Did I mention I was a worry wart too?
- Agatha Bellsy
- Jul 5, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 6, 2020
No? Oh well, unfortunately I am. I know, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture all this self-doubting and worrying.
But last night, I suddenly started worrying if I'm capable of becoming less of a turtle. I know that sounds a little strange, but you see, I’ve been compared to one before. Not in the Tortoise and the Hair sort of a way, as I don’t necessarily move slowly. I also don’t think I really resemble a turtle in appearance, although my neck is rather long I suppose. But what I do have in common with the shelled reptile, is exactly that; I often hide inside my shell.
This talk of turtles reminds of the very shy Mr Hoppy in Roald Dahl’s sweet story, Esio Trot. He is in love with his neighbour Mrs Silver, who loves her tortoise Alfie and although it sounds like a bit of a love triangle, all that Mrs Silver wants is for Alfie to get bigger. I won’t spoil the story for anyone who would like to read it, but perhaps I just need to become bigger and braver too?
When I asked Agatha about it, she said she often avoided social gatherings as she feared seeming an “imbecile with shyness”. Shyness, yes, I know the feeling. I also explained to Agatha that going to parties dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle doesn’t help either. Especially if your shell is made out of a shopping basket.
That reminds me, my hermit tendencies are the other problem.
Turtles and hermits....
For some reason, this makes me think of Kermit the Frog — perhaps because it rhymes."It's not easy being green," I can hear him sing. Actually, it isn’t easy being seen either and photographs, well they are another problem. Specifically, putting them out there into the social media stratosphere.
Turtles and hermits and stratospheres....
I think perhaps the shy person's belief, is that no one could possibly be interested in seeing pictures of me. Surely there are loads of more interesting things to look at. I can think of dozens. I mean there is Kermit the Frog for starters. Then there are hermit-crabs, astronauts and space-ships and well Aliens too, now they would be worth seeing on Instagram.
But where was I? Oh yes, solving the problem of how to break out of my shell.
I've decided that maybe Kermit has the answer by saying;
“Yeah, well, I’ve got a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. That’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with.”
Awe, thanks Kermie. You're so wise and I guess that is what it’s all about; having a dream and sharing it.
(Kermit Wisdom: from it’s not easy being green and other things to consider by Jim Hensen).
https://www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/stories/a-e/esio-trot
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