Dear reader,
A big thank you to all American readers, I had a big readership from you last week. You obviously liked my blog which talked about the Chimp. The Chimp who lives in your head and causes you anxiety. He means to be helpful, protect you and guard you from harm but sometimes he just overdoes it. This is a piece of advice from Prof. Steve Peters book :The Chimp Paradox. He says that in order to work with the Chimp you need to nurture him and manage him. Nurture first and then manage. "If you have a Chimp that is well looked after by being nurtured and having all its needs met, then it is very likely that this happy little animal will not cause any trouble.If you don't look after your Chimp then it is very likely that it will kick off at any time and cause you a lot of pain." I think this means, at least it does for me, that you have to question his wisdom. Sometimes the Chimp in me suggests, for instance, that I should not go out in the snow because I might fall. Well I might but the fresh air and the exercise tempt me outside so I don't follow the advice and I am fine, and refreshed. So talk to your Chimp, make him your friend. He is on your side just a bit bossy.
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From Francis Kilvert, December 8th, 1872, in Wiltshire
'....at about half past four began the Great Storm of 1872. Suddenly the wind rose up and began to roar at the Tower window and shake the panes and lash the glass the torrents of rain. It grew very dark and we struggled home in torrents of rain and tempests of wind so fearful that could hardly force our way across the Common to the rectory. All the evening the roaring S.W. wind raged more and more furious. It seemed as if the windows on the west side of the house must be blown in. The glass cracked and strained and bent....I went out to see where the cows were, fearing that the large elms in the Avenue might fall and crush them. The trees were writing , swaying , rocking, lashing their arms wildly and straining terribly in the tempest but I couldn't see that any were gone yet...... Everything was drowned in the roar and thunder of the storm. The wind howled down the chimney, the room was full of smoke and every now and then the fire flaught out into the room in tongues of flame beaten down with a smother of sparks and smoke.'
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Chimp, give me a break
This Chimp lives in my head,
he is my protector
my guardian.
He works hard, too hard
he sees danger everywhere
alerts me to it
every day.
Obviously he loves me
doesn't want any harm to befall me,
but I am losing patience
with him, he overdoes it.
Surely I can drive without
serious problems arising.
Surely I can shop without
a gunman pinning me down.
Surely I can have a drink
without cirrhosis of the liver.
Surely that noise was a car backfiring,
not a shot.
Advice ad infinitum,
and my Chimp can't let up.
I want a peaceful life,
Chimp, give me a break please.
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If you like reading my blog why don't you treat yourself to my memoir : "Half a Pair of People" which can be obtained on Amazon. In the reviews people have written that it is hilarious and thought provoking. I t would make a good Christmas present for an aunt or someone who enjoys true life stories.
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With very best wishes, Patricia
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