by Anton Martin Smith antonmartinsmithwrites@gmail.com
Their was once a land far far away,
Full of people with gnarled, wrinkly faces – even the young.
A land of ‘downward trending’ smiles & lost tempers.
It was a sad place – for it never learnt how to do anything.
This was because the peoplesfolk had abjectly low self-esteem.
You couldn’t tell them anything, for they took it the wrong way – as a sleight.
Slowly they became more backward than they were the year before, & the year before that.
Some wag once said a very funny comment when pressed on the problem of the matter:
“Why would we change – for if we continue to be move backwards,
Eventually the worst that will happen is we will return to our starting point”.
Another one said:
“Sure we have low self esteem, nothing works, crimes up & our economies in the dustbin BUT”
And I said “But what” then they said
“But…But…imagine if we had too high self esteem – that would be worse as a society”.
I said “why is that”, to which they replied
“Well then we’ll get in over our heads won’t we” they said.
Then I said “what about the saying better to try & fail than never try at all”?
Flustered they then looked at their phone nervousy & said:
“No Sir it is better to not try at all & in the future tell of your wimpery to another wimp”
“Why’s that” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Misery love company’ “?
“Yes I have” I said.
“Well I’d be too lonely if I was a go getter – I’ll stay miserable with lots of friends thanks”.
The weird thing is that after they said this, it was the most confidant I’d ever seen them look.
As they walked away with a swagger, I made a mental note to make sure I leave this town tomorrow.
They are all far to comfortable with their entrenched culture of low self-esteem.
After all – it is almost certainly just another undiscovered form of insanity.
Even if it is indeed as comfortable as they made out.
And I wonder if I’ll actually ever leave.
Perhaps I am one of them, & simply deluding myself to the contrary.
Sadly, this is not the first time I have wondered about this, & it won’t be the last.
This was ‘the ballad of low-self esteem’.
Out now, never-ending, & everywhere you look.
Anton Martin Smith Writer 