The truth is - maybe I'm not for you, maybe my opinions aren't for you, maybe this blog isn't for you. But the fact of the matter is that this blog is an unfiltered, unbias account of my own opinions and experiences. I'm not going to sugarcoat my opinion to cater to anyone else's but my own, in life or in text. My advice is here for the taking, my words here for your reading. What you choose to absorb or refute is up to you. I welcome praise and criticism, on my blog and in my life. I welcome you to ask me "Why?" because the truth is that the reason I've reached such strong convictions is based on a summation of my own personal experiences that you know nothing about. Whether you like me or whether you don't, I'll continue to write and chances are you'll continue to read. Isn't it lovely how that's up to you? What a privilege it is, free will!
This brings me to the topic of today's discussion: "You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches." There are roughly 7 billion people on planet Earth. If I'm not already in-over-my-head-stressed-to-
I will not sacrifice my personality for peer approval. I will not tell you what you want to hear so you’ll like me. I will not force friendship, because unforced friendships are the ones that last. You don’t have to love me, you don’t have to like me, and you definitely do not have to agree with me – and that’s okay, my feelings are unaffected. As I’ve gotten older, my breadth of friendships has narrowed and the depth of the remaining friendships has grown. This is due to multiple reasons, including that I have made multiple conscious decisions to move myself away from friendships, because people and interests change, your tolerance for certain behaviors changes, and you (like in a down-spiraling romantic relationship) decide that the effort isn’t worth the reward or your time. It’s not mean to be insensitive, really, it isn’t – it’s because being the queen of ultimate logic I prefer to invest time and effort into friendships I feel are two-way. I do not “hate” anyone, or honestly really “dislike” anyone – I just choose to primarily surround myself with and invest in only people who I can bring positivity into their life and who can bring positivity into mine. Time is limited and I refuse to spend mine shooting a dead horse in the mouth.
Just as I don’t prefer certain individuals, I accept that plenty of people likely don’t prefer me, or, for the sake of this blog, what I have to say. Some people think I’m too abrasive (I am,) some people think I’m rude (I’m not,) some people think I’m insensitive (I prefer honest,) some people think I’m unattractive (you’re not waking up to me,) some people think that I think I know everything (for the record I ALWAYS misspell calendar and definitely, but I know everything else. I'm kidding, I wish,) and the list goes on. But what IS so fantastic is for each person that can’t stand me, there are two who believe in me and want more.
My point is, I’ve reached contentment. I’m happy with who I am, I’m happy with who I’m becoming. I’m not perfect, perfect is boring. I don’t always have good days, but how can you appreciate the positive without the contrast of negative? I’m happy with my friends, I’m happy with my family. I’m happy knowing that despite the fact that to some I’m the juiciest, ripest peach on the tree I’m perfectly fine with knowing some of you absolutely hate peaches.
Why spend time worrying about what others think when you can spend time enriching a relationship with yourself? Every moment spent changing yourself to suit the approval of others is a moment towards losing who you are. You’re fantastic. Maybe not to everyone, but who cares? I pinky-promise, cross-my-heart that to someone, somewhere, you’re the perfect peach, just as you are. If you love something everyone thinks is weird and pointless, who are they to judge if it makes you happy? Wouldn’t you rather welcome and enrich relationships with people in your life with whom there is no effort, no secrets, no deception? Be who you are, love what you do, do what you love, and screw the rest. Part of what makes life so much fun is silently and gracefully triumphing over those who bring you down.
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