Ebbs & Flows

Why do we feel the need to justify ourselves to others with some elaborate reason or excuse for not doing something, for the plain and simple reason of not wanting to do it?

Today was just another example of this ridiculous and tiring notion. This time, however, I did not cave. I said a simple No. (Gasp!) When asked why, despite the fact that my stomach was gnawing at my ribcage, skeletal sinews strewn about, promising to glue my ribs back together upon giving in just one more time, I replied plainly and simply: I just don’t want to.

For me, these words are huge. Hugely satisfying, freeing, shiny new. Despite all my people-pleasin’ habits, I knew I still had it in me. I just had to dig deeper to find it, grab it and yank it up out of the dusty pit of my soul and spit the sucker out.

Everyone’s different. It’s not some strange and newfangled idea. We all have our wants and needs and shouldn’t need to justify them to anyone. We shouldn’t have to make up some lame excuse and lie to each other’s faces because we don’t have the guts to stand up for what we really want. We shouldn’t have to worry about offending each other. Walking around on eggshells just isn’t foot-friendly. We don’t need to make assumptions and hallucinate absurd scenarios. We don’t need to feel guilt or fear or be judged and belittled or be written up in some little black book, because seriously now, who really cares?

Whether you’re with the tide, or against it: the wave is yours to ride...

“Be who you are, and say what you feel… because those who mind, don’t matter. And those who matter, don’t mind…” ~ Dr. Seuss