CLEAN BREAK

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A Chippewa Indian from Minnesota was in my taxicab this morning, and she reminded me of growing up in Kansas, pretending I, too, was an Indian :: It was an attitude :: I was the Indian, filled with nobility. When a person pretends to be someone else, they're being themselves. It's a start. Then when someone attacks you, they're attacking the Indian chief. And we all know, they're not going to get very far with that.

Almost everyone has had the experience of being attacked inside an automobile, by some whack pedestrian, or even by a sarcastic police officer. Here's where you can defend yourself, simply by saying, “How deep?” They're attacking your inner Indian, who has the wherewithal to say, “How deep?” :: a clean break from feeling put-upon :: It's a clean break from feelings of isolation, from emotional pain, or from wishful thinking. “How deep?” you ask, sitting up a little straighter. “How deep?” whether they can hear you or not. They're outside the damn car.

Many people believe “You know why I'm angry at you?” is a legitimate question. Then they get tricked into having an emotional response! They get tricked into believing the attacker is important! They get tricked into working for the attacker, and into defending their right to work for the attacker! What might your inner Indian say? Get back to your Chippewa Indian chief by defending yourself, whether anyone likes it or not!

See how defending yourself with words gets you off the hook a little? By hearing yourself being grown-up, disarming, intelligent, playful, diplomatic, self-affirming, humorous, street smart, lighthearted or strong. You see yourself not getting tricked into feelings of isolation, emotional pain, negative anticipation, wishful thinking, limited possibilities, fluctuating self-esteem, fragmented attention, stunted growth, ineffectual preoccupation and confrontational attitudes.

So let's try one more: “You don't know that?” See which one of the following responses makes you ... happy! Ke-mo sah-be. You got me!