Lost In Translation

[bloodyrosemccoy]

You ever noticed that there are some comments that people refuse to hear properly? I keep having the following conversation today:

 

AMELIA: I am experiencing lethargy, achiness, and a complete lack of energy.

WHAT PEOPLE APPARENTLY KEEP HEARING: I am experiencing GRATUITOUS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.

OTHER PERSON: You know what would perk you up? You should climb a mountain!

 

… Something seems to have gotten lost in translation here. Perhaps I haven’t mastered English as well as I though, because people are always suggesting running marathons or skydiving when I say I am experiencing a vague malaise. Does the word not mean what I think it means? Or maybe an assertion that one feels tired is a code for “I declare it Opposite Day!”

 

They never learn, either, because I have gone along with these suggestions before, on the assumption that we have all actually understood each other and this is a possible solution to the problem I mentioned, and it never turns out well—I am even more tired afterward, and now I’m also cranky.  And yet, even with this in our mutual past, they still wait till I feel crummy to invite me horseback riding or snowboarding or whatever.  Clearly, somebody’s Babel fish is on the fritz here. I say we look into this.

Comments

[westrider.livejournal.com]

This can also often be an Introvert/Extrovert thing. Extroverts do generally get pepped up by going out and doing something active, while Introverts need to be quiet and alone to recharge. I can't remember the author right now, but there's a book called "The Introvert Advantage" that really opened my eyes to a lot of this stuff, and helped me figure out some of the things that were triggering problems and some strategies for coping with them.