I treasure my conceits. I don't know where I'd be without them.
Currently I'm savoring the "had I started younger" conceit, in which I convince myself that, had I started playing golf or tennis younger, or had I started skiing younger, I would have been really good. My current struggles to learn tennis are eased greatly by my conviction that had I started younger I would've been the next Sampras (actually, I'm older than Sampras so had I started younger he would've been the next me).
Another cherished conceit is my "knowing what I know now" conceit, in which I assume I would never make my youthful mistakes today, knowing what I know now. This conceit has the dual benefits of easing the pain I feel when contemplating my youthful mistakes and of giving me the confidence I need to venture forth into the world each day and make more mature mistakes.
Where would this blog be without my "I have something to say" and "you care what I say" conceits?
The "I matter" conceit is perhaps the most necessary conceit of them all, insulating us from the reality that we are all specks in a vast and uknown universe, each doomed to disappear utterly forgotten into the void, leaving not even a trace of our meaningless existence on the fabric of time and space.
Everything I do that's worth doing is done under the influence of my conceits. "Conceited" is usually pejorative, but it shouldn't be.
Bravely said! I've often thought the only way to be successful is to act as an over-confidant asshole!
Posted by: Joeyann Palowoda | August 04, 2005 at 02:00 PM