Drama Queen

Introduction

Interview with the Author

Excerpts:
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  • Drama is an Elective
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  • "But I Thrive on Drama!"
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  • Drama's Roll Call
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  • Compulsive Spending
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  • Roommates

    Letter From the Editor

    Editorial: Having Our Say

    New Releases

    Authors On Tour

    Feedback

    Ordering

    Gay/Lesbian/Feminist Bookstores Around the Country

    The Mostly Unfabulous Homepage of Ethan Green

     




    Drama Queen"But I Thrive on Drama!"
    (Common Delusions of a Drama Queen)

    From Drama Queen
    By Patrick Price

     

    There are three major misconceptions that hinder our readiness for drama-free living:

    Myth #1: Drama makes me stronger and it feels good.

    Truth: Waking up from a coma renews your zest for life too, but that doesn't mean you should deliberately walk into traffic. Drama can feel good at first. When everything goes haywire we feel an invigorating adrenaline rush. "Recharged," everything seems focused. Our enemies are marked; misjudgments are clear. But that's drama's inherent deception. It's too easy to lose perspective when you're all worked up. And what at first feels like a positive burst of energy rapidly deteriorates into something tiresome and disruptive. Never mistake drama as a harmless additive -- the paprika of experiences -- because although it may initially jazz up your life, it refuses to be anything less than the main ingredient. And before you know it, drama is your life.

    Myth #2: Drama is really no big deal.

    Truth: True, but it becomes one. Drama is built on a foundation of minor things: the nonreturned phone call, the slight misunderstanding, the demanding job, or competition amongst friends. It's trivial stuff. But drama takes these routine misgivings, plants them in a field of insecurity, and allows them to vibrantly fester. Suddenly these same scenarios begin to overwhelm your mindset until they eclipse everything good and all sense of perspective is lost. A friend's absence becomes a personal insult. A boss's sigh is irrefutable proof that he has it in for you. Blockbusters' overdue charge goes from an irritation to a crime against humanity. You become obsessed and just can't move on. But soon everyone around you will. Just watch their initial sympathy for your plight drain away, only to be replaced by apathy and avoidance. Drama's a black hole few care to feed.

    Myth #3: Without drama, I wouldn't be living a full life.

    Truth: Despite popular belief, drama is not a prerequisite to today's cosmopolitan living. In fact, without it you'd actually find more time to live and enjoy all that's offered. Never underestimate drama's insatiable need for our energy and attention. With it always on center stage, you'll be left in the background -- a mere co-star in your own life. And it's debatable who's got top billing. Suddenly, somehow, you've stopped being a three-dimensional person with recognizable dreams and aspirations and instead you've become that dreaded one-dimensional bag of grief and tired tag-lines -- the drama queen.

     

    Copyright © 2001 Patrick Price.

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