The retarded man

Posted on 25th January 2008 by unwindmy in Insights

I was just on my way into town to meet Gemma. I decided to go into the book store. As I approached the store entrance a man slipped in front of me. This man was crippled..

Every stride that he took looked like some kind of physical dance. His arms flailed chaotically as he struggled to maintain his center of gravity, like some kind of possesed zombie.

 

I slowed down behind this man, and watched as we entered the store. I paid close attention to the sniggering faces that occured around me as he went on his merry way. And then it hit me:

 

Who is the more retarded?

 

Is it the man who has made the most of what he has, learning to not give a second thought to his peers and express himself in the best way he can…

 

Or is it the people who surround him and mock in communical disgust, safe in the knowledge that they don’t have to ever push themselves so hard?

 

If there is a choice between conciousness or unconciousness, there is not really a choice to make. Suddenly, the situation made sense.

Charity Fundraising Interview

Posted on 23rd January 2008 by unwindmy in Journal

I was slightly panicked about this interview. Not in the normal sense you understand. I was preparing and preparing, and when I had prepared everything, I prepared some more. I didn’t even realise I was doing this until Royal rang me, and told me to calm down. Ha!

Time for the interview came and I was terribly excited, as I tend to be when I know that what I am about to do could well change my life. I suppose it is a bit daft to think about it like that, as often even doing the smallest thing can often change your life in all kinds of ways…And yet still I find myself doing it. My mind continues to box up my experiences. How quaint!

I got there ten minutes early after some excellent map reading and navigation. Inside the building I was led through a door to a presentation room. There were two candidates sat down already, though this seemed like a much more casual affair than I am used to. The first thing I noticed about my interviewer was how much energy she had. She almost literally exuberated it, so much so that I felt cautious as to her level of genuinity. No matter - This is an interview and I will be releasing all my weapons. I immediately addressed her in my mind as if she was some kind of princess, and eye fucked her as much as I could whilst we conversed.

The other candidates interested me. Within a split second, I had already made my mind up as to whether or not they were suitable. I still stand by my initial judgments, though one character possessed an air of intrigue about him. He was dressed in a long coat, scarf and pullover all perfectly matched. He walked and talked slowly with an aspect of presence about him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. He seemed authoritative, like a police constable. Once he started to talk it became apparent why I couldn’t place him. This man was a veteran, and had all kinds of stories about past charity work. Not of the sort we were about to embark on, but the real nitty gritty work - getting your hands dirty and all that.

Out of all four candidates it was only the one sat to my left that wouldn’t be ale to cut it. I could literally see the cogs whirring as he spoke. This is not thinking mans work.

We spent a good two hours doing role plays. The interviewer passed around cards for us to look at. Mine said “Its national shoe donation week. Can I have yours?”. Flippin heck I thought. How am I going to do that?

When it came to it I just thought fuck it. And then all my in field training just flowed out. I tested her emotions, bumped them up and then carried along with my proposal. Eye contact, kino, unreactiveness. It was all there. I ended up with everybody laughing. I was in control.

It was not your average interview, but for me this was the best one I have done yet.