Ultimatums

I wrote in my other blog today about ultimatums. They serve a purpose: they set boundaries and clarify who is in control. Sometimes they may seem to work, but there is always a hidden cost.

Dorothy Parker began her poem, "Ultimatum," this way:

I'm wearied of wearying love, my friend,
Of worry and strain and doubt;
Before we begin, let us view the end,
And maybe we'll do without.
There's never the pang that was worth the tear,
And toss in the night I won't-
So either you do or you don't, my dear,
Either you do or you don't.

Spend some time thinking about an ultimatum you've experienced. It might be one you issued to another person, or one that was imposed upon you. It could have been something that happened in school or at work, or something between you and another individual in your personal life. Reflect back on what worked, and what the costs may have been, and how the situation could have been handled. Then, write about it.