I am two people. Well, at least two. And I know many people like me. Maybe you do too. Maybe you are like me, and me.
One of me, let’s call her One Me is vibrant, restless, ‘unts in her punts’ as my Mama used to say. I love swimming, walking, dancing, playing ball games. I pride myself I can still take stairs two at a time. Love joking, chatting, have a loud voice. I am busy, active. To be honest I can get a bit impatient with anyone slower than me. Although my disposition is often sunny I’m also very emotional. Cry at the drop of a hat.
The other me, let’s call her Other Me, is no less impatient, though she is perhaps more sympathetic/empathetic to anyone else who is vulnerable or ill. For Other Me climbing the steps up from my flat onto the street is a major challenge. I feel weak and trembly, parts of my body just don’t work. Since my energy is so limited my window of opportunity is small. This is how winter must be in the coldest countries: very short days as the light runs out so early. You have so little time to get things done before the day’s gone. A friend who is ill says he has a new job now – appointments, treatments, recovery times and he has to fit the rest of his life around this job. I avoid social situations or schedule them in as carefully as I can. If One Me is emotional I’m even more emotional – is that even possible?!
How do the two Me’s feel about each other? Well…One Me avoids Other Me. She is scared of becoming like her again. Other Me hero-worships One Me and longs to be like her again. She thinks she is boring the way she is. I’m teaching One Me to be more compassionate and Other Me to stick up for herself. It’s clear they don’t communicate very well. That’s why I (Third Me? Writer Me?) have put them together in this blog. I have told them to hold hands as you come by to meet them. Thanks for saying hello by the way. One Me is reluctant though she’s putting on a brave face. I have been strict and told her she absolutely has to take part. Other Me is afraid – why would anyone want to hold her hand, talk to her etc etc… One Me yawns and says:
‘Oh, come on!’
‘D’you mean it?’ Other Me then says shyly.
At least they’re talking…