The Difference between people and “things”…too vague, you won’t understand

This post might prove me to be a bit of a hypocrite. Depending on if I get to all the places I want to go, it may be proved in more ways than one.

The “things” in my blog refer to the Merriam Webster dictionary meaning of the word (all ten of them):

1

a : a matter of concern : affair <many things to do>

b plural : state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere <things are improving>

c : a particular state of affairs : situation <look at this thing another way>

d : event, circumstance <that shooting was a terrible thing>

2

a : deed, act, accomplishment <do great things>

b : a product of work or activity <likes to build things>

c : the aim of effort or activity <the thing is to get well>

3

a :a separate and distinct individual quality, fact, idea, or usually entity

b :the concrete entity as distinguished from its appearances

c :a spatial entity

d : an inanimate object distinguished from a living being

4

a plural : possessions, effects <pack your things>

b :whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right

c : an article of clothing <not a thing to wear>

d plural : equipment or utensils especially for a particular purpose <bring the tea things>

5

: an object or entity not precisely designated or capable of being designated <use this thing>

6

a : detail, point <checks every little thing>

b : a material or substance of a specified kind <avoid fatty things>

7

a :a spoken or written observation or point

b : idea, notion <says the first thing he thinks of>

c : a piece of news or information <couldn’t get a thing out of him>

8

: individual <not a living thing in sight>

9

: the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing —used with the

10

a : a mild obsession or phobia <has a thing about driving>; also :the object of such an obsession or phobia

b : something (as an activity) that makes a strong appeal to the individual : forte, specialty <letting students do their own thing — Newsweek> <I think travelling is very much a novelist’s thing — Philip Larkin>

So I am including people in my “Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” sentiment. For me, it stops there. I think people should be held above the very common, bland, dispassionate, and unneeded way we use the term. And, actually, all the “things” I refer to hear will 96.6333 % refer to something or someone, a feeling, desire, or idea that rises above that accepted colloquial use.

Back to my point, because I am losing it and have to work soon.

It has been cliché lately to say some mantra on how people aren’t things and how we need to stop treating things like people and people like things. As overused as it is, it is true. When it comes time to revert to the esteemed way we should treat people, we may have forgotten from being out of practice and it becoming alien to us.

I forgot how. I did not treat her as a throw away. I also did not let her know just how precious she was. I tried but did not know how. The need for myself to feel  esteemed by someone (specific someones) is great. So, I know how crushing it feels to not receive that feeling.

Not to lessen my shame, but she did not know how to show it either. And we both knew it was there trapped somewhere but struggling to rise to the surface in some recognizable way. Well, I knew and hope she did as well. And after three days of her being gone, I am still struggling to send her a sign that she was loved, adored, beautiful, intelligent, and strong.

Although I never said it (and no one would ever guess it), she is the reason that I am so emotional, nonconforming, free-thinking, creative, passionate, and an agnostic. I am so glad she gave me that. Her agenda, at times, was quite opposite from instilling any of that in me. Despite all the anger, pity, confusion, bewilderment, commotion, and religious piety, I loved her so much. There is not a blog post, e-mail, letter, phone call, text, or smoke signal that can be sent to tell her that.

Well, as usual, all the places that I needed to go in this post, I never made it there.