“Unless you Lead”
An incident last night brought to my mind the fact that maybe I am not such a head-strong, independent sort of a fellow as I myself and others might believe.
It was at dancing class. B. had been playing piano and was already tired when we began dancing. She seemed to lack her usual pep as we started one of the simple steps – and as a result neither of us did well dancing the whole evening. [1]
It has since been my realization that my characteristic lack of “aggressiveness” is carried over to the dance floor, and instead of making my partner feel at ease, I throw on her the burden of leading and following as well.
So it is in my other relations with B. On her is thrown all the burden of making our conversations interesting. If I am tired and listless, hers is the burden of entertaining – trying to spur me into giving some recognition of her by inserting a word now and then.
But if she is ill – though she may inwardly ache for a cheery work, none is forthcoming from me – a good reason for irritation, to say the least. Her irritation, then, is cause for added irritation on my part – and the evening ends in a double-slighting set. On my part, at least, if not on hers.
How can anyone put up with me! She must be a deep-feeling woman – really interested in what little bits of affection trickle her way.
A plea: Please manage to hide your irritable feelings and be pleasant at all costs! Don’t let adoration, if such it be, go to your head. If it is not adoration – you are a fool anyway, and a greater on, at that. Make an effort to be pleasant at those times when you don’t feel like it – OR YOU MAY LOSE SOMETHING YOU VALUE VERY HIGHLY!
[1] Bernice later added the following note: “Johnny – He just wasn’t a good dancer! Ask his sister!”
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