Re-watching Mad Men: A new-found appreciation and lesson learned.
Bare with me Mad Men fanatics, but throughout watching Mad Men for the first time....I was never much of a Joan Holloway fan. Sure, she had her snarky comebacks and feminist moments but overall I just couldn't get into her as a character or let alone root for her. I always found myself blanking watching her scenes instead of the usual engaged interest anyone would find if they saw me watching a Betty Draper or Peggy Olsen scene. It wasn't until re-watching some episodes from previous seasons the other night that I finally had my light bulb fan moment! The scene was the one I posted above from Season 2, Episode 2: Flight 1. Joan had just found a prank at her expense that was posted on the bulletin board from her nasty colleagues in the office. She doesn't rage, scream, or cry. She just calmly states to Peggy her annoyance at why some can't put aside their pettiness when it comes to something important like work. Why does just doing your darn job have to be so hard? She answers her own question with the quote above. And I thought what an insightful moment that not only applies to her but all situations that people may face in work, school, love, friendship, etc.
I've spent so much of my life arguing with other people about irrelevant things that meant so much to me at the time, but at the end of the day didn't really change anything but my mood. I've felt embarrassed, vindicated, ashamed, and regretful afterwards which is what I'm sure they were hoping would happen to me. They wanted to bring me down to their level and engage just so that they could feel better about themselves. When I first made this account, my first post was a promise to myself that I would stay true to me and out of the drama. I will admit that I have slipped a couple of times but I have tried to distance myself after every instance, even though after a while I still convince myself to go right back into it. This quote was not only a mirror to look into the strong sense of self Joan has, but it was also a wake up call to Peggy and to me. A reminder that I don't have to reduce myself to any BS that may fly around me. I can stand my ground and still keep my promise that I made to myself and the Lord. I thank God for these reminders, even if they do just so happen to come from a TV show that isn't exactly high on the moral ground.