Playing Devil's Advocate

Ok so I’m overthinking this but it’s what I do, overthink. Now I thought randomly to myself how our views of the world make us see things from such different perspectives. It gets to a point where one person can see something so optimistically while the other has pessimistic thoughts regarding the same subject. I get it, it’s called opinion, but the sheer spectrum of how different opinions are says a lot about humans in general.

Exhibit A put up for discussion “Part of Your World” as sung in the Little Mermaid. So I will be discussing this song in two parts: myself with an optimistic mindset and of course myself as the other (bet you saw that coming). 

This is just a little random fun to prove a point. My mind went to both as I listened to a recent rendition of the song and I just kind of chuckled to myself. I am choosing to focus on specific lyrics that sparked this moment and those words are as follows: 

“Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? / Wouldn’t you think my collections complete?”

…

“I got whozits and whatzits galore / You want thingamabobs? I got twenty. / But who cares? No big deal, I want more!”

So now I will proceed to break down the way in which one part of me translated the song and how the other counters. Nothing special here except trying to create concise arguments. In a sense it is good practice for characters because the question is: can I express their disagreement clearly in so many words? Well the limit is set at 100 per viewpoint so let’s go!

OPTIMIST: These lyrics show that the individual is looking to reach another level of success. Whether that be financially, with a career, or with herself, she realizes she is not at the end of her possibilities. The strength of these words indicates that she is prepared to fight and do better than her current situation. This song says so much about how we look at our condition and continue to find hope in tomorrow, never settling. She questions these possessions and “want[s] more” because why would you accept the sky when you can reach for the stars?

PESSIMIST: Greed is one of the seven deadly sins. Instead of feeling content and happy that she has been provided so much she looks for more. This mindset is that of an unappreciative person and with her lack of a thank you and the statement “no big deal” she illustrates this point well. She does not see what she can do with the items already provided. Instead she seeks to gain more: more control, more possessions, more attention. By putting herself in a state of unrest she proves that no matter what others provide she will not be satisfied.

So, which side would you choose?

* This entire “debate” is a result of watching the video of one little girl singing this very dear childhood song. You can find the link for her video below, Enjoy!

To: Auntie Betty

Dear Auntie Betty,

Funny, I have always seen it spelled with a "Y". Elizabeth, in your name I find part of my own. I wonder if your mother, when she named me, saw a little bit of you in me and couldn't help herself. Subliminally she decided we would be connected and chose a name that was similar yet unique for both of us.

I am here now, in your state, trying to make a name. I consider how close we could have been. How much of an influence you could be in my life. If only our family was more closely knit. You could have explained to me the process required to register my car in California or the steps to ship it to this state. I guess I figured things out but why, when I had access to all your wisdom, did I have to struggle? Instead of inquiring I dove like a gold medal Olympian right into the mistakes and missteps I tried to avoid.

I bet you know a lot about the woes of love that I encountered in my life. You could have kept me from the pitfalls by reinforcing how beautiful I was as a child and tell me about how far I would be able to go once I set everyone else behind me and focused on my own worth. I still remember how you made me consider everyone else's worth and made sure that I tipped my waiter or waitress well. You would laugh to see how everyone looks at me strangely when I over tip no matter how bad the service.

I remember there was a day in Jacksonville where Mom, Ebony, and I went to a restaurant and even after the terrible service - waitress must have had a really bad day - and despite what Mom and Ebony stated I tipped $20. We prepared to leave and you wouldn't believe the appreciation on the waitresses face as she made sure to stop us as we were leaving and thank us. I smiled and nodded recalling your words that summer in 2009 as we sat at the pizza location in St. Thomas; they work hard for their money and live off of tips, make sure you pay well.

I will always be unhappy that I never connected more with my roots. That even "home" feels foreign to me. You provided me one of the rare moments where I felt grounded and rooted before the clouds reclaimed me and I was again daydreaming with beautiful rainbows and unicorns around me. This is my thank you because you truly impacted me more than you may ever know.

Love,

Lizann