A-LISTS fruit fly
by angelica osborne
New Year’s Resolutions
- SO MUCH PrESSUrE!
“as hard as it is, we have to learn to live with
and through the old memories that still in-
voke feelings of grief or remorse. Otherwise,
wouldn’t we all be doomed to repeat the same
mistakes over and over again?”
Well, here we are again. We are now smack dab in a fering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can desire of scientists to delete the hurtful scenes from
new year. Time to write up our New Year resolutions. still form NEW memories, but the “bad” ones and all our life, especially such as a situation of war. Our
A new start, a new beginning. All these gym and associated with them would be history. I was given soldiers often come back haunted by what they have
fitness centers are advertising now that it’s time for the diagnosis of PTSD 20 years ago while in therapy seen and done. Let’s say we could erase the heartache
the NEW me. Geez. That’s a lot of pressure! I can just dealing with some pretty heavy memories of being they experienced while in combat, perhaps they
hear Miss Patti Belle singing, “I got a new attituuude! sexually abused by a family member. At the time, I could come home without so many symptoms of
I’m wearing a new dress, new hair. Brand new ideas, would have given anything for such a brain douch- war. We would all want this for them, but what if that
as a matter of fact I’ve changed for good!” Whew! I’m ing. The ability to never have to deal with all that crap means they forget how terrible it was. So, they sign
exhausted just thinking about it. But of course, we all ever again would have been irresistibly tempting. I up again for the next one, unable to truly weigh out
know NEW doesn’t always mean
better...as in, when probably would have signed them all away without the pros and cons. I’m sure our government would
you are at a concert to see the band you loved in high hesitation. However, now that I am older, I can see love that. We would have less reason to question
school and after playing all your fave songs that you what a terrible mistake that would have been. I need war if everybody comes home with no tales of woe
know the words to, they say, “Now we want to play those memories. I need them to prove to myself how and unimagineable loss. As hard as it is, we have to
some of our NEW stuff!” Ugh. You can almost hear the incredibly resilient and strong I am. I need them learn to live with and through the old memories that
collective groaning across the stadium. Bathroom to make sure I never trust my child or myself with still invoke feelings of grief or remorse. Otherwise,
break! Or, when my husband says, “That show you someone who speaks with love but puts a knot in my wouldn’t we all be doomed to repeat the same mis-
like, Intervention is on.” I say, “Is it new?” G.K. Chester- stomach. I need those memories so that I can share takes over and over again? The more I think about it,
tonone, one of the most influential English writers of my story with others who are at the beginning of I realize I don’t want a new soul, a new body or a new
the 20th century said, “The object of a new year is not that journey, to give them proof you can survive and attitude. The ones I already occupy have served me
that we should have a new year. It is that we should flourish beyond the tragedy in your life. Maybe most well and brought me to where I am today. My New
have a new soul.” Wow. I was thinking more along importantly, I need those memories so that I will Year resolution for 2010 is going to be, “Progress, not
the lines of—“New Year, but the same ol’ goals,” like have compassion for those who are suffering. I will perfection!” I’m going to keep what I have and add as
eat more veggies, drink less alcohol...I mean, a whole never forget what it means to act out in pain, to make many meaningful memories as I possibly can in the
new soul? Every year? choices you would only make under extreme duress. next year. Oh yes AND eat more veggies, and drink
I read an article on AOL Health titled, “Bad Don’t get me wrong, I so completely understand the less alcohol. Prospero New Year-O for us all!
Memories Can Be Wiped Out” this week which truly
gave me pause. It says soon we will be able to erase
feedback?
fruitfly@ragemonthly.com or
blog@ragemonthly.com
emotional or traumatic memories for people suf-
22 RAGE monthly | january 2010
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