Food For Thought
by Dr. Solomon Tatem
There is a phrase used by Muggles and Wizard-kind alike. It is a phrase one often hears while being ridiculed or judged; a way to allow one person to feel superior while causing another to feel inferior. It can often lead to questions, and send one into an infinite spiral of self-doubt, and a false understanding of one's self. Often, the person using the phrase doesn't do so with the conscious idea that they are hurting someone. They toss it out there casually, and both parties chuckle. The person using the phrase continues on, unaware of the damage they've caused to the person they have targeted, whether or not they intended to cause mental instability.
The phrase to which I'm referring seems all too perfect in this upcoming season. I speak of, "You are what you eat."
People are inherently self-destructive. We all have a way of manipulating the world around us and causing ourselves personal pain. It might not be readily apparent in everyone, but I assure you, it's there. We are all unsuspecting of our own inner demons, and the smallest thing can set us off.
I am not here to tell you it will all be okay. I'm not here to inform you that people don't mean to hurt you, and we don't mean to render harm upon ourselves. I do not wish to comfort you all, because in doing so, the vast majority of you would turn that into an attack. You would hear me tell you that it's okay to think this way, and assume that I am telling you that you are wrong, that you're being foolish, and that you are weak. That quite simply drives home my point that we are all self-destructive, either physically or mentally, and not necessarily all the time, but rather when we are triggered. I really would rather not be redundant. If I were to counsel you all in this article, I might as well turn in an article to my editors with several repeating lines of, "I told you so."
Instead, I'm going to perform a slight social experiment. I am going to compare personalities to the dishes on a Thanksgiving dinner table. It will be up to you to decide whether you are a pumpkin pie or a turkey; Cranberry sauce or stuffing. Let us see if you are, indeed, what you eat. Send us an owl with your personal results, and we'll post the percentages on the Common Room bulletin board within the next couple of weeks.
TURKEY
You are the main attraction. Wherever you go, you simply crave attention. You are the life of the party, but have a tendency to overstay your welcome, no matter how long you've been in the room. You leave people feeling lethargic and wary. At first you are a joy to be around, but when topics shift to more serious matters, you are far too upbeat. When people ignore you for more than a few minutes, you do whatever it takes to become the center of attention once more, even if it means bringing up a personal tragedy. You are appetizing to be around at first, but people quickly have their fill, and move on to other parts of the meal.
STUFFING
You are a mix of many personalities, and you absorb the mood of those around you. You are sympathetic and comforting when a person is sad, but can also develop quite the mean streak when those around you become angry. People like to be around you, but you shouldn't spend too much time around the wrong person. You soak up the negativity, and hold onto it for far too long. You hold grudges easily, but are very important to have as a friend. People confide in you, and you absorb a secret as well as you sop up any emotion.
SQUASH
No doubt about it, you are a fun person. Cheerful and bright, and unlike turkey, you are mainly a sidekick. People have fun around you, but by yourself, you're just a potato. There is a bit of a negative, though. People either love you, or hate you. There doesn't seem to be a middle-ground. When someone hates you, you may try a bit too hard to get them to love you, and that can be a bit damaging.
PUMPKIN PIE
Oh, pumpkin pie, you're just delicious. You tend to be on the amorous side, and let your emotions get the best of you. You are great in a relationship, but you let the honeymoon phase linger a bit too long. The moment your partner starts to get back to normal, you become clingy. You are rather accidentally a bad influence, but in the best way possible. You'd love for people to shirk responsibilities to have a good time. You want to do what you can to make sure they can be happy without losing time with you, and that can hurt you both. Be wary of your emotions.
So which one do you think you are most like: Turkey, stuffing, squash, or pumpkin pie? Remember, you don't have to be a perfect match for any of these foods. With which one do you find you have the most in common? The point is to judge yourself, so it's best if you refrain from asking another person's opinion. If you'd like to ask after you've picked one for yourself that is perfectly fine. Perhaps others see you differently than you see yourself, and I'd bet 200 Galleons that they see you in a more positive light.
Have a happy holiday season, Slytherins. I hope you have fun with this little holiday social experiment. Remember to always treat yourself and others with respect, kindness, and dignity.
Regards,
Dr. Solomon Tatem