Bragging

Occasionally, because of that wonderful miracle called the internet, we get emails and pictures sent from friends and family, near and far, bragging about this or that accomplishment, or saying something about a son, daughter, or grandchild. Mostly it's mediocre stuff, or something so insignificant it's not worth mentioning -- like, "So-in-so just graduated, and now they're going off to college to become rich and famous."

I never really understood all the fuss and fawning over someone for doing what they should be doing anyway. I don't send out emails every time the flowers bloom outside, or when the cat does you-know-what in the sand box. That's what they're supposed to do and announcements aren't necessary.

I think the people sending out these "bragging emails" are really bragging about themselves, and not the person they're talking about, or the one in her prom gown in the picture. It's more of someone saying, "Look what I've done, my child got through school without ever being arrested... " or "Look what I made, she's so pretty, and she looks just like me."

There is good natured bragging, and then there's the bad kind that seems only to attempt to make others feel bad. "Look at us, we're better than you... look what we've accomplished and you didn't... look what we have and you don't."

Once I overheard two young women talking and one was telling the other... "My boyfriend and I have a very romantic relationship." Translation -- "We do, and you and the rest of the world don't. Don't you wish you were me?"

Good natured bragging is the kind that doesn't put others down, or make them feel bad by comparison. But, most bragging is best left alone. It's better to just present the evidence, in text or photo, without editorializing or offering direct commentary. Bragging is usually the kind of thing you have to let others say about you. If your relationship really is romantic, if your daughter really is pretty, or if you've done a good job, people will notice without you telling them... and will probably say so.