Uh..no not really. I mean I really don’t. Nothing personal but no.

Do you know people who think you have the time and the inclination to listen to them tell you their opinions..on everything. Or they may say, “You know what you should do?” (No I don’t want to know!) “Really, here’s what you should do.” (AARGH! Once they use the word “really” then you must take what follows to be absolute truth!) I even know someone who will always give their opinion with the rationale “I can’t help it, if it’s in my mind, it’s out my mouth.” I guess they just can’t help themselves so I better listen.

Before you think I’m just plain rude, let me say I don’t mean to be. If I ask for help that’s one thing. I just don’t want to hear unsolicited opinions. Take a look at Facebook. A day doesn’t go by where someone hasn’t posted their political beliefs. Obama Sucks! Or Tea Party Sucks! Or their views on some issue that probably won’t affect me OR them.

OK, I get it – Everyone who disagrees… sucks! What ever happened to ” let’s agree to disagree?”

I believe in free speech but I think the corollary rule is that I’m also free to not listen. Think about it, if we had to listen to everyone’s free speech right nothing would get done! We’d all be sitting around… a camp fire. Yes, a camp fire. Because no one would be working and then they would lose their homes and would have to camp outside – hence… the camp fire!

I’ve always wanted to write a sentence with the word “hence”. Makes me sound smarter, don’t you think?

Now to be “really” honest, I used to do that all the time. I thought I had to give my opinions so everyone else would instantly realize just how smart I was. I used to be in politics after all. I was elected to give out my learned opinion. I even tried to talk like Winston Churchill during meetings. (I think he was pretty smart.)

Turns out I wasn’t. ( that smart) I struggle just with everyday stuff. And I don’t have the time to tell everyone else what to do when I’m trying to figure out what I need to do to reach my goal. I’ve mentioned it before, but as a refresher, my goal is simply to be happy.

I can’t be happy if I’m busy directing everyone else’s life.

Maybe that’s why we do it. Giving out opinions to show we’re important. In our eyes or in other’s eyes.

Truth is we’re already pretty important. We’ve made it in life this far, wherever it is we are, we are right “there.”

So I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll stop with the opinion giving, if you do too.
Deal?
Then let’s get up leave the campfire and get back to work.

JT
So, for all those reading who don’t know what I’m talking about…
OK I’ve included this video on how to give your opinion. Click the link below.