Identity-defining purchases

[bnewman]

I went to the grocery store today after my dental checkup, and bought Chanukah candles and fresh, locally-caught shrimp, and a moderate weight of pre-winter-holiday angst neatly evaporated.

Now, if only my term-project angst would go so easy...

Comments

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

Compare:

(a) "As a Jew, one of the reasons I'm here is to bless G!d for all the wonderful things He's placed in the world, and one of those wonderful things is yummy, yummy shrimp."

(b) "I don't keep kosher."

One of these is a positive statement about Jewish practice, the other is a negative statement about Jewish practice. Both are true about me. The practical example would be my choosing the first statement as more meaningful and informative, not just as an explanation to others but also internally. I can explain further when we pick up that email conversation we've been meaning to have.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

Okie dokie, I see the positive vs. negative, I don't necesarily see exactly what you meant by "tension" vs. "compartmentalization" though.

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe those are the wrong words. I prefer to sharpen the seemingly contradictory parts of myself against each other rather than setting them apart to prevent them from breaking each other.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

cool got it