Recently I discovered a new T.V show called "The United States of Tara" it's pretty much the best thing to ever happen in the history of all time and space. The wonderful, stunning Toni Collette plays a housewife with DID or Dissociative identity disorder , basically she has multiple personalities, which sounds like a bad thing, but trust me it's not.
Her "alters", besides being extremely funny; all have a use of their own. She has been able to use them to express herself and also to complete tasks which she has a hard time doing herself. She has a growing list of them which I won't get into detail about for fear of spoiling the show for you, but a few of them have really grown on me, and made me question the idea of all of us having a little bit of that disorder in each of us. It's really a darkly comedic beautiful idea.
Maybe I'm alone on this but I feel I have a certain persona I show to my closest friends, and one I show to others.
For example I wouldn't say "Tittie -Cocking- MotherLover" after stubbing my toe in the post office, but I don't think twice before saying it at my sisters apartment. I wouldn't tell the lady at the bank Im not wearing underwear, but I can't wait for the chance to tell my husband. I never accidentally swear, or say or do inappropriate things when around children or seniors. Im beginning to wonder if this behaviour is the result of a combination of self-control and discipline, or perhaps I have a few of my own personalities roaming around inside. Everyone can relate to auto-pilot right? When you are doing meaningless errands about the town alone. No conversation but lots of stimulation from outside sources. I find in these situations I essentially 'black- out' I become withdrawn and purposeful, thinking solely of the task at hand and avoiding eye contact with the other drones. This tactic for dealing with the annoyances of a big box store will only work for a short time as inevitably I will always be confronted with a situation where I must become human again. Crotchety old ladies are usually what make me De-Robotify© myself (yes I made that word), they will either drop their pathetic change-purse and stare at me expectantly from atop their motorized carts or I will see them struggling with a door and shopping bags and glancing at me over their shoulder. I will at this point usually not know what to do, as I was only moments ago thinking about Zip-Loc bags and clothespins. This is the point I become old lady putty, I will literary do anything they ask of me . They know this and take advantage accordingly. How many times have I woken up in a hideous wallpapered powder room? knee- deep in balms , salves and ointments? Fixing the grout around an old lady toilet?
None, but I bet one day I will.
Her "alters", besides being extremely funny; all have a use of their own. She has been able to use them to express herself and also to complete tasks which she has a hard time doing herself. She has a growing list of them which I won't get into detail about for fear of spoiling the show for you, but a few of them have really grown on me, and made me question the idea of all of us having a little bit of that disorder in each of us. It's really a darkly comedic beautiful idea.
Maybe I'm alone on this but I feel I have a certain persona I show to my closest friends, and one I show to others.
For example I wouldn't say "Tittie -Cocking- MotherLover" after stubbing my toe in the post office, but I don't think twice before saying it at my sisters apartment. I wouldn't tell the lady at the bank Im not wearing underwear, but I can't wait for the chance to tell my husband. I never accidentally swear, or say or do inappropriate things when around children or seniors. Im beginning to wonder if this behaviour is the result of a combination of self-control and discipline, or perhaps I have a few of my own personalities roaming around inside. Everyone can relate to auto-pilot right? When you are doing meaningless errands about the town alone. No conversation but lots of stimulation from outside sources. I find in these situations I essentially 'black- out' I become withdrawn and purposeful, thinking solely of the task at hand and avoiding eye contact with the other drones. This tactic for dealing with the annoyances of a big box store will only work for a short time as inevitably I will always be confronted with a situation where I must become human again. Crotchety old ladies are usually what make me De-Robotify© myself (yes I made that word), they will either drop their pathetic change-purse and stare at me expectantly from atop their motorized carts or I will see them struggling with a door and shopping bags and glancing at me over their shoulder. I will at this point usually not know what to do, as I was only moments ago thinking about Zip-Loc bags and clothespins. This is the point I become old lady putty, I will literary do anything they ask of me . They know this and take advantage accordingly. How many times have I woken up in a hideous wallpapered powder room? knee- deep in balms , salves and ointments? Fixing the grout around an old lady toilet?
None, but I bet one day I will.
I have other personas as well, some of them aren't so complacent, Im sure some of them are even more complacent . The person I am when I host a basement party is probably the closest I ever am to the 'real me' When Im in my element, when Im in charge I can really let loose. I have been known to rock out a little too loud on the drums or bitch slap my sister for comedic effect or have a ' few too many' while narrating everything thats happening in the room into a microphone, forcing my guests to answer interview questions as though Im the next Conan O'Brian. Imagine if I were to act this way while I was out doing groceries or something? I would likely be arrested. Ultimately Im just trying to say how great it is that my new favourite show makes me think about who I really am, who I wish to become, who I will always be no matter what, and how much my family means to me. Like it or not I believe we all have multiples within us; stepping up to the task at hand so we can protect ourselves from uncomfortable situations. Good stuff, you should watch this show! I will link my fav streaming site for your ease of use. Have a good day all and thanks for reading.
Love that show! I started watching it when it first came out but then I cancelled my fancy cable channels, so I'm a couple seasons behind now, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Shameless yet?