I've been rekindling my relationship with books recently. Historically, we've always been a pretty solid pair, but as I was finding my way through life (navigating the myriad of responsibilities and general feeling of exhaustion that comes with being an adult), I realised that I wasn't making time to read, let alone tend to my other interests. Without them, I'd probably lose my sanity (if I haven’t already). There's just something about getting stuck into a good book that allows you to escape the day-to-day monotony of routine and transport yourself to a different world, even if only for a moment.
After finishing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I thought I'd delve into something a little more light-hearted in an attempt to recover from the near post-traumatic stress experienced from a seriously psychological read. So, I jumped onto my favourite online book store, The Book Depository, widely known as the equivalent of crack for bookworms, to get my fix. Three weeks later, I had four brand-spanking-new books on my doorstep (this was rather timely, as I'd had a shitter of a day dealing with someone who declared I had an attitude problem, which was ironic considering that I thought he was an absolute twat). After pouring myself a cup of tea, I decided to open the pages of book número uno to help me unwind. I hadn't the foggiest idea what the book was about, but it was entitled The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck, and that was reason enough to add it to my cart in the first place. I couldn't think of a more perfect sentiment to satisfy my sarcastic mind, and naturally, as someone who is often burdened by unnecessary stress (classic mental-state of a wannabe over-achiever), I wanted to know how I could give less fucks, if you will. I won't bore you with a cover to cover summary of what the book entails (that's what Wikipedia is for), however, I will tell you about the ways in which this witty wee gem has enlightened me, and how I've come to apply its methodology of being "sorry, not sorry" to my life. Growing up, I was always conscious of the fact that I cared too much about how I was perceived by others. Fortunately, I learnt quickly that not everyone is an over-analytical freak like myself, and that generally, whatever assumptions I'd made about people's opinions had been fabricated by the inner-workings of my (probably warped) mind. Do you know how much of a waste of energy that is? I'll tell you, it's huuuge (and to think, I could've been spending that time more productively, watching an entire TV series, or better yet, catching a few extra hours sleep). I guess it eventually dawned on me that there are far more important things to be concerned about in life than what other people think about how you choose to live yours. If anything, we just need to be selective about what it is that we deem important, without worrying about whether or not we'll be pleasing others in the process. Something happened last month that, for me, really exemplified this perspective. One of my brother's friends passed away unexpectedly in his sleep, leaving those both directly and indirectly connected to him with an enduring reminder of the fragility of life. While the book doesn't touch on the subject of death, knowing that our time on this earth is limited does relate to the concept of deciding what's worth caring about in our lives and what isn't. The phrase “life’s too short” is often found in quotes that are designed to inspire us to enjoy our existence without regrets. Although we find them plastered on cheesy, framed prints, or posted by approximately 87% of 13-18 year olds on Facebook, the simple set of words state an obvious yet overlooked truth: if we aren’t promised a tomorrow, then why aren’t we living for today? We're all guilty of worrying about what we’re conditioned to believe are the big matters in life: what we're going to study (should we decide to study at all), what we'll do for a living, what kind of car we'll drive, what house we'll buy (or rack up a mortgage for). You catch my drift; the list is endless. I’m not suggesting that these things aren’t worth thinking about or planning for. Naturally, we all have our hopes and dreams. As beings who crave existential happiness, we will do everything we are humanly capable of to create desirable futures for ourselves, respectively. Somewhere in the process of making those decisions (whether carefully considered or spontaneous) that shape the course of our lives, however, we tend to momentarily lose sight of what the bread and butter of our happiness is. As far as I’m concerned, none of the above compares to the fortune of good health, the love given to and received from family and friends, and the simple fact that we are alive. Through recent challenges and tragedies, and with the help of some silly book I bought on a whim, I’ve been able to regain my perspective on life that was temporarily overshadowed by matters that, well, simply don’t matter. To put it plainly, I want to live knowing that even if I took my last breath tomorrow, I'd be happy with where I was, what I was doing and who I am. As far as “giving a fuck” is concerned, well, you are entitled to direct yours in any which way you please. Be firm in what you consider to be important in your life, all while being you, truly and unapologetically (so long as you aren’t being an asshole). If I’ve learnt anything, it’s that you really shouldn’t sweat the small stuff; there will always be bigger fish to fry. Enjoy each day, and take some time to do the things you love, for you, even if it’s just drinking a cup of tea with a good book in hand.
2 Comments
Mum
8/7/2017 12:59:30 pm
Another excellent read, keep it up! xx
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Debra Mclaren
9/7/2017 11:06:03 am
I've learnt life's too short to worry about what others think, and I've given them plenty to worry about and talk about along the way Lol. Good read and I'm with you all the way on a good book with a new world to loose yourself in while enjoying a good cuppa.
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B is:A 26-year-old tea drinking writer of words trying to find her place in the world.
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