as the tower crumbles

 There was an old saying I often heard growing up, if the shoe fits, wear it. That came to mind the other day as I read a post. This person was complaining about other people posting stuff they felt aimed at them, although their name wasn't mentioned. It isn't the first time I have read such statements and my usual response is, only the guilty feel guilt! The rest of us may become indignant or annoyed, but don't feel guilt. It has been my experience in life that when others point out your shortcomings or misconceptions, you do feel guilt. Yes I have tried to blame others or rewrite the script but the truth remained, I was guilty. I hate it when that happens. Learning about ourselves can be shocking and painful at times. I expect it would be even more so had you previously enjoyed a higher station in life. When your ivory tower isn't as tall as it used to be, it must be a shock.
 When you start seeing posts that you believe are aimed at you, it could be you're just looking in the mirror. Call it karma, call it fate, call it whatever you like, but things do come back to bite you. When you act in less than a genuine fashion that is what happens. Those that make public displays of their charity are quite prone to that happening. You know the type, the volunteers that volunteer for the " prestige " of the position. They are the ones always complaining about volunteering, making sure you view them as a martyr. That's because the role of Martyr is important to them. Far more important than any inconvenience it may cause, they are the ones proclaiming a sacrifice. They live for the awards and accolades. When those are no longer forthcoming however, they feel slighted. In the end, they will feel guilt. Public image is everything to these folks.
 The thing is one has to find the shoe that bests fits them. Some of us wear boots and others sandals. Are we concerned with fit or fashion? That is the real deciding factor isn't it? It should be, in my opinion. Nothing as good as good as a pair of comfortable shoes. Try wearing ones that are not for any length of time, who'll soon feel the difference. Your countenance will betray you. It is best to where the comfortable shoes. When your happiness depends upon the perception others have of you, that causes issues. When you expend more energy attempting to create an illusion, reality grows dim. Ah, but eventually that illusion begins to fade, the truth is revealed. You begin to believe others see the truth and your only recourse is denial. Bitter replaces the sweet and the cycle is completed. We got those new shoes only to discover they didn't fit! Disappointment. We were fashionable for a while. And now we find that fashion doesn't fit us at all. Haute, haughty and just plain  proud · vain · arrogant · conceited · snobbish · stuck-up · pompous · self-important · superior · egotistical · supercilious · condescending · lofty · patronizing · smug · scornful · contemptuous · disdainful · overweening · overbearing · imperious · lordly · cavalier · high-handed · full of oneself · above oneself · snooty · sniffy · hoity-toity · uppity · uppish · cocky · bigheaded · swollen-headed · puffed up · high and mighty · la-di-da · fancy-pants · on one's high horse · too big for one's boots · toffee-nosed · chesty · too big for one's breeches · vainglorious
Well, I guess that sums it up. Fit or fashion? Popular or practical? Fact or fantasy? The mirror never lies, it just reflects what is shown. We do get closer to the truth, more grounded, as the tower crumbles.