Mental Gymnastics – part 2

Continued from yesterday’s post …

Let’s go back into the restaurant, back to me eating and web surfing with Pat a few tables from me. Pat … a person that I couldn’t figure out if I should talk to.

My indecisiveness had warmed up the gymnasts in my mind and they were ready to tumble.

Gymnast 1: Go talk to Pat … that’s what you used to do whenever/wherever you saw Pat

Gymnast 2: Not a chance … there’s too much tension between us now.

Gymnast 1: You should …  it’s the right thing to do.

Gymnast 2: But you know things won’t be resolved, so let it go and get on with your own life.

Gymnast 1: But I think I should at least try. Good communication can solve many issues.

Gymnast 2: Yea, but it won’t solve this tension, don’t kid yourself.

Gymnast 3: (another one … who invited you?) You should not go talk to Pat. You are only going to talk to Pat because you want to look like the mature, more righteous person. You are doing it for the wrong motives.

Oh gosh … just what I need, more confusion added to the party!

Gymnast 1: Shut up 3. I really need to walk over there and say Hi.

Gymnast 2: But you can’t ignore 3 … that might be true. Plus, what will you say to Pat? Saying, “Hi, nice to see you” would be a lie, because you aren’t exactly glad to see Pat.

Gymnast 1: I could just say Hi and talk about the food. We both ate food here. That’s a safe way to begin the conversation.

Gymnast 2: But you don’t know Pat’s lunch companion, you’ll have to introduce yourself and then what will you say after that?

Gymnast 1: I’m not sure, but I’ll figure it out. And it depends on what Pat says.

Gymnast 2: You tried to resolve things by email and Pat didn’t keep the conversation going, so it’s not your issue. You did what you could to resolve things. Forget about Pat. You have editing to do! Get to work!!

Gymnast 3: Plus, your motives are wrong anyhow.

Gymnast 1: No they aren’t. I just want to do the right thing!

Gymnast 3: Yes, they are.

Gymnast 2: Yea, how do you know they aren’t.

Ok, ok everyone be quiet … I’m editing and ignoring everyone in my head and everyone around me!

I tried to edit … but it was useless. I surfed the web again. I finished my first cup of coffee. Refilling it involved a slight risk of Pat seeing me, but I decided I would take that risk to see what happens.

I kind of wanted Pat to see me, because I wondered if Pat would talk to me. After all, Pat’s an adult also, so Pat could be the one to try to clear the tension between us.

If Pat sees me, but doesn’t talk to me, then I’m totally justified in not talking to Pat … right?

To be continued …

Mental Gymnastics – The conclusion