"Careful In Nothing" - JR Everhart

I’m at a point in my life where there is a long list of things I don’t care about.  I’m done climbing career ladders that lead nowhere.  I’m careful about who I allow into my world and even more careful what conversations I step into from day to day.  The foundation of becoming a healthy actor in life instead of a react-or is understanding that not everything deserves a reaction.  I do recognize that I’m a big personality and always have an opinion about just about everything.  But at this point in my life, I don’t feel the need to police the world with my thoughts and views.  I am who I am, and if you invite me into your conversation and it seems like something worthwhile, we can converse.  Otherwise, you’re going to get a short answer, and I’m going to politely fade into the background before disappearing.  I just don’t have the energy or desire anymore to weave through people’s opinions and feelings.  Here's my mantra:  Believe whatever load of bull butter you want to believe. As long as it doesn’t negatively impact me, I’m good.  Live and let live! 

I just spent the evening at my favorite local sports pub watching the game.  Sitting next to me was two guys and one of them thought he was a beer bottle shrink.  He was full of horrible advice that was sugar coated with compliments and encouragement.  These are the most dangerous people to surround yourself with.  It’s like the piped piper feeding you fake encouragement while leading you in the exact opposite direction of healing and restoration.  This man seemingly spoke with authority and was really a buzzkill to the whole area of guys just trying to enjoy the game.  I had a thousand opportunities to jump in the conversation and steer them in the right direction, but I asked myself why?  They were drunk and stroking each other with layers of misguided wisdom, and I just didn’t have it in me to spend three hours unraveling their mountain of dysfunction.  Plus - and pay very close attention to this next statement.  They weren’t asking me for my help or opinion!  Therefore, I just ignored them and made the most of the game and food and went on with my life. 

This is acknowledgement of growth for me.

As such, this is what my maturing looks like.  Me understanding that not every conversation that crosses my path requires an investment of time and "personal wisdom."  I'll say it again:  live and let live.  Focus on your own issues and live your life.  If I had all the time back that I’ve wasted talking to people who were blind to reasonable thinking / deaf to solid advice, I’d be 20 years younger.  What I’ve learned is there're people don’t want to grow and heal.  Some just want to bellyache and complain about all their problems without ever actually attempting to do anything to fix them.

And our codependent behavior is never going to fix them either.  We can desire to see a friend better themselves with every fiber of our being.  But if they don’t stand up and start making the proper changes in their lives to do their work, all your desires fail to materialize.  

It’s amazing how better my life became when I removed the insanity of trying to fix everybody's everything.