed the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton for perjury over an extramarital affair, ACTUALLY the weakest, thinnest impeachment excuse ever brought forward!
Trish Forsyth Voss
By spiritspeak • Letter to the Editor 0