I’m not confused, I’m–oh, alright! I AM confused!


I’ve been living in denial for many years.

I didn’t want to say it this way, in public, just simply out of fear of the unknown. I can’t keep it in any longer. I have to reveal the truth. It’s just that…

Ack! I can’t say it. It is just too much, too soon.

No, not the fear of the unknown, that’s nothing compared to this what I’m trying to say. This monumental breakthrough moment that I have to announce to the world, to enable not only myself, but the rest of the world to move forward.

Why is it so hard to say that I…

Whoa! Nearly said it then.

I have this barrier that I need to get through. The grass is greener on the other side of the barrier, I know that. I can see it. I can feel it. Actually, it isn’t too bad on this side of the fence for that matter, but it looks so much better over there. Hmm. What if I were to just go over there secretly? Who’d know?

Me! I’d know! Why would I want to do something in secret when I can do it better out in the open? It’s that fear of the unknown again, that’s the biggie. The fear that everyone will know this thing about me that I have spent so long trying to hide.

I’m going to ask Bernard, my inner voice. He always gives good advice when I’m caught in a quandary such as this. Bernard… are you there?

What do you want?

You know what I want. I want an answer. Direction. Guidance. You are my inner voice. The part of me that tells me what I should and shouldn’t do. Can’t you tell me what to do in this situation?

Well, I can. You won’t do what I say though. You always go against what I say. If I say don’t do it, you think I’m being negative. If I say do it, you think I’m lying. Telling you to do something that you shouldn’t be doing. I’m part of you. Why don’t you do what I ask you to do? It would be so much easier for all of us if you just did. You’re useless anyway. I always give the most accurate advice ever and you never listen. The things that go wrong, go wrong because of your own stupidity, not the advice that I give you. Are you listening to me. See, you never listen.

Bernard, I don’t know why I asked you. I’m now filled with even more doubt than before, and you haven’t given me any advice whatsoever. You haven’t told me to run away, or stay and stand up for myself. You haven’t said that I am strong enough to handle anything, or capable of dealing with any situation in a calm way.

You have never said that to me.

You have always said I am not worthy.

I think you are the reason I am confused.

I think you are the reason I hold myself back.

Not the fear of the unknown. Not the reaction of people around me. Not even the reaction of the world and beyond.

You. My own inner voice.

Bernard?

Bernard! Where have you gone? You always disappear when I ask you for more clarity. Typical.

I shouldn’t listen to that inner nagging voice anyway.

I have to make the decision by myself again. Well, there is only me who can do it – no-one else will do it for me.

So world, let me tell you a little bit about myself. The real me.

I’m a paradox. I’m growing older, yet feel the same age as I did years ago. I feel like I know more about myself, yet I know that I know very little. I have a lot to give, yet hold back. I have a lot of dreams to live, yet I do not live that life. I write about confusion to gain clarity, but gain more confusion. I think thoughts that are far bigger than I should even contemplate or understand, yet I understand them. I’m confused, but I’m happy.

That wasn’t too bad after all.

OK world, carry on spinning!

10 responses to “I’m not confused, I’m–oh, alright! I AM confused!”

  1. grandpa avatar

    Interesting approach to an alter-ego. Who is smartest, you or Bernard?

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    1. aquatom1968 avatar

      Hello Grandpa, thank you for commenting!
      As to who is smartest, at first I instantly thought that was easy – me! But then I heard a voice in the back of my mind telling me not to be so sure!

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  2. Trevor avatar
    Trevor

    I think perhaps Bernard is to blame for your confusion. By their very nature, alter egos are a contradiction to the real you, therefore they always confuse you by offering that alternative view which is at odds to your way of thinking.

    I think many of us could say write the last paragraph about ourselves, we all feel like that (I know I do) but the important thing is you are happy with your life.

    Stay happy Aquatom.

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    1. aquatom1968 avatar

      Thanks again, Trevor.

      Bernard most certainly is to blame for my confusion, but at the same time he does stop me from doing some really ridiculous things occasionally – which is a good thing for me!

      The last paragraph was really my attempt to tell myself that I am no different to anyone else, regardless of how I think and what I do.

      And I’m happy with that. 🙂

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  3. penpusherpen avatar

    ah… Bernard eh? The inner voice who holds you back from being ….um…whatever you want to be…That someone to say ‘it’s all your fault,… You told me to do it’ UM..sorry it was MY inner voice to blame for that incident…Tsk…Now where was I? OH yes, I firmly and categorically believe that we don’t age inside, we gain knowledge yes, we learn how to behave, we grow as a person…(I hope) , BUT the core inside, the spirit is ageless, and as we grow older we don’t ‘feel’ the age we are… and this causes a heck of a lot of confusion, and can hold us back from doing what we feel we should and raises more questions than there are answers… Now I’m confused as to the point I was trying to raise., so, I’ll just leave it there OK? ‘cos I have to go and think…xPenx

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    1. aquatom1968 avatar

      Sorry, Pen, I have caused more confusion. Still, it was fun in an odd way. I agree with what you are saying about our spirit.
      Enjoy your think! 🙂

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      1. penpusherpen avatar

        I think I’m thunked out, maybe too much thinking is bad for you? maybe we’re not supposed to think as much as we do, looking at possible outcomes, weighing up this and that ( and the other) Mayhap, Sir Aquatom we should just strike while the irons hot, pick up the gauntlet that life is, and ….um..think about what to do next!! 😀 xx

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        1. aquatom1968 avatar

          Pen, you’re right! Only, I don’t think too much thinking is bad for you, but too much thinking about thinking probably is. Probably.Just a thought…

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  4. bex avatar

    interesting.
    i think, maybe, it is a matter of you becoming comfortable with the paradox. i think you really start to express that in your final sentances.

    everyone of us, the human heart, the human personality and everything that makes us up is filled with paradox, we are largely liquid and not just physically, our brains are flexible, our personalities adaptable for almost any situation. intelligent people do dumbs things and stupid people say wise words. sometimes our “inner voices” lead us into madness, sometimes they save our sanity. and our lives.

    i think. i think maybe in the West we’ve gotten into this whole “i am this OR that” rather than the truth which is more like “i am this. i am that. i am BOTH this and that. i am neither this nor that.” Truth is sometimes in the middle, in the Betweens, rather than at the extremes.

    very thoughtful post, Tom, very thoughtful post.

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    1. aquatom1968 avatar

      Thanks, Bex.
      I think I’ll move away from thoughts for the time being now… but I’ll probably be back there very soon indeed… 😀

      Like

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