My Dinner with Trixie
A deep conversation with my best friend
Recently, Trixie and I sat down for a meal and conversation at a local restaurant. Nothing fancy at all.
Our talk became so deep and interesting, I decided to record it here for the benefit of any who stumble across this post. Oh, Trixie is the name of my dachshund. So, here is a transcript very close to the actual words spoken. I am skipping most of the trivial stuff about the weather and things of that nature.
Me: So far I am not doing great online. I cannot get too much engagement at all, and I am not sure if I can express my thoughts clearly enough.
Trixie: Well, part of that is your old foe insecurity I would wager, but what do you really want to say?
Me: I think mental health is not considered in its fullness, in the best way to promote positivity and improve individual lives and society as a whole.
Trixie: Hmm, go on.
Me: I see mental health as the most representative term to describe a person’s well being at any given time. So it is more than just a thing to talk about with a therapist here and there. Some do not even do that, and totally neglect their health.
Trixie: Indeed. What you say is plausible. Yet, why wouldn’t a person just say “health” instead of mental health? Surely you must have thought of that….hold on….Ruff! gerrrrrr-Ruff! Ruff!
Me: What is it?
Trixie: Please forgive me, I saw a vacuum cleaner. Even though it is not presently in use I must —
Me: It’s like a rule for dogs then.
Trixie: Yes. Please, carry on.
Me: Mental health describes how we feel in totality. The brain of course is physical and controls the body. Plus, I think folks have a thousand thoughts a day that are extremely varied, and we never get those out and tell others about them for the most part. We do not really comprehend why they are there — so they remain secrets.
Trixie: So you feel we are defined more by our thoughts than actions?
Me: Yes. We are performers in roles carried out mostly to please or placate others. We are just getting by trying not to offend.
Trixie: I believe Mr. Shakespeare wrote a few lines about all that…
Trixie and Me: (mutual laughter)
Trixie: Anyway, I am actually surprised that I almost agree with what you are saying. You know how I tend to disagree with your crazy ideas.
Me: Yes, I know.
Trixie: I think you probably have been greatly influenced by that great sage and intellectual giant, Carl Jung.
Me: Oh, for sure.
Trixie: Do you realize how many Jung acolytes are out there now? Dear sir, you might be interpreted as just jumping on the bandwagon!
Me: So be it. Although I have been reading and thinking about his works for roughly twenty years or so. To say Jung was only a psychologist would be missing the point. He was also a mystic, deeply spiritual, and had a humility that caused him to constantly search and study all of the humanities.
Trixie: In my estimation, Mr. Freud and his teachings might belong to the “dark-side” of the Force, while Jung and his voluminous writings, manifestos, theories, and so forth can be legitimately classed as on the “light side” of the Force.
Me: Cool, I have never thought about it like that.
Trixie: Although, you know I detest those films. They are too pedestrian and cartoonish for me.
Me: (rolls eyes) Yes, I already knew that.
Trixie: You are on the right path, methinks. From my own studies, I realized that modern man deals with uncertainty and alienation more than those who came before him. We do not know how to replace the narratives of progress and moral certitude that once characterized Western Civilization.
Me: Yep. We do not have narratives anymore, not really. Not the ones that once promoted common things to believe in, such as the inevitability of progress.
Trixie: For these reasons, spirituality has become more important than ever before, in my not-so humble opinion.
Me: You should really work on becoming less arrogant dog.
Trixie: I suppose.
Me: But, yeah, I think spirituality is as much part of mental health as almost anything else.
Trixie: (looks at watch, stretches) Good chat, but it’s getting late…
Me: Right, so I’ll go pay and you wait outside, if you like.
Trixie: Sure………well, are you going to put me down? You know I should not jump off this chair.
Me: Oh yeah, here you go.
Trixie: Aren’t you gonna ask for a container to put the leftover food in? What is that charming term people use? I can’t remember.
Me: Me neither. It’s just a small receptacle for food scraps to be eaten later by a man, woman, or pet.
Trixie: No worries, it will come to me later…
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But, yeah, I think spirituality is as much part of mental health as almost anything else.
This is my firm belief. I have this dream, to help people and reduce suicide rates(when I'm a little older). I agree with you completely.