Dear Reader,
Frequently people tell me I "overthink" things. And by most people's standards I probably do. I admit I think about things most people never even bother with, but my overthinking is actually one of the traits I admire and appreciate about myself. Perhaps if I weren't analyzing situations, and thinking about what people say and do, I might not have anything to write about every day. Having said that, even I admit lately my thinking about everything has been driving me a little nuts. But that's okay; I've been here before. This isn't the first time my thinking has gotten a little out of balance and I've always found a cure.
Good or bad, I always think about situations or meetings after they're over. Step-by-step I replay what happened, mulling over the actions and reactions people had. Sometimes when I'm replaying a situation out loud for myself, if someone hears what I'm doing, they'll tell me to just forget it--to let it go. I know they react that way because they think I'm retracing my steps looking for something that I did wrong, but that's not true. I'm not searching for words misspoken or missed opportunities, I'm reexamining things because now that the pressure's off, I can slowly wander through the meeting picking up the little things. I've found those seemingly little things are sometimes the secret to why a meeting turned out the way it did. And the little things can "let me in" on how someone really feels.
What's the cure? Well, you know me, I'm still thinking about it.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
* This month's Penguin Classics is Metamorphosis by Ovid, a sensuous and witty poem in an accessible translation by David Raeburn. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.
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