IMHO

Sungit

The older you get, the more sungit you become? Not sure what the literal translation of "sungit" is in English - maybe cranky - so I don't know if I've become more masungit over time...I think it's less of crankiness and more of becoming intolerant of other people's ridiculous behavior.

Because the older you get, the more discerning you become of how people around you - more particularly the younger folk - behave, and more often than not, you can see beneath the surface of their actions. It's basically nothing more than a (painfully embarassing) recognition of how you yourself used to behave when you were younger - been there, been that. Don't get me wrong...I come in contact with dozens (and sometimes, on a good day, hundreds) of kids and teens almost every day, and I try to love each one for the unique person they are. But then again, many of these young ones are almost totally "authentic": no need (yet) for guiles or manipulative behavior (although some are already showing the propensity for it!). Most of them retain their childlike demeanor, and I hope that they don't grow into the childishness acquired sometime after puberty and young adulthood (which some adults don't grow out of either!). Anyway, I think when you grow older your facial muscles tend to lose interest in forcing a smile whenever you encounter adult "inauthenticity" or people who act, as my friend Robbie puts it so succintly, "T.H.!" And, for unfortunate people like myself who are so transparently reactive, there's no sense in even attempting to be "plastic": you will most certainly know that we are not pleased with your pa-cute.

So I guess the statement should be rephrased: the older you get, the less willing you are to put up with other people's bullsh*t. Pardon the French, but I wouldn't have put it otherwise. Hmmm, now that's sungit.

posted by Honey Oliveros @ 9:56 PM