Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

We have an interesting item/challenge embedded in this week’s TToT!

First things first, a wave of gratuity* to Josie Two Shoes for having the place all lit up and warm and inviting on this February weekend.

New Readers? Hey! You’ve come to an interesting place. This is one of the best of all bloghops. Founded by a certain, Miss L Lewis. Miss Lewis lived a quiet life as a part-time charwoman at the ancestral estate of the Clan Lewis. Our founderess served the clan faithfully, asking nothing but a some winter coal for the iron stove that heated the garret (in the south tower), meals and a ‘damn proper internet connection’. And so she lived, until one day she decided that, despite the cursory nods of appreciation from the upstairs folk she would cultivate her capacity to experience and express gratitude. Which she began to do. In the way of both the naturally-wise and (the) ‘eventually-after-getting-kicked-to-the-ground-countless-times’ wise people do, she started a blog. And that blog became her record, a diary if you would, of her efforts. Soon, however, word spread through the ‘sphere, about this english chick who wrote these weird and fascinating and inspiring posts on gratitude. And so, here we are today, another installment of the Ten Things of Thankful.

Speaking of weird…

We all know that the Wakefield Doctrine has a certain affinity for the ‘path less travelled’, yes? I have a list this week. It includes the fundamentals. Una and the Doctrine, the Book of Secret Rules (aka the Secret Book of Rules), the free Grat Posting space (Number 8) for anyone who would like a push off the high board (of writing a grat post).

One of the frequent grat items for me is ‘writing’. The opportunity to hangout with those what write real good, provides me with a constructive challenge to improve my craft.

In any event, that is the challenge I am most grateful for this week. And, just to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ (as my mother used to say), I will attempt to write a grat item that will make understandable to the random Reader, the following: Phyllis, ironing (my) shirts, an iron she acquired from her mother (who passed away a number of years ago) and my gift to her of a new iron.

1)  Lets start with the new iron. Below is a youtube video. Our story totally begins with the music in the video and extends to the unabridged version which I have not been able to link directly, but if you have the interest and the time (a discrete link here), once at amazon look to the lower left and you’ll see a video line and that takes you to the full length video).

Man, listen to the music

(Who thought of the movie ‘Thor’)

2) For those who did not have the chance to view the extended video, it shows two steam irons at the top of two ironing boards, (both tilted at a 35 degree angle), poised to race. The video shows the race twice, providing irrefutable evidence of: a) the superiority of the New! Sunbeam AERO Ceramic Iron and 2) the power of (their) iron to make anything possible.

3) Phyllis reads more book about religion and history and the like than I ever will; she immediately identified that statement: ‘Anything is Possible’ as being totally biblical in origin. We were both in awe.

4) About that ironing of my shirts. It is my predilection to seek metaphor and simile for that part of my experience of reality that I am unable to express. This is consistent with my being a clark (with a significant secondary scottian aspect). Phyllis is a roger (with a significant secondary clarklike aspect). It will come as a surprise to no one that her choice of metaphors (and similes) are far and away less abstruse.

Phyllis’ ways of understanding the practice of a good life are of a more direct character, in keeping with her predominant rogerian worldview. Far more conventional. (lol… no, wait! my heart goes out to rogers!) Just kidding. And ‘vamping’**

The prospect of one person correctly and accurately describing another person’s subjective reference points is, I think we can all agree, nearly totally un-realistic. Fortunately I have the Wakefield Doctrine. Anyway. Hey! lets try to find an explanation of the meaning of ironing to Phyllis by asking a question: What about the old iron? Is that a clue? Yeah, sorta. But the thing that helps with that insight requires one to understand that, for Phyllis, the possessions of cherished people are imbued with certain quality that enhances her (Phyllis’) memory, love and remembrance of the person. What I believe is happening is that when an item valued and used for good, in the plain and ordinary living of life, of a departed loved one comes into one’s possession, it’s continued use allows them to enhance their own appreciation of the good and positive things available in life. To those willing to work for it. That said, I do not assert that this is true about Phyllis, but it, (my understanding), is true about me. And that concludes this episode of ‘Oh yeah?! You think that Doctrine of yours is all that!? Lemme see you…‘

5) the Wakefield Doctrine (the previous 4 items)

6) Una  well, duh!

7) shhh… still hiding from Item 4 (lol)

8) [Reserved for someone who has not yet posted a TToT entry, but would enjoy seeing what it feels like to have an Item up for all to read.]

9) Sunday Supplement! (check back tomorrow)

10) Secret Rule 1.3

*  “Absolutely! Who said that? You’re absolutely correct, that was a rogerian expression.” Well, the best I could come up with, me being a clark and all. Therein lies a hint of the power of the Wakefield Doctrine. It cannot turn us into a clark or a scott or a roger (when they are not our predominant worldview), it does however, offer a very useful and valuable perspective. It allows us a glimpse into the other reality(s) and an opportunity to practice the strategies and skills appropriate to living in those personal realities.¹

1) reminder: the Wakefield Doctrine is a not a list of characteristics that determine a category that forces you to conform to the average of all those who score similarly. The Doctrine’s three personality types are a label for the style of interacting with the world, as an Outsider, a Predator or a Herd Member. We all act as we do because, from before we can remember, we’ve been interacting with the world and doing our best to figure out what behavior, traits, quirks and styles are most effective for our continued existance.

** the definition is not nearly as amusing as I’d thought but here is the link