Today we went to the pool. We setup camp beside a mother and her son. We, enthusiastic about our arrival, applied sunscreen and organized our towels over the sun-beaten lounge chairs. The mother and son, seemingly less enthused, were at the end of their visit, sunburnt, and caught in a snack-option debate.
The son, repeatedly hit his mother on the shoulder expressing his sharp dissatisfaction. She snapped and retaliated, hitting him back on the shoulder and barking, “STOP hitting me!”
Too close to see her own hypocrisy, she missed that her actions were teaching what she was condemning.
Back on our lounge chairs, I fell inward with shock and judgment. Thankfully, after another thirty seconds of pedestal peering, I rethought the situation and climbed down.
I wondered to myself, how often have I so obviously projected what I’ve not wanted to see in myself?
Journal Prompt: What do I project that I do not want to see in myself?
Mental Health & Journaling 