P = Pretentious

These words aren't getting any easier to write about, they're only getting harder to spell!

Every time I hear the word pretentious, I think of the movie Steel Magnolias (which is one of my favorites) where Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts) says "Remember what Daddy always says - an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure!"

I totally agree.  Inflating yourself as important and pointing out your worth every chance you get - all you're doing is spreading a bunch of bullshit!  Am I wrong?

I believe in self esteem.  Good, strong, positive self-esteem.  I'm proud of myself and my accomplishments.  I'm proud of my family, their accomplishments, and what the generations before me have overcome.  I'm proud of my heritage, my culture, and my religion.  I believe in giving credit wehre credit is due.  I believe in helping a person out, giving a hand up rather than a hand out.  That said, these things are important to me - they should be important to all of us.  I don't share much of this out loud. I do what feels like the right thing to do.  It is what it is, it's what I cherish and I don't need to inflate or exaggerate it to impress anyone.  

Lets us religion as a for instance, what difference does it really make if I'm Lutheran or you're Catholic?  One is not greater than the other.  Sure, I care where you came from, your background but, it doesn't make any difference as to whether I like you or not.  Does it mean you're better than I am?

I don't believe in treating someone, anyone is if they're less.  I don't believe I deserve to be treated as less.  No one deserves to be treated that way. Except when I'm driving - then I believe that every one must get out of my way! 

Seriously though, I'm a firm believer in treat others as you would like to be treated.  I can tell you, many words come to mind when I think of the relationships I've made with people - loyal, fun, commonality, unique,  - the word pretentious/pretension just doesn't quite fit, does it?