Sorry Charlie Day
Charlie, whose only rejection - as far as we know - was the occasional delayed gratification vis a vi belly rubs and walks . . .
Saturday was the final day of Passover, an immensely important time in the Jewish faith. Sunday was Easter, arguably the most important holiday in the Christian faith. Next Monday Ramadan starts, a deeply significant period for Islam.
And this post is about . . . Sorry Charlie Day (April 6).
Possibly this is a sign of cowardice on my part, wanting to avoid anything that might provoke controversy. Or respect for others’ faith practices; I can speak to my own faith practice, but I have no business commenting, even in passing, on the religious holidays of others.
Or maybe it’s a simple desire to stick to the lighthearted in a world of serious news.
I’m not certain whether I’m motivated by any or all of the above. I do know good writing has the potential to unify us, by focusing on our shared experiences.
“Sorry Charlie” is the phrase – made famous by a tuna advertisement, of all things – that signifies rejection. Even for those of us not named Charlie, rejection is something we’ve all encountered, in one form or another.
Many, many times.
Wise counsellors tell us we can learn and grow by finding healthy ways to deal with rejection. Here’s just one example among thousands: https://teenhealthsource.com/relationships/dealing-with-rejection/ (Since Brillig was originally delivered to a child/teen audience, I’ve selected a website aimed at teens, but of course there are many, many similar articles for younger children and for adults.) The generally accepted advice is something along these lines: acknowledge your feelings, allow yourself to feel them, find support, reflect on what this event might teach you, and then, only when you’re ready, move on.
Writers experience rejection of their writing, usually over and over. And over. (And then have to grapple with jealousy when someone becomes a sensation overnight, seemingly without any effort or hardship. But I digress.)
Good writing doesn’t just teach its readers a lesson – thank goodness, since “shake it off” would quickly get annoying, especially if it was overt. Good writing reminds us we’re not alone. From Shakespeare to Jane Austen to J. K. Rowling, authors give us an opportunity to grieve and rage against unfairness, rebuffed love, shattered dreams, bullies . . . . That the characters are fictional makes the catharsis no less real.
So don’t worry that you missed Sorry Charlie Day – you can celebrate all year long. Find a good book, and dive in. #ReadABook. Or write – journal, stories, poems, whatever. Or tell a good friend, and have a good cry.
Because we’re all in this together.
Charlie covered with cherry blossoms. If only we could all go through life that way!
Postscript: Recommendations from Bustle/Melissa Ragsdale for “rejection reads”: https://www.bustle.com/articles/129903-7-books-to-read-when-youre-facing-rejection (including I Was Told There'd Be Cake, by Sloan Crosley, and The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, by Issa Rae).
