What I Learned From Opting Out in Search of a Better Life

My favorite self-help book isn’t about help, it’s a field guide for finding curiosity & wonder.

Felicia C. Sullivan

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Licensed from Adobe Stock // Jacob Lund

People really want to tell me things. You know what you should do? You know what your problem is? Here’s my take…If I were you…It’s as if their desire to dump their litter on my lap is greater than my desire to hear or read it. They rarely get it right because they’re envisioning a whole rather than realizing they have only a sliver, a small part of my life. In absence of a complete picture, they fill in the blanks. They apply color, create depth and shadow — a visual they can hold on to so they can write their prescriptions. Make things neat and tidy.

Not realizing they’re not a doctor or my doctor and I never asked for a prescription. Not realizing their painting is of their own making — rooted in values, experiences, and belief systems that have nothing to do with me.

So, I end up sweeping, mopping, and throwing out other people’s refuse in my bins. I’ve come to realize when you share parts of your life online, you become a receptacle for other people’s unsolicited advice and opinions. It’s a matter of how many bags you’re willing to fill.

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