Intro: Pounding bass note and a stirring fanfare of horns. Welcome to another edition of things to think about. Here's Stacy. The horns continue with a keyboard note held.Relaxing piano music is in the background. Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale explores strong emotions. I did not think I’d be able to record a podcast today, but that was a story I tell myself. We will dive into this topic in a tale I call, The Visitor. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. A Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Once upon a time, Loneliness was lonely. It had a date with the merchant’s daughter, but she was always so busy and kept giving it a raincheck. “I’m sorry, I have to put on the annual town celebration this week.” “I’m sorry, I promised to help at the orphanage today.” It was a tall, shambling figure, and muttered to itself from time to time. The merchant’s daughter could see it from the corner of her eye and steeled herself. She never looked directly at it because its amorphous, shifting, form made her dizzy. Loneliness trailed behind her like a lost duckling as she ran her constant errands.
Loneliness wondered why the merchant’s daughter avoided it. Yes, it tended to disorient humans, but it really meant no harm. It wanted some company and someone to share and hold space. It fancied itself a wonderful conversationalist. It had an incredible repository of music, full of minor keys and dissonant chords. It wrote poetry and had an incredible art collection. It had everything, but no one with which to share its talent. It had no pretensions about its appearance. The villagers preferred bright patterns or simple colors and its dark, swirling wardrobe made it stick out like a sore thumb. The merchant’s daughter would appreciate what it had to offer if she would only give it the time of day.
She was a very public person but preferred to live a quiet life in her cottage on the village outskirts. She liked to take walks in the forest and when Loneliness tried to join her, she would tell it she needed some time for ‘self-care’. “I promise we’ll get together, but I just need some me time, okay?” she would tell it. The next time it saw her, she was at the tavern toasting with strangers that she called her friends. She always had time for everyone else. Loneliness was a little jealous, but it would not be dissuaded. With each rejection, it continued to grow larger and larger. The merchant’s daughter continued to act like everything was normal and there was not a spectre as large as her cottage roaming around the village.
Thankfully it was insubstantial, and everything passed through it, but it left a psychic residue wherever it went. It was getting frustrated with little miss busybody and started to become more persistent. The moment she walked out of her cottage; it was there. She could feel it eyeing her through the windows. It followed her home at night under the auspices that it was not safe to be out so late alone. “I’m not alone, I have you, don’t I?” she snapped. Loneliness decided it needed to charm her. It pulled out the fancy teacups and baked shortbread cookies and scones. Loneliness sweet-talked her aide to let it see her schedule and then wrote a bespoke invitation in its best calligraphy on parchment paper with gilded edges. It had the invitation hand-delivered by messenger and watched from the shadows to make sure she got it. They had much to talk about and she had put it off long enough. The merchant’s daughter opened the letter from the messenger. “I have to wait on a response, Miss,” the courier said sheepishly. She gave a sigh, scrawled a missive, and handed the note back to the messenger.
What would you do? Will you accept the invitation or continue to put it off? Many strong emotions try and visit us from time to time, should we speak with them? And now, you can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers, and slowly open your eyes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and never miss an episode.
Closing: Closing jazzy keyboard and thrumming bass. Hope you enjoyed today's segment. Tell a friend. See you next time. Music fades.
