My one simplicity-seeking new year’s resolution for 2012
I’m going to stop treating rude, boring and dumb people like they are kind, interesting and smart.
I am calling this Operation Suffer Fools Less Gladly.
Sincerely believe this will save me HOURS in 2012.
Talked with a few girlfriends about this. We realized we are wasting time with these people — time being excessively polite, and then time being annoyed by the whole thing later. Precious time that should be spent with people we really do like and find interesting (my friends and family, that includes you! This post is about those Other People In Life). Which isn’t to say we’re embracing flaming bitchiness all the time. It’s just that we’re too far on the other end of the spectrum, the one that socializes women in particular to always listen attentively, always find something nice to say, and to feel it is their purpose to make the other person feel comfortable.
MISTAKE!
Time for a bit more “you’re wrong,” “that’s not actually true,” and “maybe you should try reading books.”
I’ll let you know how many bricks I get thrown through my windows.
OR!
I’ll let you know how much acting a bit more like a cranky 70-year-old makes my life easier, simpler, happier. You gotta give it to cranky 70-year-olds for not wasting time on stupid shit. If that’s not simplicity, what is?
Of this plan …
My friend A says: Yes! Live authentically!
My sister says: I have serious concerns about where this will lead.
My friend C says: My cousin does this all the time, especially “you’re wrong.” I think it has helped her be successful in many ways and she seems to completely avoid the sort of neurotic, obsessive misery I tend to subject myself to.
(Clearly you can see why I love all three of these people).
**
Meanwhile in medialand, lookie! I have trouble shutting up about the recession, savings and the environment.
I was in the WSJ: How to Save $10,000 by Next Thanksgiving
And Forbes: Generation X, Time to Reboot
And E, The Environmental Magazine: Meet The Fakers
Omg I totally read that WSJ story and didn’t realize it was you!! Of course, I’m just used to seeing the “Achenbaum” in your name.
I like your plan.
Once at church, one of the guys started going off on a conspiracy theory, trying to prove some point.
I deadpanned: “You’re not making any sense.”
Authenticity is the new black. Wear it, girl!
I’m phasing out the A-baum. It will mean a rather anonymous/generic name (my dentist, a medium sized practice in a medium sized city, has FOUR patients named emily harris), which has some cons, some delightful pros.
I love your deadpans. When are you coming to CLT? It’s a really, really exciting place, you should visit.
Emily!!!! Hi!!! I hope you are feeling well
I live by this ‘way of life’ and let me tell you – I have saved myself a lot drama! And friends & family always know who to come to for an honest answer!
Hi Allison!!
Emily……you ROCK! And congrats on the quotes in medialand! You make total sense to me.
You iz famous!! I need an autograph.
I have found that being more direct with jackasses allows you to be more direct across the board. I have friends who complain because I can “get away with” saying the most outlandish crap, but I tell them it’s because I am never Resume CF. (I am just waiting for a “when keeping it real goes wrong” moment,natch.) Granted, I haven’t called my annoying twat of a boss an annoying twat to her face, but it’s in the pipeline. God, I hate that heifer.
Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, Go Emily! Best resolution ever.
@patty — thanks lady!
@cf — that’s exactly it — being the person who always gets away with it. lead the way!
My partner and I have dubbed me “the honey badger” because for most things I don’t give a sh*T.
This was based off of the famous Honey badger video on youtube.
WAHAHAHAHAHAHA Moontree Ranch for the win. How have I never seen this before?
This makes me laugh every time I watch it, and if you can hold the name of honey badger, you are truly a rock star. MOONTREE RANCH IS OUR NEW DIETY. I should be working. Why am I on here?
Woohoo!!! great quotes. loved the one about freedom!
I wish i could be more like you re: not suffering fools. let us know how it works. maybe this southern girl could change.
Oh, girl, it’s the best. You might feel nervous at first but no one will really pick fights with you over it and in the end people will end up vying for your approval now that they see you are discerning. It’s ridiculous and great.
I need to do this more, too. I don’t know if silly people are just drawn to me or what, but I’m often treated to long monologues about things the person speaking knows nothing about (often things I’m practically an expert in). And life is too short for that.
Perfect example: my mother-in-law started ranting about how “you can’t trust statistics” at Thanksgiving. My husband quickly told her that as long as you know how to read statistics, you can indeed trust them. You just have to be able to dissect them yourself. She continued in this vein until she finally got tired of hearing him say “You’re wrong.”
@missy — i think being southern does make it harder.
@jessica! long time! nice to see you here. i love your comment. hee hee.
@cate — “I don’t know if silly people are just drawn to me or what…” HA!
Congrats on both the decluttering of your social interactions anddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd** the articles — those were fascinating. I was already wearing the bitterness of my generation in light of how shafted I feel by the previous generation, but a 45% loss in net worth? holy moly …
**my cat says congratulations, too.
Great post, Emily and congrats on making the news. I’m 64 and working toward being a cranky 70 year old as by now I really, really don’t suffer fools well. Glad to know there are some forward thinking younger minds like yours who are over the fools as well. Maybe younger generations missed the Emperor Has No Clothes story. Lot of truth there.
Also congrats on your small house. After moving on up through nine houses, I’m back to a barely 2000 sq. ft. ranch and loving it. Freedom!! Which is more fun–the garden or cleaning way too many bathrooms? No contest.