A Cure for Self-Loathing

Rachel Bray bray.262 at osu.edu
Tue Sep 4 15:25:53 UTC 2001


I found this in my old e-mails from a friend of mine and I 
thought I'd share it!


>From Self magazine October 99 issue:

A Cure for SelfLoathing

The remedy, to be followed exactly more or less:

Do not look in the mirror for three days and do not speak 
with anyone you suspect of agreeing with your current 
opinion of yourself.

On the first day: Wear blue; buy roses; fix something 
broken; polish furniture. Allow yourself a mistake; drink a 
mixture of lemon juice and water; cry all night, then go 
shopping for new pillowcases.

On the second day: Make jam, visit an acquaintance unable 
to leave the house due to illness, sorrow or advancing 
years; fix a pot of tomatorice soup and let simmer. Give 
your coats away to those who cannot stay warm. Forget what 
you couldn't or didn't do right. Run for two miles, paying 
attention only to the shape of the leaves, the sound of 
birds, the idea of desire.

On the third day: Paint your bedroom; absolve an old enemy; 
braid your hair or cut it all off. Think about November; 
imagine stars and clear skies; believe in possibilities and 
in hardship. Study signs; be grateful; consider devotion, 
moonlight and your own dreams. Early in the morning, at the 
hour when the grass is damp and the sky above you is 
cracking open like an egg, walk a dog through your 
neighborhood. then and there, while most people are still 
asleep in their beds, forgive yourself.


Rachel Bray
The Ohio State University
Fees, Deposits and Disbursements

"Could have been edited by a crack-addicted ferret with
ADD who just downed a half dozen Pixie Stix."
                       - review of Moulin Rouge




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