VirginiaEddie

Something is keeping me going. And it's not the sweet scent of Spring.  It's certainly not my job. It's working on my writing and sometimes it's John Updike. Since he's passed away the world has been talking and I've decided to cherry pick from its giant tribute basket. I found this in an interview he had with the Washington Post shortly before his death.

"Progress, although glorious, is basically intimidating and one we cannot help avoiding."

At work, at this temp job I have that I refuse to make permanent, I see people every day who seem void of progress. Their lives seem small and boring to me, stinky even. It makes me shake in my boots. It scares the shit out of me. They seem sad and closed-minded, or closed in onto themselves. They eat gross food and wear bad clothes. Some of them never smile. They are losers.

But in reading Mr. Updike's quote I realize I'm wrong. Progress is subjective. I have no idea where these people have been, where they are and where they're going. Our paths might cross, but they certainly rarely align.  That I notice someone's bad clothes or poor food choice might make me clever, but it doesn't make me right. My new goal is to focus more on making it through my own present rough patch without  looking over into other people's yards, even if they're chewing on vending machine sticky buns all day.