Whenever I need to talk, I'm right there

I've long felt that talking to myself was the best bet if I wanted to have an intelligent conversation. This has nothing to do with how smart I am. It's simply that I am the authority on me.

So, if the knife brushes my finger while I'm slicing zucchini, I will ask Myself if I need to get out the antibiotic cream and bandages or just rinse it off and keep going.

I know I can count on Myself for an answer that best fits my personality. Even if it's just a minor scrape, the response will take into consideration: 1) How much I will worry about it if I don't doctor it; 2) How many times I will look at my finger and think that I should have treated it; 3) How much time I will spend standing at the sink, deciding what to do.

Me: Am I being ridiculous?

Myself: Rinse it and slap a Band-Aid on it so you won't worry.

Bingo. Just the answer I needed. My zukes are sliced, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and baking in no time and I am enjoying a congratulatory pat on the back with my bandaged hand. While both Myself and I know that a medical intervention was not a necessity physically, we also know it was a psychological imperative.

If I had chosen to seek a second opinion from a friend who is more rational than I am — that would be all my friends — the answer would likely have been, “Don't give it a thought. You're fine.” And therein would be the problem. I am incapable of not giving it a thought. Hence the conversations with Myself, the person who knows me best.

These exchanges definitely carry over to my writing.

Me: Does this adjective work or should I keep searching?

Myself: Keep searching.

At that point, I will likely leave my computer and take a stroll around the house seeking inspiration.

It's amazing how many adjectives are floating around the average house. Just the bookshelves alone are a virtual adjective repository. They can be messy, but inviting. Enticing in a way that compels you to sit down in front of them and sample their offerings.

This exercise is so much fun that I almost always come away with extras. I mean what writer can't use an extra bag of adjectives? Me: Look at my stash. Myself: Did you find the one you needed for this story?

Me: I found one I didn't know I needed that works better than the one I was looking for.

I love our little talks.