Sunday, January 25, 2004
Reading.
I read. A lot. My tastes vary a bit, but almost always, it's some sort of fiction in my hands. For many years, it was science fiction/fantasy stuff. Then 'embellished fiction' - that is, so called biographies or autobiographies. Currently, it's women's literature, or "chick lit" as it's affectionately referred to.
In the book I'm reading now, the main character, named Katie, expresses several times that in order to be ambitious and successful, that one must have had a dysfunctional childhood. Anyone who had a "normal" childhood is lacking in the instinct and drive to be financially (and politically) successful in the workplace.
Do you think that's true? I look at the successful people in my life - those whose childhoods I know about - and I'd have to agree, oddly enough. It seems to stem from the idea that if nothing was handed to you, you feel a near desperation to make yourself successful in either appearance, pocketbook or both. However; if your surroundings were painted as an environment in which your parents stayed together and you were given everything you wanted or needed, you don't feel the same sense of urgency to acquire position or wealth. In fact, in this book, it's implied that those who did have a 'normal' background tend to slack off a bit, or not take things as seriously.
And looking at the two, which is preferable??? Yikes.
Messy thoughts, messy thoughts.
Vi
