Unlikable Gratitude

1. Jonathan Harris’ World Building in a Crazy World is incredibly insightful (thanks to Gwen Bell for the link)
2. “If you dedicate your existence to being likable, however, and if you adopt whatever cool persona is necessary to make it happen, it suggests that you’ve despaired of being loved for who you really are.” -Jonathan Franzen in NYT Piece (also thanks @gwenbell)
3. Embracing my not-likable side
4. Exploring the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde story with a friend
5. “The simple fact of the matter is that trying to be perfectly likable is incompatible with loving relationships…Something realer than likability has come out in you, and suddenly you’re having an actual life.” -Jonathan Franzen
6. The irony that sharing my unlikable side will help me connect with others more deeply
7. Totally owning my faults and idiosyncrasies, my inadequacies and ugliness
8. Accepting those as part of the same me who has wonderful gifts, incredible insights, and great compassion
9. Owning my emotions, which can range from joyous and thrilled to downright ugly-angry and coldly disappointed
10. Being me.

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