PROJECTIONS

People sometimes project onto me attributes that i either
don't have or don't have in the abundance they think.
Then later when they find out that i'm just like everyone
else they're angry with me, as if i'd let them down. But
i'm not trying to manifest myself as anything other than
myself & if someone is disappointed in me it's because
i didn't live up to his/her expectations.

But it would be mentally unhealthy to try to live up to
the expectations of others. I'm not perfect and i don't
intend to be. I tried being perfect when i was a young
man and it was far too difficult. It took all my energy
and made me weak, unable to respond to anybody in
an engaging, personal, and spontaneous way. I have
no desire to go thru that again.

So i ask people not to project their own ideals onto me,
in other words, not to overvalue me, because later they
are likely to undervalue me. Ideals have their place but
there is always the reality principle to deal with. And
the reality here is that i'm just plain me, with all the vir-
tues and faults that any human being is capable of. And
i wouldn't have it any other way.