If My Hands Were Bigger I'd Have This Tattooed On Them:
"Don't take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering." -Don Miguel Ruiz
The Confusion of Other's Opinions
About the time I turned 30 I made a decision not to let the opinions of others bother me.
Then when I was 40 I made the decision...not to let the opinions of others bother me.
When I turned 50 I decided (and this time I really meant it) not to let the opinions of others bother me.
But only very recently have I started to actually be less bothered by the opinions of others.
I've Always Been Overly Intrigued By Others Opinions
The problem, of course, has always been: there are just so many people...all with their own very different opinions.
It boggles my mind when I think of the vast difference in the opinions people who think they know us have. One thinks we're going to hell for not attending church, while another suddenly decides we're uber-religious. One thinks we're raging alcoholics...while others think we don't know how to have a good time. Some think we're cheap...other's think we're extravagant. Some make comments that we're social butterflies while another thinks we're hermits. Some think we're right up there with Warren Buffet, while others seem worried that we can't afford to eat. Some think I'm brilliant and smart and able, others that I'm slow and stupid and inept
It just goes to show: you can't depend on anyone else's opinions of you.
I used to really care about this. I would try to figure out where the hell they came up with a given idea. Often it came down to one comment, action or behavior. I'd want to temper the opinion and sometimes downright deny that it was part of any reality I knew...but an opinion is a difficult thing to change in someone.
Let It Be
I recently had a series of events that showed me just how completely nutso we can all be. The behaviors were so dramatic, so directed at me, and yet, so clearly not about me that I could finally see things as they are.
For real: It's only ever about the person pointing the finger.
Even if someone is talking to you, saying something's about you, using your very own name: it's probably not about you.
We're all just mirroring our own brand of crazy out into the world. We just need to work on being the best we can be and leave others to do the same.
Daily Hits of Happy
-Wonderful evening with Michael and his brother, Andy
-I learned how to make a really good chicken piccata (one of Michael's favorite dishes at restaurants)
-Even the toughest times have gifts
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