Just don't care anymore.
Well, that's not it exactly . . . rather, I'm having more difficulty caring about people who don't care themselves and won't change. This problem could be completely solved for me if I really could just quit caring completely. And I know it's true that when people no longer get frustrated or upset, you can rest assured they no longer care. Just can't quite get to "that" point.
It's the big "whatever." I want to say that until people start considering my feelings, I'm not going to worry about theirs. My disappointment level would be substantially reduced. A few have walked away from me lately. Don't get me wrong: There are no tears or wiping of distressed eyes---it's just the urge to say, "why bother?" But, just can't quite get to "that" point.
I would like to say that the opinions of others aren't important any longer. No, they're important, I guess, to someone, just not that important to me. I've seen a lot; I've heard a lot; I've lived a lot in my 70 years. I have my own well-established format. I'm not "set in my ways"---just not hearing much of anything anymore that changes my mind. Dangerously close, I fear, to getting to "that" point.
But my Jesus said---no, commanded---that we must love one another! Good grief. It's difficult many times to love myself, easier in most ways to love God---but nearly impossible to love certain other humans. I'm not speaking necessarily about those horrendous folks; they are another story entirely. The self-focused, it"s-all-about-me ones are my greatest challenge; I always want to be mean to them. I want to slather them with sarcasm. It's an urge I have to fight with all my might . . . and I often fail.
Albert Camus said, "To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others." And Miguel Ruiz stated, "There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally." A degree of happiness and freedom may be available when one gets to "that" point, eh? According to Shannon Alder (a definite and negative track is followed) whom I paraphrase: No communication - no respect. No respect - no caring. No caring - no understanding. No understanding - no compassion. No compassion - no empathy. No empathy - no forgiveness. No forgiveness - no kindness. No kindness - no honesty. No honesty - no love. No love - no God. No God - no peace. No peace - no happiness. So, how did this rambling get around to talking about happiness and peace and freedom?
At 70, I'm reasonably happy (more so when the aches and pains are less), and I have complete peace in knowing my eternal destination. I know the love of God; I have my freedom in Him. I guess I'll just go on caring as much as I can and let the chips fall where they may, no matter how others react to me. Probably, they'll say it's none of my business, that I'm pious, that I should just leave them alone. Oh, well . . .
A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples , if you have love for one another. ---John 13:34-35
But my Jesus said---no, commanded---that we must love one another! Good grief. It's difficult many times to love myself, easier in most ways to love God---but nearly impossible to love certain other humans. I'm not speaking necessarily about those horrendous folks; they are another story entirely. The self-focused, it"s-all-about-me ones are my greatest challenge; I always want to be mean to them. I want to slather them with sarcasm. It's an urge I have to fight with all my might . . . and I often fail.
Albert Camus said, "To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others." And Miguel Ruiz stated, "There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally." A degree of happiness and freedom may be available when one gets to "that" point, eh? According to Shannon Alder (a definite and negative track is followed) whom I paraphrase: No communication - no respect. No respect - no caring. No caring - no understanding. No understanding - no compassion. No compassion - no empathy. No empathy - no forgiveness. No forgiveness - no kindness. No kindness - no honesty. No honesty - no love. No love - no God. No God - no peace. No peace - no happiness. So, how did this rambling get around to talking about happiness and peace and freedom?
At 70, I'm reasonably happy (more so when the aches and pains are less), and I have complete peace in knowing my eternal destination. I know the love of God; I have my freedom in Him. I guess I'll just go on caring as much as I can and let the chips fall where they may, no matter how others react to me. Probably, they'll say it's none of my business, that I'm pious, that I should just leave them alone. Oh, well . . .
A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples , if you have love for one another. ---John 13:34-35
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