From 2014: on the problems arising from being of stern demeanour…
Never Knowingly Overstated
Examine my sleeve as closely as you will: you’ll never find my heart on it.
I’m not, by nature, particularly demonstrative. This doesn’t mean I lack feelings (far from it), simply that making a fuss – thereby, (shock horror) drawing attention to myself – doesn’t come easily, and certainly not naturally.
Now, I’m well aware that being low-key can sometimes be misinterpreted as not giving a damn, so perhaps this latest of ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’ represents an opportunity to set the record straight:
“Celebrate good news: you receive some wonderful, improbable, hoped-for good news. How do you celebrate?”
It’s been my great good luck to receive a lot of good news in my life; lots of wonderful things have happened to me – probably most of the things that I’ve hoped for, and definitely all the most important ones. But I’ve never felt any compulsion or desire to react by turning cartwheels (not that I could) or whooping loudly and dementedly – you know, like a member of the ‘Oprah’ studio audience who’s just been told that there’s a $5 Walmart voucher underneath their seat.
It seems to me to be far more dignified just to accept good fortune with good grace and move on.
This isn’t to say that I am always completely passive when something good happens. For the most part, you’ll just have to take my word for that, although I don’t mind sharing the fact that, when it comes to football, one hitting the back of the net for Liverpool will often elicit an impromptu clenched fist and a “yesss!”
Although I particularly admire former manager Rafa Benitez’ measured response to Liverpool scoring:
So I may give the impression of being a miserable git, but deep down I assure you that I’m not. I’m doing no more than Rudyard Kipling would wish of me:
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same…
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it”
Seems a reasonable price to pay.
