Day 28 of 30: Dead Wrong
Elizabeth Gilbert on the thrill of misjudgment
Hi friend,
Today we’re revisiting a prompt that led to my dear maman revealing how she spent a short stint working as a translator for, unbeknownst to her, a ring of international art thieves. It’s called “Dead Wrong,” and it’s from Elizabeth Gilbert.
When I started the Isolation Journals last March, I’d only met Liz once, at a small dinner party where she was infinitely more lovely, wise, and generous than I ever could have imagined. She’s been a great supporter of our community—she even hosted me at her church-turned-cozy-abode for a Studio Visit—and we’re excited to revisit her words today.
So as Liz would say—onward!
Suleika
Dead Wrong by Elizabeth Gilbert
One of my favorite things in the world is to be dead wrong about somebody in my first impression of them. This happens more than I would care to admit. My ego likes to tell me that I’m a terrific judge of character, or that I have good instincts about people. But the reality is that I often “thin-slice” judge people, based on a few clues, and then later find out I was dead wrong. Misjudgment can happen in several different ways. That beautiful, poetic-looking, soft-natured, intellectual man whom I fell in love with at first sight? Turned out he was a withholding bully, and actually not even very smart. (It was just a beard and the soulful eyes that fooled me!) But I’ve also made misjudgments the other way. That bottle blonde in the corner with the pink dress and the annoying, high-pitched voice? Turns out she was a federal judge. And later became one of my dearest, most respected friends. I love being wrong about people. Tell us about a time that you were.
Your prompt for today:
Write about a time where you were dead wrong about someone.