It's all me now
I've been called caustic; callous; cold. But it was a first when I was called a brutal pragmatist, from a friend who I said should wave his moolah at his beau's face to snare him home after several years of separation. "Such brutal pragmatism," he told me. I like it, far better than I like the four-letter slurs I often get: rude; evil; journalist (which is associated with "dirt," either to describe me or the quality of my work).
Brutal pragmatism cleverly encapsulates my style, honed from age, travel and politics. Age, most of all, has made me trim, pessimistic, fearless. Suppose I catch a disease, yet undiscovered, and it extinguishes me at age 60 - what should I do now? The thought has cleared the mind and it has scanned the world for potential and waste. There are those who want my company because they are lonely. Others connect for benefit. I know who is which and what I'm after.
Age also has thrown out my filter between mouth and brain. I keep the people who can buffer my views with their absolute confidence. In my mind, those who run away are weak or can't face the truth, and it's no way for a maturing man to live life trying to please everyone but himself. The playing field is level - if you have the verbosity, the insolence and some useful insights, you too can fight.
But age also has made me soft, and that's the catch, because I am able now to feel moral outrage and compassion, which is embarrassing. The man who virtually humiliated his ex after dumping him since has had no love from me, and at every occasion I have disparaged his virtues. The Latina at the coatcheck gets $2, twice what I used to tip after I learned to count my blessings. I indulged my mum's seven-year-old neighbor with chatter and attention after I found out his parents were jailed druggies. Worldly woes would have frightened me when I was 20. Now I'm loud, arrogant, honest. That makes me happy.
Your Birthdate: September 20
You are a virtual roller coaster of emotions, and most people enjoy the ride.
Your mood tends to set the tone of the room, and when you're happy, this is a good thing.
When you get in a dark mood, watch out - it's very hard to get you out of it.
It's sometimes hard for you to cheer up, and your gloom can be contagious.
Your strength: Your warm heart
Your weakness: Trouble controlling your emotions
Your power color: Black
Your power symbol: Musical note
Your power month: February
What Does Your Birth Date Mean?
Brutal pragmatism cleverly encapsulates my style, honed from age, travel and politics. Age, most of all, has made me trim, pessimistic, fearless. Suppose I catch a disease, yet undiscovered, and it extinguishes me at age 60 - what should I do now? The thought has cleared the mind and it has scanned the world for potential and waste. There are those who want my company because they are lonely. Others connect for benefit. I know who is which and what I'm after.
Age also has thrown out my filter between mouth and brain. I keep the people who can buffer my views with their absolute confidence. In my mind, those who run away are weak or can't face the truth, and it's no way for a maturing man to live life trying to please everyone but himself. The playing field is level - if you have the verbosity, the insolence and some useful insights, you too can fight.
But age also has made me soft, and that's the catch, because I am able now to feel moral outrage and compassion, which is embarrassing. The man who virtually humiliated his ex after dumping him since has had no love from me, and at every occasion I have disparaged his virtues. The Latina at the coatcheck gets $2, twice what I used to tip after I learned to count my blessings. I indulged my mum's seven-year-old neighbor with chatter and attention after I found out his parents were jailed druggies. Worldly woes would have frightened me when I was 20. Now I'm loud, arrogant, honest. That makes me happy.
Your Birthdate: September 20
You are a virtual roller coaster of emotions, and most people enjoy the ride.
Your mood tends to set the tone of the room, and when you're happy, this is a good thing.
When you get in a dark mood, watch out - it's very hard to get you out of it.
It's sometimes hard for you to cheer up, and your gloom can be contagious.
Your strength: Your warm heart
Your weakness: Trouble controlling your emotions
Your power color: Black
Your power symbol: Musical note
Your power month: February
What Does Your Birth Date Mean?