Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Apersonwhoactuallyhasahighself-worthisabletolookatthenegativepartsofhischaracterfrankly—“Yes,sometimesI’mirresponsiblewithmoney,”“Yes,sometimesIexaggeratemyownsuccesses,”“Yes,Irelytoomuchonotherstosupportmeandshouldbemoreself-reliant”—andthenactstoimproveuponthem.Butentitledpeople,becausetheyareincapableofacknowledgingtheirownproblemsopenlyandhonestly,areincapableofimprovingtheirlivesinanylastingormeaningfulway.Theyareleftchasinghighafterhighandaccumulategreaterandgreaterlevelsofdenial.

           Buteventuallyrealitymusthit,andtheunderlyingproblemswillonceagainmakethemselvesclear.It’sjustaquestionofwhen,andhowpainfulitwillbe.

           ThingsFallApart

           Isatinmy9:00A.M.biologyclass,armscradlingmyheadonmydeskasIstaredattheclock’ssecondhandmakinglaps,eachticksyncopatedwiththeteacher’sdronings-onaboutchromosomesandmitosis.Likemostthirteen-year-oldsstuckinastuffy,fluorescentclassroom,Iwasbored.

           Aknockcameonthedoor.Mr.Price,theschool’sassistantprincipal,stuckhisheadin.“Excusemeforinterrupting.Mark,canyoustepoutsidewithmeforamoment?Oh,andbringyourthingswithyou.”

           Strange,Ithought.Kidsgetsenttotheprincipal,buttheprincipalrarelygetssenttothem.Igatheredmythingsandsteppedout.

           Thehallwaywasempty.Hundredsofbeigelockersconvergedonthehorizon.