Chasing the Elusive Dream
Viewing comments for Chapter 31 "Self Help to a Nervous Breakdown"A southern couple's journey in the 60's,70's & 80'
33 total reviews
Comment from Zue65
I so resonate with your message. Our children thought and believed they know better than their parents. They were the entitled generation who listen only to what their mentors feed them and exclude all others including their own parents when they don't conform to the "group think" pervading in the club. This is what is known as cancel culture I guess.
reply by the author on 23-Nov-2022
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I so resonate with your message. Our children thought and believed they know better than their parents. They were the entitled generation who listen only to what their mentors feed them and exclude all others including their own parents when they don't conform to the "group think" pervading in the club. This is what is known as cancel culture I guess.
Comment Written 23-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 23-Nov-2022
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Thank you so much for a great review and comments. I enjoyed reading what you had to say. I think what they read trumphs anything their parents tell them, and if they are told we are to blame for their problems, they are quick to buy that garbage too.
Beth
Comment from LJbutterfly
Hahaha! I almost laughed my head off. In my day, I bought all the self-help books and practiced everything. So I could relate to your children, even though I'm not as young as them. Then I had a daughter who claimed when she was in high school, my husband and I were the root cause of all her problems. I, in particular, wouldn't allow her to rip up her jeans so her knees could stick out. (She did it anyway)
As an old-time self-helper from the sixties and seventies, I am now into alternative medicine. Lol. You've inspired me to write about that. Anyway, I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for a good laugh.
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2022
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Hahaha! I almost laughed my head off. In my day, I bought all the self-help books and practiced everything. So I could relate to your children, even though I'm not as young as them. Then I had a daughter who claimed when she was in high school, my husband and I were the root cause of all her problems. I, in particular, wouldn't allow her to rip up her jeans so her knees could stick out. (She did it anyway)
As an old-time self-helper from the sixties and seventies, I am now into alternative medicine. Lol. You've inspired me to write about that. Anyway, I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for a good laugh.
Comment Written 21-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2022
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Thank you so much for the review and comments. My kids are still into every new type of alternative healing that comes along. I say if I'm not sick, please don't try to heal me. One daughter is planning to go lie in a bed for two hours that has some kind of vibrating healing waves coming from the walls. The lady who invented this method is working on setting up a program to help the aliens from outer space have such a device installed in their space ship. LOL I might write about that. I really appreciate the six stars.
Beth
Comment from Theodore McDowell
A great post examining the self-help trends that have some positives but also can be detrimental and downright silly. Loved the discussion about how co-dependency tied your daughter into knots. Well done.
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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A great post examining the self-help trends that have some positives but also can be detrimental and downright silly. Loved the discussion about how co-dependency tied your daughter into knots. Well done.
Comment Written 20-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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Thank you Ted, I really appreciate the review and the positive comments.
Beth
Comment from lyenochka
Oh my goodness! I don't know how you put up with all that from your kids but I'm so glad you could put a humorous spin on it. In my case, it was my mother-in-law who was always reading the latest fad psychobabble. I don't think it helped her or others.
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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Oh my goodness! I don't know how you put up with all that from your kids but I'm so glad you could put a humorous spin on it. In my case, it was my mother-in-law who was always reading the latest fad psychobabble. I don't think it helped her or others.
Comment Written 20-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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Thank you Helen, I was probably a bit aggrivated when I worte this, but after some time passes, it pays to just find it amusing and let it go. They will do what they are inclined to do, and that isn't to take my advice. If they feel better blaming me, so be it.
Beth
Comment from Spitfire
I got a kick out of the last paragraph. My aunt was a certified astrology and could pinpoint your problems by doing your chart. I used to read some of the self-help literature to find answers. I don't honestly remember finding anything productive. Now I just live and let live. But some of the residents here really need to see a shrink and I'll write about that eventually. An enjoyable read as is the rest of this book.
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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I got a kick out of the last paragraph. My aunt was a certified astrology and could pinpoint your problems by doing your chart. I used to read some of the self-help literature to find answers. I don't honestly remember finding anything productive. Now I just live and let live. But some of the residents here really need to see a shrink and I'll write about that eventually. An enjoyable read as is the rest of this book.
Comment Written 20-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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Thank you for a great review. I liked your comments. Yes, there are quite a few people I know that could use some help with the psychological problems, but I think they need more than a self-help book
Beth
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I never seem to find time to enter those.
Comment from Ulla
Hahahaha, oh Beth, I laughed so hard as I was reading this.. This is just too funny. What a wonderful healthy outlook you have to life. The world has become such a crazy place. What the heck has happened to normality?
I'm still laughing. Thanks a lot for writing this. Ulla, xx
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Hahahaha, oh Beth, I laughed so hard as I was reading this.. This is just too funny. What a wonderful healthy outlook you have to life. The world has become such a crazy place. What the heck has happened to normality?
I'm still laughing. Thanks a lot for writing this. Ulla, xx
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Thank you Ulla. I'm so glad you found this funny. I was actually a bit frustrated when I wrote but reading back over it, I think it is funny too.
Beth
Comment from Ric Myworld
Isn't amazing how many idiots can write books giving their personal opinions and people jump on board to make them a guru. Sadly, it only happens because it's easier to be a follower than a leader, to experiment with what other think is right, than to think for ourselves. I've read some of these books, but never to learn or get advice, simply to see how susceptible we've come to playing follow-the-leader, whoever the leader might be. LOL. Thanks for sharing. Keep thinking for yourself! I like the way you think! :-)
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Isn't amazing how many idiots can write books giving their personal opinions and people jump on board to make them a guru. Sadly, it only happens because it's easier to be a follower than a leader, to experiment with what other think is right, than to think for ourselves. I've read some of these books, but never to learn or get advice, simply to see how susceptible we've come to playing follow-the-leader, whoever the leader might be. LOL. Thanks for sharing. Keep thinking for yourself! I like the way you think! :-)
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Thank you Ric, I've read a few of them two. They make a little sense until you try to put it into practice and find out you were better off without or witness what is happening to you kids who are buying into it. These days my kids keep going down rabbit holes with conspiracy theories. I'm convinced rabbit hole are for rabbits.
Beth
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Of course we mothers are "the root cause of all their problems." I add a psychiatrist tell me the same thing in the 80's. It's always mom, and maybe it is!
Beth, I'm so glad I found you because I always enjoy your stories. They are all told with a bit of humor, and this one had me laughing out loud:-)
My daughter reads all these books too and, worse, consults the Internet for many of her ills.
It's nice to know that we mothers are all in the same boat. Let's just hope it doesn't sink.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Of course we mothers are "the root cause of all their problems." I add a psychiatrist tell me the same thing in the 80's. It's always mom, and maybe it is!
Beth, I'm so glad I found you because I always enjoy your stories. They are all told with a bit of humor, and this one had me laughing out loud:-)
My daughter reads all these books too and, worse, consults the Internet for many of her ills.
It's nice to know that we mothers are all in the same boat. Let's just hope it doesn't sink.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Thank you Pam for the review and comments. A lot of what I've written lately is told with humor. There was a period a few year ago when I wanted to write like Erma Bombeck and I tried to make my memories humorous. The ones in the book "Chasing the Elusive Dream" are that way more that my genealogy book and the one where I writing to my deceased husband. I need to start writing with humor again. People seem to like it. I appreciate the review and I loved your comments.
Beth
Comment from Thomas Blanks
I found this interesting. When my generation was teenagers, we avoided our parents and work, but for the most part, we were not depressed, angry, or self-absorbed. Young people today spend so much time looking inside themselves that about a quarter of them get their heads stuck up their own butt. Another quarter is angry at the world, their parents, the system, or life in general. Still another quarter is depressed, leaving only 25% normal, functioning young people. Either that or I'm angry and depressed.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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I found this interesting. When my generation was teenagers, we avoided our parents and work, but for the most part, we were not depressed, angry, or self-absorbed. Young people today spend so much time looking inside themselves that about a quarter of them get their heads stuck up their own butt. Another quarter is angry at the world, their parents, the system, or life in general. Still another quarter is depressed, leaving only 25% normal, functioning young people. Either that or I'm angry and depressed.
Comment Written 18-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Thank you Thomas, I appreciate the review. It didn't happen in my generation either but I think we kept too busy to spend so much time analysing ourselves and looking for ways to fix ourselves. There are too many people in the media telling us we need fixing.
Beth
Comment from Douglas Goff
Great read. Very witty
Couple of suggestions:
Heaven forbid, even more
(I don't think heaven is capitalized in this situation.)
The other daughter's accusations, I take more seriously. (No comma needed)
This was fun. Thanks for sharing!
reply by the author on 18-Nov-2022
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Great read. Very witty
Couple of suggestions:
Heaven forbid, even more
(I don't think heaven is capitalized in this situation.)
The other daughter's accusations, I take more seriously. (No comma needed)
This was fun. Thanks for sharing!
Comment Written 18-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 18-Nov-2022
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Thank you Douglas. I'm so pleased that you call it witty. I appreciate the suggestion. I will changing those things.
Beth
