You Are What You Want

A co-worker told me a really wacky story the other day that made me think....so I put words together and came up with this short piece. The names have been changed to protect the weird.

She had found the tattered dog collar at her grandfather’s house. Once belonging to a Labrador retriever, she decided to wear the somewhat oversized collar around her waist.

For a lifetime, 11 year old Jane begged and pleaded for a pet dog. However, due to certain housing stipulations, a dog was never allowed

So Jane became the dog.

Starting with wrapping the collar around her tiny waist, she graduated on to convincing family members to “walk” her on the make-shift leash she provided. What seemed like a childhood delusion turned into a full time role to become the object of which she had so greatly desired. This role-play continued for a span of three years.

She progressively became better at it too. With barking being added to the agenda, Jane felt the need to constantly crawl on all fours. Soon knee-holes were wore into all of her pants. Family members would -upon her request- serve meals in a dish placed on the floor. And her sisters regularly walked her; for three years.

Upon moving, writing a sob story to the new land lady, and working out a deal with her, Jane gave up the lifestyle in place of a real pet dog. Her parents were relieved to no longer buy her new jeans on a semi-monthly basis.

We all relate to Jane. We all strive to mold ourselves into our personal object of desire. Men who wish to be like Brad Pitt will mimic his hairstyle or perhaps wear the same cologne he uses. Women will purchase and use the deodorant preferred by their favorite singer or model. And people who have a deep desire of music will get music related tattoos in an effort to “become” the music.

Where does that leave us? On a constant quest to become this object of our desire? Is it hypocritical to even embark on this journey? And what happens when we finally get that pet dog? An article for thought.