"with Baggage"
I have mulled this new topic over for almost 48 hours now and I really don't have much to say on this subject. Prewriting branched in 3 directions, none of which I was much motivated toward. I tried poetry, but it WASN'T; it wasn't even good free verse. So let me simply record some observations and conclusions I reached about baggage.
Some "baggage" is a part of every person's make up. Some baggage is physical and obvious---excessive height or the opposite, excessive weight and the reasons behind it (not so obvious), handicaps or physical dexterity, beauty or deformity; sometimes negative attitudes; sometimes lots of relatives; sometimes lots of "stuff."
Other "baggage" cannot be seen. Undoubtedly this invisible baggage is the more fearsome and intimidating kind. This is the kind of baggage that often shapes one's behavior and can cause unpredictable responses and apparently unfounded fears.
But in the final analysis, all people are the sum total of their attributes plus their baggage. When we make a friend, we eventually share with one another at least most of our secret baggage. If the friendship is valuable enough and important enough, we decide to keep that friend, baggage and all. When we fall in love and decide to marry someone, it needs to be with the full understanding that each person's baggage is part and parcel of that person we have come to love. Perhaps it is part of the "for worse" one agrees to accept as part of the traditional wedding vows. Regardless, this is a large part of the reason I deeply believe it is necessary to know a person WELL before marrying him or her, and why it is imperative also to be true friends, preferably before, but certainly in addition to being compatible lovers.
Some "baggage" is a part of every person's make up. Some baggage is physical and obvious---excessive height or the opposite, excessive weight and the reasons behind it (not so obvious), handicaps or physical dexterity, beauty or deformity; sometimes negative attitudes; sometimes lots of relatives; sometimes lots of "stuff."
Other "baggage" cannot be seen. Undoubtedly this invisible baggage is the more fearsome and intimidating kind. This is the kind of baggage that often shapes one's behavior and can cause unpredictable responses and apparently unfounded fears.
But in the final analysis, all people are the sum total of their attributes plus their baggage. When we make a friend, we eventually share with one another at least most of our secret baggage. If the friendship is valuable enough and important enough, we decide to keep that friend, baggage and all. When we fall in love and decide to marry someone, it needs to be with the full understanding that each person's baggage is part and parcel of that person we have come to love. Perhaps it is part of the "for worse" one agrees to accept as part of the traditional wedding vows. Regardless, this is a large part of the reason I deeply believe it is necessary to know a person WELL before marrying him or her, and why it is imperative also to be true friends, preferably before, but certainly in addition to being compatible lovers.
posted by sundaycynce at 4:59 PM
3 Comments:
So let me simply record some observations and conclusions I reached about baggage.
Simple, yes, but true as well, I think. :-)
Very well written observations for someone who had no thoughts on the subject! I especially like this...When we fall in love and decide to marry someone, it needs to be with the full understanding that each person's baggage is part and parcel of that person we have come to love. Maybe this should be added to the marriage vows - for better or baggage!
PS...looks like you're new to the blogging community, so I just wanted to say Welcome! There are some fabulous and interesting people out here in cyberspace, and there's always room for more! Enjoy, and keep writing!
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