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Martian · 03-16-2009, 09:49 PM

I don't really know what Captain Don't Care means, but I have made a conscious effort to (in the words of Chuck Palahniuk) master the art of letting that which does not matter slide.

People make all kinds of choices. Some of them I wouldn't make for myself. I can't imagine following the lifestyle combination of poor eating habits and laziness that leads to obesity (disclaimer: a very small portion of the people who are obese have no control over their condition; I understand this, but at the same time, they serve as a sort of shelter for the larger 'I'm just big boned!' majority). But I won't judge someone for choosing to live that way. It's not for me. Some of my lifestyle choices aren't for others. Why should I waste time and energy worrying about what other people decide to do?

In the same vein, I long ago gave up worrying what people think of me. Ironically, I seem to be much more widely respected since I stopped caring what people think. It allows me to speak my mind and be who I want to be, which are traits that seem to be valued. Regardless, if I want to do something and there's no good reason not to, I do it.

And lastly, when it comes to events I make a conscious effort to evaluate what's truly important and act accordingly. My litmus test is to ask myself what the long term effects of something are. Am I likely to care about this a week from now? 6 months from now? 2 years from now? One of the things I've discovered from this is that most things aren't nearly as important as people seem to think they are. It's not worth letting the little things ruin your day. The girl at the deli forgot the mustard on your sandwich, or the drink machine ate your quarter. Big deal. Another tragedy will come along in a few hours and then you'll forget all about it.

When you figure out how to separate the important things from the trivia, everything shifts. I have a roof over my head. I have good food to eat, and a warm body to crawl into bed next to. I have a job that pays the bills, I have a craft to pour my passion and energy into. These are the things that are important to me. Everything else is just so much noise.

03-16-2009, 09:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I don't really know what Captain Don't Care means, but I have made a conscious effort to (in the words of Chuck Palahniuk) master the art of letting that which does not matter slide. People make all kinds of choices. Some of them I wouldn't make for myself. I can't imagine following the lifestyle combination of poor eating habits and laziness that leads to obesity (disclaimer: a very small portion of the people who are obese have no control over their condition; I understand this, but at the same time, they serve as a sort of shelter for the larger 'I'm just big boned!' majority). But I won't judge someone for choosing to live that way. It's not for me. Some of my lifestyle choices aren't for others. Why should I waste time and energy worrying about what other people decide to do? In the same vein, I long ago gave up worrying what people think of me. Ironically, I seem to be much more widely respected since I stopped caring what people think. It allows me to speak my mind and be who I want to be, which are traits that seem to be valued. Regardless, if I want to do something and there's no good reason not to, I do it. And lastly, when it comes to events I make a conscious effort to evaluate what's truly important and act accordingly. My litmus test is to ask myself what the long term effects of something are. Am I likely to care about this a week from now? 6 months from now? 2 years from now? One of the things I've discovered from this is that most things aren't nearly as important as people seem to think they are. It's not worth letting the little things ruin your day. The girl at the deli forgot the mustard on your sandwich, or the drink machine ate your quarter. Big deal. Another tragedy will come along in a few hours and then you'll forget all about it. When you figure out how to separate the important things from the trivia, everything shifts. I have a roof over my head. I have good food to eat, and a warm body to crawl into bed next to. I have a job that pays the bills, I have a craft to pour my passion and energy into. These are the things that are important to me. Everything else is just so much noise. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame