See It to Be It

I’ve read Aristotle. I’ve read Proverbs. I’ve read some Voltaire. I’ve nodded over Descartes, and stifled laughter at the alleged prose of Ayn Rand. I’ve sampled Emerson, seen Ben Kingsley play Gandhi, watched at least one episode of Oprah.

I’ve read Malcom Gladwell. I’ve pondered the inspirational slogans of Nike. I’ve picked up a Tony Robbins book, skimmed the blurbs, put it down. I’ve been in the same room with a Hang in there baby! poster. I read bumperstickers.

Yet the words I live by, the words that seem more relevant each day, were in the first two lines of the B-side opener of the first Elvis Costello record, the only words I ever considered getting tattooed:

I used to be disgusted.

Now I try to be amused.