Usually I do that month of November list of things for which I’m thankful.  It’s never been a problem for me to come up with MORE than enough.  The same would be true this year.  I lead an OBNOXIOUSLY good life… The kind of life that makes people grumble and groan about Facebook bragging and things of that ilk… but it’s true.  My life is silly good.  I have everything I need and most everything I want.

But today I’m thinking about one of the things for which I’m MOST thankful… and that is the fact that I am a logic driven person.

I don’t think this has always been true.  I mean is there really a teenage girl whose life is primarily controlled by logic?  But even now, looking back, I really remember the times that I was flying off the handle, that I was having a tantrum, or breaking down into absolute sobbing fits… and I remember thinking even THEN “What are you doing???”

It seems that often people assert that being emotion driven as opposed to logic driven has to do with being female.

I’ve never been good at the “girl” games.  I don’t understand the rules or how to play.  Fortunately for me, I have found very close friends who ALSO don’t get it.  We know that we talk behind one another’s back… but it’s not about being catty or evil… it’s because we’re people.  We don’t pretend to be things we’re not.  We don’t try to “one up” one another.  We don’t get worked up because we don’t get invited to a party.  We are not looking at each other’s purses or shoes or nails or hair or husbands and comparing…

Not running to social media to vent or brag or REACT…  I think my friends are largely logic driven, too.  They understand that people are out there living their own lives… and they can step back and look at the situation and THINK and not just react.  I’m thankful I’m one of those people.

…and then I realize that there A LOT of people out there who are driven by their emotions.  Something happens and they just react.   I actually get that part (somewhat).  I’m a crier… Pretty much every day.  Sometimes it’s happy, sometimes it’s frustration, sometimes it’s worry…  but walking around with a lump in my throat and tears streaming is pretty much my MO.  Sounds like I’m more emotional than logical, right?  But the thing is that is just the physical reaction to my emotions.  I recognize what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.  I can’t really control it, but I understand why I’m doing it… and it doesn’t affect anyone else. It doesn’t cause me to react.

I just have known my entire life that I must wear waterproof mascara every day!   🙂

But when someone has a disagreement with me, I GENUINELY want to know their side of the argument.  I really want to know what they think… and often when I ask they seem challenged or put off that I’m asking them to defend their side… that I want to know “why.”  Richard and I laugh about this quite a bit.  One of my favorite lines that he uses in disagreements with me is “how do you expect me to fight with you if you’re going to be logical?”

I always laugh and think, “Well how else do you fight?”

Generally, if he sees my side and realizes that I have a point, his parting shot is “you’re wrong.”  That’s code between us for he sees what I’m saying, and he has no comeback…  I’m okay with that.  I understand that’s what he’s saying.. and I can deal with that.

So I’m really thankful for that.  I am thankful that my emotions don’t run my life.  How EXHAUSTING would that be to go through every day thinking that everything is personal.??.. that if someone disagrees with you that it has something to do with YOU as opposed to your belief??

I know people who don’t talk to family members for decades and they don’t even care about the fight that started it all anymore.  How is it logical to not make amends if there is part of you that wants to do that?

I think that lack of logic sometimes comes from taking things personally.  It would be so nice if the whole world could understand that most people are far too self centered to take the time to do something to injure or go against YOU.  People are just thinking about them… the chances that a grown adult means to do something personally to YOU is very unlikely…

…and if they do, so what?  Why does it matter so much?

But maybe the people who are driven by their emotions are thankful, too.  Maybe people are glad that they feel so strongly about things that they let those feelings rule their reactions.

I just laughed out loud because I really had the thought that someone may read this blog and think, “If she has a problem with me, why doesn’t she tell me?  What ? she thinks she’s being all sneaky but I KNOW this is about me.”

Person reading this blog: I SWEAR it’s not,  I’m not thinking about ANYONE in particular… or even about a few anyones in particular.  I’m thinking about the angst and upset I see in the world at large;.  So many people getting outraged and upset about minutia..  (or what I consider minutia.  It may be VERY important to you.)

…and I’m just thankful that’s not me.  🙂