the art of listening to what others say about you and then doing what you want to do anyway
unedited version
podcast version here (and i highly recommend btw)!
dear reader,
i’m trying something a little different this time. i think it’s time we talk about all those people in our lives that think it’s okay to say whatever they want to us. it’s time that we truly realize who we are, why we are that way, and come to ACCEPT it.
story time! but i’m going to be vague because of privacy concerns. anyway, yesterday my friends and i were all joking around and doing what we wanted, you know, just having fun. it was all pretty chill. but then someone decided to bring up something about me that they know i don’t like. of course, then, everyone thought it was okay to rebound off that joke, so two other people started doing it too. it’s not like this was the first time. they’ve done it before, and i’ve told them to stop, but they didn’t listen and decided to do it again.
you see, i’m a person who cares a lot about things. if you tell me that you got an A on a test, i will show you my excitement. i’m not one to be fake in how i reply. that’s just who i am. if you want me to tell you the answers, nah. there are certain things that other people would be very “chill” about that i would care a lot about. apparently to some people that makes me not a “homie”.
but i’m the way i am because i care about everything. every little accomplishment to every big achievement, i care about it all. that’s just who i am and that’s just what i do. i care. big time. what can i do about it?
just keep caring.
i’ve been made fun of for being a tryhard, a suckup, a teacher’s pet, and more, but no. i’m none of those because what i do in school and how i am when i talk to people is because of my love and affection to that thing or person. that doesn’t make me less homie or less chill in anyway. and the same goes for you.
there’s most definitely something that you’re called out for, and if you’re not, think about if you might be the caller-out-er. sometimes what we do or say to someone may be completely unconscious. it might be a joke to you. but that’s not an excuse to do what you’re doing.
just in general though, i’ve learned to not care as much. well, that’s not completely true, but striking that balance is important. i have to learn to care just as much as i do now while also not caring as much. but that’s life, isn’t it? we have to learn to listen to others and take their bs but not change ourselves in any way just because of what they say.
the art of not giving a ______. you finish the story.
cheers!