Charming

 

When you walk into a room of strangers, what happens?

How do you present yourself to the world?

Do you wear the latest designers fashion? Does your hair cut to the style fitting your face? Do you have a scent that whiffs through the room announcing your arrival? Are you so attractive that everyone stares at your beauty, until you open your mouth and speak?

Are you a prince or princess charming or just another dull shmoo trying to duplicate the celebrities in the magazines draped in clothing that does not fit and with a lack of conversational wonder.

Some call being charming ‘charisma’, as in allure, attract, captivate, enchant, and fascinate. Others call it a person who possesses special traits that attract, inspire, or fascinate other people.

A charismatic person is one you want to come to the party to entertain the guest. They are frequently a politician or a media celebrity. They can hold a room’s attention by their presence. If they are truly charismatic, they will age gracefully while maintaining their charm.

A charmer must understand their audience. They may be a good political speaker but not a good dancer. Their charm may be appreciated at the grand ball but not so much at the rodeo. Hanging with a charmed person might get you into some reclusive parties and as a wingman get some second-choice action.

Charmed, I’m sure.

Subscribe

 

Subscribe is to receive or have access to something (such as a periodical or service) as part of an arrangement to receive a certain number of regular deliveries or a certain period of continuous access especially by prepayment. the number of people who currently subscribe to the magazine/site.

I used to subscribe to ‘Newsweek’ magazine that was mailed to me once a month. I subscribed to the newspaper I worked for to have it delivered to my doorstep every day. I subscribed to religion by tithe to the church every month. I subscribed to the cultural morals and traditions that were presented to me. I subscribed to the fashion norms and etiquette requirements. I subscribed to my family’s values and rules.

Some subscriptions cost me money. Other subscriptions cost me time wasted on what someone else defined as important. No one questioned if the words in the books were real or the pictures on the television were propaganda or if the music was just to keep the kids hopping and out of the way of the adult issues.

Then, the Internet came out with a promise of ‘free’ speech. Anyone from anywhere could type in anything and publish it to the entire globe. Like a conversation over the dinner table or at a cocktail party, only outlandish statements were questioned or politely ignored and overlooked. There were no background checks.

Readers seeking through this ever-expanding galaxy of thoughts start to follow (or be influenced) by writers of questionable knowledge. If it sounds like a stand-up comic, we will laugh. If it sounds like a college professor or some medical professional who instead of cutting and prescribing is propounding ideas and opinions of questionable value, we will listen and perhaps believe.

To subscribe to these thoughts and opinions will cost you. Give away your bank account number and email and whatever profile information you are willing to share with strangers. To subscribe means you’ve joined the club.

When you sign the marriage certificate you subscribe to the belief that love is eternal, but it will cost you. To subscribe to a relationship not only takes time and money, but may wane over the years to transform to a partnership that wasn’t originally intended.