Vignettes on Aging – Drama

Drama has its place

For me, that place is on the stage or screen and in books, journals, and magazines.

Drama’s place is not at any meal or during any friendship gathering or conversation. While drama on a regular basis isn’t healthy for us, it’s the sharing and embellishment of drama that makes it toxic to us and to everyone around us.

I avoid drama that’s not for theatrical entertainment, and I’m vigilant about not sharing it with others. I’m not saying I never complain about a bad day or a frustrating situation. I’m saying I don’t break down its components so everyone can feel just as horrible as I did. I don’t express every excruciating factor of something or someone gone awry in order to convey more fully exactly how painful something was.

I avoid drama that is used to shock, manipulate, engender sympathy, or to show strength and power. And I’m a student in this process. Sometimes I miss the mark and get caught up in the worst of it — very dramatic!

Drama for any non-theatrical reason is old fashioned and boring at best to downright spirit-robbing and dangerous at worst.

Drama and gossip say more about you than about anyone who is the subject of said activities.

If there is a time for drama — but there truly isn’t — it’s when you’re a teenager, not when you’ve learned your lesson of its insidious nature. It’s at its most unattractive when we’re wise elders.

Finally, drama is tiring; it’s incredibly exhausting!

Personally, I need to save as much energy as possible just to get up in the morning … or for reading the small print, or not losing my keys/wallet/phone or for backseat driving. Therefore, I’ll continue to work on keeping the drama out of my relationships.

What about you?