In praise of sleepy Bezique guy
This week’s weird idea
Take a look at the illustration for this post. That’s The Bezique Game (La partie de Bésigue) by the French impressionist painter and patron, Gustave Caillebotte.
It’s a bunch of guys watching two other guys play cards. Judging from the light, it’s early in the morning. These guys have been Beziquing all night. And they are still going strong.
But enough about them. Let’s talk about the hero of the piece: their friend who has crashed out on the couch. I salute you, sleepy Bezique guy. You went to your limit, absolutely to the edge in support of your friends. And when you reached that edge, you sat down for a little self care.
Did you just leave, literally opening the door that might end the whole party? No. Did you push past your limits, risking your health and, dare I say it, sanity, in order to not seem weak? Again, no.
You wisely stepped to the sidelines, found a comfortable seat, and closed your eyes. And boy, you closed them hard. So sure, maybe you’re asleep, but you are still there. Look! That’s you in the painting!
Bezique guy reminds me of the bravest traveler I ever met. Mari and I were on a cruise ship that stopped at Gibraltar. While most of the British passengers streamed ashore to join the lines for duty-free liquor, Mari and I encountered a woman standing at one of the panoramic windows aboard ship.
We chatted. And in the course of the conversation, she admitted that she had severe agoraphobia, and found it very difficult to leave the her home. So travel hadn't really been an option. Then she found that she could handle being aboard a cruise ship.
And so, despite her agoraphobia, she has traveled the world, seeing it from the decks of various cruise ships. She didn’t get rid of her agoraphobia. She found a way to sidestep it. She may not leave the ship, but she has been everywhere.
We said goodbye, and left her gazing across the strait at the misty line of Africa to the south. And I realized that we had talked with a person dancing on the edge of her own personal precipice, up against the very edge of her abilities. She had traveled farther, and more courageously, than probably anyone on that ship.
Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. Your “weaknesses" may only be you comparing yourself to someone without your burdens. And who knows, that same person may struggle to accomplish things you do every day.
I’ll bet you would be empathetic with them about it. So maybe you can be empathetic with yourself. Occasionally, you just need to find a comfortable couch and have a little snoozle. The Bezique game will still be there when you wake up. Or at least breakfast.
Go see
Alfonso Maruccia
On a side note, when I recently got new glasses, I specifically looked for frames that were clearly not smart glasses. I predict the comeback of wire frames.
Have a listen
Man, taking on an iconic song like Hallelujah is impressive enough, but this woman makes it, and the audience, her own.
And keep breathing
I had my teeth cleaned last week. Such fun. And guess what I did during the scraping?
Yep, a four-count inhale and an 8 count exhale. It’s amazing how calming the body can fool the mind into thinking it’s calm, too.
Someday I’ll have to tell you how I got over my fear of flying. Same basic principle.
Until we talk again, I remain,
Your pal,
Jamie