“Which is more important?  The world you can touch?  Or the world you are making up and responding to?

The Thinking Guidance System begs us to use facts.  The Emotional Guidance System uses fears and cheap shot expectations.

An important element in our writing and directing our own little version of the world…is sensitivity.  As you move through the world, what little pieces jump out of the tapestry and grow until they really, really bug you?  Maybe your hyper-awareness even takes on so much power that you MUST splatter your fears and exaggerations on other people. 

For example, yesterday I read an article written by a mental health professional on how ”the media” influences public perception of emotional illness. (We don’t have to guess the direction on this one.) Her example of media irresponsibility was Monk. According to the expert, because Monk has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and yet sees a therapist regularly…the American people believe that OCD cannot be effectively treated.  Beyond the cry…”It’s entertainment, lady.  Not a public service announcement.”… element, I’m not convinced that her conclusion holds water.  Poor deceived woman was paying so much attention to something that pricked a personal fear, she wrote an article.

Then, this morning, even more proof of how goofy and twisted we are putting together our version of the world… landed in my lap. I’m rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and the spouse has on ESPN.  I’m okay with that, I like sports.  But today…what’s the big feature?  Model Brooklyn Decker, wife of Andy Roddick.  Each segment opened with a video clip of Brooklyn Decker in a bikini on the beach, winking seductively at the camera followed by a variety of revealing poses. 

“Now what does she have to with sports?” I asked the man now diving for the shower like it was a foxhole. “And,” I continued, kindly raising my voice so he could hear me in the other room. Because what I’m saying is not just important, it’s crucial that he understand the gravity of what I’m saying. I went on to say, “It is ridiculous how this is a news story because a tennis player has a wife that looks good naked.  Don’t people get how sick this is?  What kind of message are we sending our kids?  Don’t Brookyn and Andy even GET that the only reason he married her is because she looks good on his arm and she only gave HIM the time of day because he is famous and really, really rich.  What kind of crummy relationship is based on superficial features like that?  I mean, don’t you think those two people are miserable?…Well, don’t you?…”  I heard the shower turn on.  Then I realized my Emotional Guidance System coached folly.  Oops.  …Oh, dear.