Wednesday, West Lafayette, Indiana

 

Does Anyone Care That I Am Here?
The Nerve Touched By Without A Trace


The CBS drama Without A Trace continues to draw a large audience of viewers. What is behind the strong appeal of this program? Why are we enamored with stories of people who are lost and the endeavor of the F.B.I. to find them.

Mental health professionals generally agree that in the modern age we struggle with issues of personal identity. A major contributor to this phenomenon is in the very nature of our commpn, or popular culture. Some societies are considered “collectivistic” while others are more “individualistic.” Guess where we fall? Of course we are a culture that celebrates the self.

So . . .

What happens when we come to believe that our self isn’t significant? What do we do when we feel like we don’t matter to anyone? What happens when we are lost? And not just lost, but we are lost without any trace of our existence. We are invisible.

In the midst of such a dilemma we know deep down that we do in fact exist. But how can we be found? Sometimes we cannot make ourselves known; we must be found by someone else. And this must be someone else who cares about us. We need FBI agent Jack Malone.

Agent Malone is exactly who you want on the trail to find out where you have gone. He is determined and relentless. He will not give up until you are found. He is a hound after your scent.

In the meantime, while you wait for your own Jack Malone to find you, you can help the endeavor by making your presence and identity clearer to the world around you.

 

To prevent yourself from being deep six-ed, try these discovery strategies:


1. Evaluate your wardrobe and try wearing brighter clothing

2. Spend some time on Internet chat rooms sharing personal information with others

3. Whenever you go out, leave a note on your kitchen table describing where you are going

4. Cultivate a personal relationship with a member of your local police force

5. Wear a strong, uncommon cologne

6. Keep a global positioning system device with you at all times

7. Wherever you go keep a high strung, barking dog with you

8. Puncture your car’s muffler

9. Post the names & photos of your enemies on the web with descriptions of your conflict

10. Whenever you break off a relationship immediately secure a restraining order against them