“This Touches Me in Reputation”!

Why We Can’t Stand Looking Bad…..

I think in Shakespeare. Because I’m around it all day long.

In Comedy of Errors the goldsmith Angelo is publically embarrased because he owes money to a merchant and he can’t collect it because he’s trying to collect it (for a gold chain) from the wrong guy (who he thinks is the right guy) because, well, there’s an identical twin in town. Two actually.

Our Shakespeare Festival opens this weekend and with each run through I laugh when I hear that line. “This touches me in reputation!” It reminds me of how much we want to impress the entire world. And how much we don’t want to admit it. It opens up a universal theme of being human — pride. And it sparks some provocative questions.

When did Human Beings decide they needed a good reputation — and why?

Was it for business? social/tribal acceptance? Money? Getting a partner? I have no answer. Only more questions, like, what repuations are built on lies and what should I believe about what I hear? And what about me? How much of my time and energy is spent on building, gaining, improving my reputation — personally, socially, professionally?

What if I stopped caring about my reputation altogether?

Eek. My ancient fear-based brain says STOP!!! You will be arrested. Alone. Shunned. Unloveable. Unhireable. What if…there is another option?