Putting Up My Barricades and Choosing My Path Forward

Oh, dear readers.

I am cause exhausted. Causausted? Nah. Cause exhausted.

Let me explain a bit more.

I am overwhelmed with all the things that people want other people to do that require change and adaptation to their way of viewing the world. It is hard to keep track of what is supposed to happen because there are so many voices out there that find their way onto my social media feeds. Everyone has an opinion, and there is very little consensus as to what we have to do. I cannot keep track of the current views on plastic consumption or recycling or the benefits of various diets or the use of essential oils or the "right" ways to use pronouns or whether my use of particular language may trigger the responses of someone else - and I am sure that it will at some point...

So, I am going to put up my barricades in a way that is sure to offend many people out there in the world, but that is necessary for me to be able to disconnect and focus my attention on the things that I believe are right for me. That's right - the things that are right for ME.

I am not going to engage in arguments about opinions put forth as "everyone has to..." I am going to continue to focus on what I can do and develop my own opinions about things. Sometimes I will share those opinions. Other times, I will keep them to myself because I am not interested in recruiting disciples to (trumpet fanfare inserted here) MY WAY OF THINKING! I cannot be constantly bombarded by messages that imply that any other ways of thinking are wrong or evil or oppressive or ignorant.

This puts me back on my soapbox about opinions versus facts. If you haven't been a reader here for a long time, you have missed out on most of my posts on this very subject, but never fear, here is a link to some of the oldies. 

I have always been taught to examine as many sides of an issue as possible before forming an opinion about said issue. Well, I guess I don't know if this is something that I was formally taught, but I know that this is one of the things that I do. I do not make decisions about things quickly, but once I do, I stick to those decisions until I examine more information. I do not think that I am rigid, but I am more rigid than some of the people that I have worked for recently. Those folks bent and swayed with every negative response until there was nothing left but lies. That's another story...

Anyway...

I rely on my own experiences and exploration and research to help me inform my ideas about how I want to be in this world. I do not take up causes lightly, and being constantly bombarded with calls to action exhausts me. I understand that every cause has a person and a reason behind them, but in this age of instantaneous communication and no limits on what can be shared, the sheer number of causes that cross my attention each day is staggering. Often those causes contradict each other as well. That makes me very confused and extremely exhausted.

So, in order to combat some of my cause exhaustion, I am going to disconnect from people who strive to push their way of thinking onto others without considering other perspectives. If your way is "THE ONLY WAY FORWARD," then I will not be joining your sect. If you are open to hearing different perspectives about the issue or topic, if you are respectful of those who express different perspectives, and if you engage in discussion rather than try to bully others into your way of thinking, then I think I can talk to you. Otherwise, prepare to be removed from my social media scanning.

I am going to focus on one thing that I know I can do better. I am going to devote time and energy to improving my own performance in this particular area. I am not going to force others to do what I choose to do, but I will be blogging about this topic a bit as I go through my exploration of my current cause. This cause is all about improving my way into the world - not yours. You need to do what you can do, and if that means that you follow my journey tale and go on your own, then do it. If it means that you can't engage because of your own cause exhaustion, then go forth, dear reader, and follow your own path. That is your right (which is my opinion) and your responsibility to yourself.

I don't think I'll reveal what my current cause is going to be just yet. I need to start figuring out some of the facts and opinions out there before I start making my own. I feel that this is an important thing that I just need to be better at doing, so I am going to strive to do just that. Just be better. 

Putting up my barricades in 3...

2...

1. 

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