There are a lot of metaphors for love, but I think this is one of the best metaphors for 'installing' love in our lives. A great little dialog between a customer support representative and a woman who wants to install... love. |
Support Rep. : Hello ma'am, how can I help you today?
Client: Well, I've been thinking about it for a while, and I've finally decided to install LOVE. I was hoping you could help me through the process.
Support: Of course ma'am, no problem. Are you ready to continue?
Client: Well, I'm not a very technical person, but yes, I think I'm ready to install now. What's the first step?
Support: First you must open HEART. Have you located your HEART?
Client: Yes I have, but there are several other programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?
Support: What programs are running ma'am?
Client: Let's see, I have PAST-HURT.EXE, LOW-ESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.
Support: No problem. LOVE will gradually erase PAST-HURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOW-ESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGH-ESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?
Client: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Support: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.
Client: Okay, done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?
Support : Yes. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?
Client: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?
Support : Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other HEART's in order to get the upgrades.
Client: Oops. I have an error message already. What should I do?
Support: What does the message say?
Client: It says 'ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS.' What does that mean?
Support: Don't worry ma'am, that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to 'LOVE' your own machine before it can 'LOVE' others.
Client: So what should I do?
Support : Can you pull down the directory called 'SELF-ACCEPTANCE'?
Client: Yes, I have it.
Support : Excellent. You're getting good at this.
Client: Thank you.
Support: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the 'MYHEART' directory: FORGIVE-SELF.DOC, REALIZE-WORTH.TXT, and ACKNOWLEDGE-LIMITATIONS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete VERBOSE-SELF-CRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Client: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with new files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART. Is this normal?
Support: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets downloaded at the proper time. So, LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go.
Client: Yes?
Support : LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some similarly cool modules back to you.
Client: I will. Thanks for your help!
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