5 THINGS I DON'T HAVE TO DO
After writing about Quantum Change on Monday I remembered some of the changes being over 50 has brought about - here are five of things that I came up with a while ago that I don't have to do any more because I'm a grown-up:
#1 I DON'T HAVE TO EAT MY CRUSTS
As I ate my toast one morning I finally realized that I'm a big person and I don't have to eat the dry, stale crusts just because I was told to when I was a child. I don't really like the crusts all that much but I'm a good girl and I eat them 90% of the time, but you know what......I don't have to if I don't want to!
#2 I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH TOXIC PEOPLE
I can let those people slide out of my life fairly painlessly. I don't need to stay in contact because they were my friends or because I worked with them, or for whatever other reason. I can gracefully move away and not have their influence in my life. No more apologizing for things they've done, or they don't approve of. I can just get on with enjoying the friends I have who are lovely people.
#3 I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A BRA 24/7
One of the blessings of small boobs is that they behave themselves - they only swing around when I run (and I avoid running as much as possible). In the privacy of my own home (now there's no children to embarrass) I can enjoy the sheer pleasure of taking off my bra after a long day and sigh blissfully.
#4 I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE OPENING OF A CHIP PACKET
No more feeling guilty about not going to Tupperware parties, or makeup parties, or linen parties, or work parties or distant friend's parties. No, I won't suffer in silence anymore so I don't offend anyone. If the party invitation is just for numbers or for making a sale, I am quite happy to say "no thanks" with no excuses.
#5 I DON'T HAVE TO JUSTIFY MYSELF
I've finally taken ownership of my life - I don't have to explain why I choose to do something or not do it. I don't have to explain why I like to eat take-away sometimes, I don't have to explain why I only work part-time. I don't have to explain why I don't drink alcohol. I don't have to explain why I have pink/purple tips in my hair. I don't have to explain anything to anybody because it's my business and not theirs.
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#2, # 5 I am so with you !!! Thankfully so, too.
ReplyDeleteCarol Cassara
Exactly Carol - and what a relief to not have to deal with that stuff anymore!
DeleteOh yes, I'm with you all the way here. Thanks for helping me appreciate some of the wonderful perks of being on the upper side of midlife. :-) Have a wonderful weekend, Leanne. https://riseandsoar.com/what-is-cancer/
ReplyDeleteThe freedom that comes with owning what you want to be responsible for and what is nobody else's business is an amazing perk of Midlife isn't it Shirley?
DeleteOh, this is so FREEING!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just Diane? Loving letting stuff and other people's opinions wash over me these days. Not taking stuff on board is just the best!
DeleteLeanne, Love all these. I feel the same, especially about the toxic people. Life's too short.
ReplyDeleteAnd getting shorter every day Laurie - I just don't have the time or patience to cater to other people's grudges and offence taking - I'm leaving it to them to deal with instead!
DeleteI LOVE THIS POST!! Only (very) recently have I adopted this attitude. Stopped eating my crusts as soon as I left home but only THIS WEEK did I decide that I'm not going to 'like' every facebook page I'm asked to if I don't actually like it! I looked at the last 'like' request and thought that I wouldn't visit this page again if my life depended on it. Then I didn't 'like' it. And you know what, it felt good and the sky didn't fall in.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it take us so long to own ourselves?
I'm not sure why we got stuck in the people pleasing rut AJ but man it feels good when you say "stuff it" and leave it go through to the keeper. Less stress and less time wasting - win/win!
DeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan - life is short and I'm not wasting it on the things that annoy me anymore :)
DeleteHere's to not wearing a bra around the house!!!! One of the perks of the empty nest! LOL!
ReplyDeleteNobody to offend and the sheer comfort of not being confined 24/7 is an extra bonus point for empty nest Cathy - I have to lift my game when the kids visit though!
Delete#1 made me laugh! Funny the things that get ingrained in us.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe that I was doing something so small but so unappealing just because it was a left over from childhood - next I'd be worrying about sending my leftovers to the starving children in Africa (another favourite from childhood!)
Deleteas part of #5: I love feeling I don't have to say YES to all the volunteer things that come up. Or, rather, I love being able to say NO. it's a big big freedom, especially for us "people pleasers."
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean - having some extra time doesn't mean you want to fill it with stuff that is unappealing - I'm all for doing my extra little bit, but I still want time left to enjoy for myself these days.
DeleteI love it! I also just say no to all those parties where you have to buy a product. Yesterdays Tupperware has become todays essential oils! Age does give us wisdom and a certain lack of tolerance for people and things that don't bring goodness or value to our lives.
ReplyDeleteI love that thing about Tupperward now being essential oils Michele! It made me smile because it's all I hear about now - and I just don't get the whole party plan thing. It's nice to know I don't have to anymore and I also don't have to humour people by going!
DeleteA special three cheers for #4. It took me a while to figure that one out! - Louise
ReplyDeleteAnd how freeing is it Louise? To not have to find an excuse as to why you don't want to buy a new set of plastic bowls or the latest essential oil? I also find that the less you go to, the less you get asked to - win/win!!
DeleteI've been saying no to the sales parties for a long time. Maybe even before I was 50. What I like best is not having to wear a bra all the time now. I didn't know so many others would like to be bra-free.
ReplyDeleteI think the underwire bra should be on the list of torture devices Barbara - how anyone finds them comfortable is beyond me! As long as nobody is around to be embarrassed by my choices, I'll take a tank top over a bra any day!
DeleteTell it, Sister! One does get to a point where one learns to just say No to whatever, with no explanations. Love your blog, Leanne.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jean - I wish I had your cooking skills to widen my writing repertoire but that's never going to happen! And saying No is one of the many benefits of getting older and wiser!
DeleteYes, yes & more yeses!! Although I do love the crust!! But being an adult is nice to have control over our lives---good or bad, much of it is in our control!!
ReplyDeleteJodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
You're right Jodie - it's about knowing what we like and focusing our time on that instead of sucking up all the little annoying things that waste our time and suck the joy out of the day.
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