Counting my words again.
Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month, one group member picks a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we share what we all came up with.
This month's number is 44.
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.
As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I'm writing about an addiction, of sorts, about sold souls.
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.
As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I'm writing about an addiction, of sorts, about sold souls.
~ I have, many times over the years, been in awe of the all encompassing foresight of the founders of this country. How much effort and thought they put into plans for every contingency, even circumstances unfathomable in their time. Well, in awe until now.
~ I'm going to talk about addiction today, or what I consider a form of addiction. I mean no disrespect to those who suffer with and fight off personal addictions of all sorts. I don't claim that my views are medically sound, just personal observation.
~ Narcissism. It's an addiction to self. It most likely has its roots in insecurity, but how it manifests is dangerous. Unlike many addictions, it's not only dangerous to the narcissist, but to everyone around them, through self aggrandizement, manipulation, arrogance, and lack of empathy.
~ Narcissists feed mostly on power. They don't have the emotional tools to deal with disappointment. If they don't like dinner, they could throw their plate against a wall. If they do like dinner but are angry about something else, they could throw their plate.
Seared Scallops with Canadian Bacon
~ To achieve the insatiable need for power and adulation, they will use any conceivable (and inconceivable) strategy. Lying, cheating, exploitation, stealing, alliances made with anyone who will stroke their ego, and broken when those people no longer serve their purpose. There are few boundaries.
~ Like most addictions, the current high won't last. Addiction is hungry. The high isn't just needed again, it has to be bigger. And if they're surrounded by other narcissists, feeding off of them, stakes get even higher, the behavior even more erratic and unthinkable.
~ As I said, I am in awe of the foresight of those who envisioned this constitutional republic, based firmly in the tenets of a democracy. But now they have met their match, never imagined a political party run by narcissists who've sold their soul.
~ There is a step we need to take to buttress their vision, fight off authoritarianism, fill in an unforeseen hole in our politics. We need to amend the constitution to disallow any convicted felon from running for office. Hasn't happened yet, but it could . . .
Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:
Seared Scallops with Canadian Bacon
©www.BakingInATornado.com
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1# sea scallops
salt and pepper to taste
3 TBSP canola oil
2 TBSP butter
2 oz Canadian bacon slices, chopped
Directions:
*Place the scallops on a plate covered with paper towels. Top with a few more paper towels and refrigerate for an hour.
*Place the scallops on a plate covered with paper towels. Top with a few more paper towels and refrigerate for an hour.
*Gently press down on the paper towels, then discard them.
*Sprinkle both sides of the scallops with salt and pepper.
*Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until very hot. Add the scallops to the pan carefully, the hot oil may spit, if it does, turn down the heat just a little bit. Cook for 2 minutes without touching the scallops at all.
*Remove the pan from the stove, quickly move the scallops to a plate, add the butter and Canadian bacon to the pan, swirl around then return the pan to the heat and add the scallops, cooked side up.
*Cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, until the scallops are cooked through, flake apart and are opaque in the center. Move the scallops to a serving dish, drizzle the butter and Canadian bacon over the cooked scallops and serve immediately.
Interesting how the topic of narcissism has grown in popularity....i wonder if there is more of it now than ever before. I suspect so.
ReplyDeleteI also think we've created a culture where narcssism can flourish out in the open.
DeleteAnd should happen. I actually thought there was already a similar clause. I need to re-read!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, but I looked . . .
DeleteI can't believe in this sophisticated country, we could have a convicted felon not only run for president, but possibly even get in. Horrifying.
ReplyDeleteHorrifying for those of us who are against becoming an autocracy, anyway.
DeleteLouisiana had a former governor, who'd done time, running for a political office. Not the image we want to portray, as a state or a nation.
ReplyDeleteWe have lost our moral compass. Not just politicians, but the voters who elect them.
DeleteMakes you wonder what the world is coming to when it is run by such people and why people elect these people to office
ReplyDeleteIt isn't those of us with a heart and a brain who elect these narcissists.
DeleteSince our legal system has failed us (even if justice came tomorrow, which it won't) someone like the person currently in question has a good chance of taking office because his supporters live in a mirror world that see him as their last hope for this nation. Then that proposed amendment would disappear, along with our democracy. He's made his plans public so we can't say we haven't been warned. I think our online world also enables narcissists and feeds them. Can you tell I'm increasingly cynical and pessimistic?
ReplyDeleteRight there with you.
DeleteGood job staying within the word parameters while making solid points.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's not as easy as it looks. But it's a fun challenge.
DeleteDo you think they would? Their narcissistic addiction will not allow them to relinquish that hold.
ReplyDeleteNo, they won't relinquish that hold, which is why we have to fight to wrest it away from them.
DeleteI have yet to meet a long time politician from either party, that didn't exhibit some form of narcissistic tendency. The same with CEO's of powerful companies, and even sought after celebrities and athletes. Narcissist crave power, so those are the jobs that fill that need for them, until like you said it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few politicians not fully ego driven (we know one), but they got out of politics (or were pushed out) during the trump era.
DeleteI love scallops I could eat them all the time.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but they are expensive, and my family can eat a LOT of them in one meal.
Delete