Truths I Wish Weren’t True..!

1. This truth is embarrassing to me because a number
of friends and people I admire make them,
and I’m sure they’re as great as everybody says,
BUT…I can’t listen to podcasts.
My attention drifts within the first few minutes.
Always. I’ve tried over and over.
It doesn’t matter who’s speaking or what the topic is.
When I have audio and nothing else I can’t stay
engaged unless I’m listening to music.
Audio books and talk radio are impossible for me
as well. When people are talking
(and I’m not conversing with them)
I need to see them or I involuntarily tune out.
This is a personal failing–almost a kind of disability–
and it means I miss out on some truly outstanding
content. I hate that. But there it is.
I think I’d enjoy reading podcast transcripts,
if those are available. (I’ve never actually checked,
but there must be some out there.)
Podcasts themselves, however, remain appreciable
only in theory.

2. I do not care for dogs and will never own one.
This is like failing a major litmus test among
all humans.
“If you don’t love dogs there’s just something wrong
with you.” I’ve heard that since I was a kid,
and I’ve seen tons of reblogs over the years
to that effect. Well, okay, then there can
be something wrong with me.
The something is that I’ve been seriously
dog-traumatized within the course of my life,
and as a result I don’t experience
the positive emotions everyone else does
when it comes to canines.
What I do experience positively is an appreciation
for how dearly other people love dogs,
and as such I’d never wish harm on a dog
(other than my neighbor’s chihuahua,
but that thing’s more vermin than canine).
I don’t hate dogs. I’m not anti-dog.
I’m certainly pro-you-being-pro-dog.
I love your love of dogs, and I love how
that love clearly enriches your life.
But I don’t love dogs themselves.
I’m merely okay with them.