About Romeo and Self-Perception

Post 514:

            We’ve all got ideas about ourselves. Self-perception is a weird thing. One minute you might think you’ve got the situation well in hand, the next—you’re a mess. The way we perceive ourselves changes with time and circumstance. It’s a life thing.

            I know. Life things.

            All that said, we have little themes we like to adhere to. Like I’m a Creative or I’m Conscientious or I’m Caring or crap loads of other possibilities until infinity. There’s probably a guy out there whose prevailing thought about himself is that he’s a candle.  

            He’s not crazy. Just identifies with candles. Leave that man alone.  

            So we’ve got self-perception that changes like the ocean, and we’ve got these little buoys that we mark with labels so we sort of know who we are.

            I think we’re done here.

            But wait. Little story. Can’t help myself.

            The other day I’m off to the market. I like to walk, but it’s a hands full type of operation. I’ve got two or three bags in each mitt. On approach back to my building, I see a Mustang with racing stripes parked in the loading area. Not realizing it, my face goes full contempt-mode. The license plate says Romeo. Not Romeo1 or Rome0 or any sort of creative play on Romeo.

            Yeah. Straight Romeo.

            Just about next to the car, the driver side opens. My face turns pale, because it’s only now that I realize that I’ve had contempt-face going all the way on approach.

            Expecting a muscled and bronzed specimen to exit the car and pummel me, I sort of accept my fate. I mean—I’ve got groceries. Just beat me up at this point.

            Here he comes. Its… a guy about my size. Average looking, and though I’m no judge of male aesthetics, blah is the only thing that’s coming to mind.

            He gives me a look like, “Are you judging me?”

            At that point, I decided to just nod deferentially and keep walking. Because yes, I was judging him. But I didn’t want to pile on.

            Here’s all the things I thought when average guy appeared. First, that’s not even the right kind of yellow. Second, the fact that you think you’re that adept with the ladies is a little sad. Nobody’s adept enough to be putting Romeo on his plates. Especially not Captain Middle of the Pack from Ohio.

            I’ll admit I enjoyed myself in that moment, because I also wondered if he even knows what happened to Romeo. Spoilers. It didn’t work out. Pretty sure it was like one hookup and a couple sad limp-wristed murders. Oh and there’s that pesky suicide due to lack of communication.

            Romeo’s no hero, bros.

            I’m not here to tell you how self-perception works or how to look at yourself. Not my bag. Just a few things though. If you find yourself in a yellow sports car with a promotional vanity plate, things have probably gone off the rails a bit. Second: If you’re doing ads for yourself on your car, you’ve been thinking about yourself too much in general. Third: Romeo from the play could’ve used a little bit better self-perception. Maybe realize he was the one that was going to get everybody killed. Also, understand your dramatic theater. To not is to risk looking like a fool. And nobody wants to see themselves as that. Cheers and see you after.