12 things you shouldn't tolerate

[Gardenarian]

This might be getting to be one of those internet cliches, but it caught my attention, and seems to speak directly to simple living:

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate

1. Unhappiness at work.
2. A long commute.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
4. Draining relationships.
5. A disordered living space.
6. Negativity.
7. Too much stuff.
8. Financial problems.
9. Living outside your integrity.
10. Living without fun.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
12. Lack of communication.

Does this list resonate with you? Would you add/subtract/make changes? How does this fit in with your life now?


I am striking out on some of these.
1. I'm not happy at work right now, but planning on retiring in the next 6 months.
2. My commute is not long (6 miles) but I don't make much of that time.
3. My lifestyle is healthy, but I feel like I should do a LOT more - I want to get stronger, not older!
4. I think I'm doing well on the "draining relationships." I just don't have the time to give attention to BS and emotional vampires.
5. Disorder...I live with a 14yo artist and a jazz musician. Trying to keep an ordered living space is an exercise in futility. I keep my personal space organized - very.
6. It is easy for me to get sucked into negativity these days, but I have a lot of hope for the future.
7. Yes, I have too much stuff, and I'm trying hard to dig my way out. Again! How did I let this happen??
8. I have let my finances devolve into a horrible state of disorder. I'm not in need of money, but I do need a little planning here. Recent inheritances, buying a second home, and moving toward retirement have created a blizzard of documents. I am great at handling this stuff at work - why so hard at home?
9. I believe I live within my own integrity - aside from losing my temper a little too often.
10. Things haven't been a lot of fun lately. But they will be again. Grief, illness, pain - part of life.
11. I'm not sure what "accepting ignorance and inertia" means. My own ignorance? I do have a certain amount of inertia to overcome (see "too much stuff" and "need to exercise more".)
12. Since I lost most of my hearing, communication has been pretty tough. Email is not perfect form of communication! Dh and I have found that we always have really great conversations in the car, and we've been making it a point to go to things together that we might ordinarily do alone, just to have the chance to talk. (The white noise of the car helps my hearing, I can easily see my dh's lips [speech reading])

[ApatheticNoMore]

1. Unhappiness at work.

yea well I hate work. Work is a 4 letter word. I've never been able to solve this problem despite having put a lot of effort into it. I just hate work period I guess, and maybe that's just the way it is.


2. A long commute.

an hour each way, way too long. The only thing I could do is look for other options. I was unemployed, I took work, the distance was much less than many other jobs I was in contention for. I was scared of becoming one of those people who never get a good job again therefore I took work when it was offered. There are worse things than a long commute (oh like long term unemployment for instance!) even though it really stinks. I don't think anyone really CHOOSES a long commute, they just choose 1) not to move for jobs, and 2) to take good jobs despite the commute because they are good jobs.


3. An unhealthy lifestyle.

well I'm pretty good at having a fairly healthy lifestyle. So sometimes my walks are taken in a very polluted part of town because I work there (see above), that's not so healthy, but at least I'm taking a walk right? :)


4. Draining relationships.

not really, a few people get annoying ocassionally


5. A disordered living space.

yea it's a mess :)


6. Negativity.

I'm negative because I hate work and my commute :~) I don't know anyone whose negatively actually annoys me or at least that does so consistently, I think overall I get on better with people who aren't all sunshine - at least they're real.


7. Too much stuff.

I don't have that much stuff


8. Financial problems.

my finances are good, but if I sat around waiting for a job I loved that I can walk to - they'd probably be a mess.


9. Living outside your integrity.

I feel I have a lot of integrity. Ok sometimes I throw something out rather than recycle - string me up already :laff:. I guess the only thing I ask if it's all enough, but not with any great guilt or anything. Because I don't believe in guilt really.


10. Living without fun.

I do often feel too busy to have fun


11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.

I might at times teach people, it comes way too naturally. But it's not my job to fix everyone's ignorance. As for my own? Uh I believe I SHOULD accept my ignorance, when I am, that's simply honest. And fix it? I don't need to become an expert on everything. If I have the natural inclination to fix it I will, certainly at times I've realized how much I was speculating on things I didn't really know (wow I'm really not sure what I'm talking about am I? :~)). As for inertia? I don't find accepting or not accepting it really gets to the core of overcoming it. I do certainly relate to inertia - I know what that is like, oh boy do I! :)


12. Lack of communication.

there are some people I have given up on communicating with ...

[Float On]

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate

1. Unhappiness at work. I enjoy my part-time work. Currently making changes at our self-employment for a more tolerable future.
2. A long commute. We live south of town. My part-time work and the boys school and their jobs are all on the north side of town. We are making way too many trips to town a day. Actually considering our options of selling and renting till they go to college.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle. Back to walking. Need to improve our diets.
4. Draining relationships. My husband has become very negative over the last 7 years. We've had some honest talks about it and I've stated my feelings clearly.
5. A disordered living space. It was nicely organized but over the last 10 months has become disorganized. We're currently purging and cleaning (not that it wasn't unclean...we just have too much stuff...and really by most peoples standards it's probably not too much stuff...I just need a minimal environment...I don't need to keep everything).
6. Negativity. See # 4.
7. Too much stuff. See #5.
8. Financial problems. See #1,2,4. Again, making some life changes that will hopefully improve this.
9. Living outside your integrity. I think this goes to #6.
10. Living without fun. I have fun but #8 affects this.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia. #4,6. I have set some boundaries and we're moving ahead.
12. Lack of communication. We communicated but didn't say some of the things early on that needed to be said that left us in a situation where he was selfish and I enabled.

That was a painful, honest look at our current place in life.

[ctg492]

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate


1. Unhappiness at work. I don't work
2. A long commute. No commute
3. An unhealthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle
4. Draining relationships. Happy relationship
5. A disordered living space. Empty cupboards, very organized
6. Negativity. Can't think of any coming at me or me giving
7. Too much stuff. No clutter, yes we have some big toys we need to let go of, but.....
8. Financial problems. None
9. Living outside your integrity. Good there
10. Living without fun. I have fun most everyday
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia. Nope
12. Lack of communication. I want more communication from hubby, but he is a man of few words so I have accepted that since 1978


Does this list resonate with you? Would you add/subtract/make changes? How does this fit in with your life now?
I guess I am a very lucky lady when I filled in those blanks.

[Blackdog Lin]

Very interesting list and question, Gardenarian. Yeah, the list really does speak to a Simple Living lifestyle, doesn't it?

1. Unhappiness at work. I wasn't so much unhappy with my job as angry at their changing the conditions of my employment, to the serious detriment of my life and health. Took the first opportunity to retire.
2. A long commute. Nope.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle. Mixed bag here: I'm a smoker and a drinker, but I eat fairly healthy, and while I don't formally exercise my gardening and construction-work volunteer gig makes me challenge my body on a daily basis. This item needs some work on my part.
4. Draining relationships. Our son has estranged himself from us, but not by my choice so there's no use beating myself about it. DH is a negative/depressive type, it would definitely be draining IF I LET IT. Which I do not. I figured out years ago that he is not responsible for my happiness on a daily basis. I am. It makes for a bit of disconnect in our marriage - but since I still have plenty of joy in my days that's okay.
5. A disordered living space. Nope - it ain't necessarily clean, but it's ordered. (as long as we're not talking about the garage. which I promise to get to this fall. okay?)
6. Negativity. I think I am the least negative person in town, in the state, in the country. Something about my brain chemistry, perhaps. Though I really do work every day on keeping it that way.
7. Too much stuff. Yup. Working on it, slowly but surely.
8. Financial problems. None, unless you count my (very vague) worries that I retired with insufficient savings. But then, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't truly believe that our simple-living lifestyle will cover us for many years to come.
9. Living outside your integrity. No worries there, unless it comes to keeping care of personal relationships. I always have some sort of guilt about PEOPLE: you should have done this, you should have said that. I am not a people person, and I think I screw up that part of my life with being.....too self-absorbed, and too shy to do anything about it.
10. Living without fun. I also find the fun in almost every day.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia. Don't really understand this item. What is it saying? Though inertia is my middle name.
12. Lack of communication. Umm, yeah, my life needs some MAJOR work on this one. Like I said, I am not a people person.

[Jilly]

This is excellent. I know it is redundant, but it is so excellent.


1. Unhappiness at work. I love my work. I am retired and still do volunteer work at least three days each week, more during the not-summer months. I have not had more than a handful of jobs in my life, but I have found pleasure in meaning in them, despite whatever else anyone was doing or not doing there.

2. A long commute. I have never had that, except for my first job, but I quickly moved to that city, sold my car and lived in a tiny attic apartment with my sister.

3. An unhealthy lifestyle. I pretty much have a passively unhealthy lifestyle. I should be doing a lot of things, like exercise, more walking and the like, but my physical limitations make me hesitant about actually using my Y membership. Truth is that I am mostly lazy. I should also have more social interaction, things that are not related to my work or recovery. That is equally unhealthy, and whilst it is my desire to find more friends, or at least spend time with the ones I already have, I still have personal safety issues. Anther truth is that I am using all of this to excuse me from doing anything more than eating well.

4. Draining relationships. I took care of most of that last year, and still have three friends that I need to set free. This is the most difficult thing I have ever done.

5. A disordered living space. A year after moving here, I finally feel safe enough to unpack, so that is what I am doing. The stacks of boxes are slowing getting shorter and things are being organized, tossed or given away. It is slow going.

6. Negativity. This is mostly in the realm of self-talk. Anyone else stuck there, in that place where you can easily and fully see how amazing other people are, but are still knocking yourself around?

7. Too much stuff. Working on that. It is tricky, because I am an artist, but my dream is to have a very simple and...dare I so wish...a more minimalistic living space. Nope, I will get rid of everything that I do not currently need, trusting that if I do need some things that they will come back into my life, but I am not giving up my stack of drums or the boys' art stuff, toys and games. And, I want both water glasses and wine glasses and my two martini glasses. Right now I do not have dishes, and that is actually kind of nice, in a not-so-loving-the-planet-and-being-frugal way.

8. Financial problems. I do not have finances, really never have. Even when I was married, my ex controlled and owned everything, so I used whatever I could earn to provide what my daughter and I needed. All those decades were excellent practice for being truly poor. I know exactly what I have each month, what my bills are and I make it stretch.

9. Living outside your integrity. I do not do that. It is not easy, and it often is uncomfortable when I speak out as someone else is being less than decent, but I do it. I did it today. I do it most days at work (I work with challenged people, mostly with mental illnesses and substance problems), and I do my best to leave my friends and family alone in their prejudices, but if someone is stupid enough to say something in my presence, I say my stuff and hope for the best.

10. Living without fun. Well, I am kind of not doing much fun stuff. This summer I wanted to go to the state fair. That is not going to happen. I stick mostly to home or my jobs. I read funny stuff, though.

11. Accepting ignorance and inertia. What other people do is not my concern, but I take care to be informed and to take action when I am able. I think the acceptance if ignorance is connected to the integrity business, but if someone else wants to not be involved with making the world a better place, so be it.

12. Lack of communication. I am not good at this. I have friends that need to be gone, and there are some family issues about which I am still not able to share, maybe never will be. However, I am great with my clients and with the people I help in recovery.

Thinking back on what I have written, it is interesting that there are some things that I was not clearly aware of, in terms of how I feel about some of the points here. Very interesting and this is a good start on being more proactive about my health, in several ways.

Très cool.
Thanks.

[RosieTR]

I have a long commute. I try to ameliorate that with some carpooling and podcasts but can only do so much. Maybe could stand a bit more communication with DH. Other than that, I'm doing pretty well on the list!

[gimmethesimplelife]

The OP really made me stop in my tracks with this.....All my years in food and beverage I have been dealing off and on with all of these except for #2 - at least I didn't have a long commute to deal with. I think for myself that once you feel trapped in a situation that really is not healthy for you, it's easy to little by little acquire most of the problems listed. It's like negative momentum - the exact opposite of what you want to have happen.

Right now I am so glad not to be in food and beverage, it's like very very very slowly I am regaining some of my spirit back. It has helped that some positive things outside of me have happened - such as DOMA being struck down and Medicaid being expanded in my state effective January 1st next year. As to inside myself, since right now I am selling things online and doing mystery shopping for income, I am very flexible as to my schedule. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the future and also some time reading about Buddhism. I am trying to live more mindfully, which for me is impossible if I have all the 12 things listed above going on in my life except for number #2. It's as if something finally clicked for me - FINALLY! - to go back to serving full time is to invite all the above except #2 into my life......Rob

[SteveinMN]

1. Unhappiness at work.
2. A long commute.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
4. Draining relationships.
5. A disordered living space.
6. Negativity.
7. Too much stuff.
8. Financial problems.
9. Living outside your integrity.
10. Living without fun.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
12. Lack of communication.
Well, let's see. #s 1, 2, a good chunk of 6, 9, and 10 were handled by quitting work last year.

Of course, that's bumped up 8 a little bit; we're not having problems but we're still working out the choices we can make to keep #8 at bay.

I need to work more on #3 (much lower stress, I'm eating better, and apparently I'm getting all the exercise I want even if it's not all the exercise I need).

#4 is just about there. My relationship with DW is great. I realized a few years ago how much toxic relationships were taking out of me and they're pretty much all gone now.

#s5 & 7 ... well, the place is pretty much always neat and clean and in decent repair. I've been working on doing one home repair/improvement project a day, even if it takes all of five minutes. It helps to have a virtual honey-do list I can follow. Still working on declutttering, though. Seems like it's a constant process here.

#11 probably is my toughest challenge (though #3 gives it a good run and the two play into each other). I'm not sure how ignorance is defined other than maybe the ability to mentally filter out tasks right in front of me that I'm not progressing against. Out of sight, out of mind; don't know where to begin with the project; not sure we'll get anywhere for lack of money/nebulous goal/whatever. It's easier to ignore it. It's also very easy for me to rationalize behavior I want. :) It's too hot/cold/wet to do something outside. I don't have enough time to finish X before I have to do Y. Just one more song on the radio/post on this Web site/nap.

#12 has been receiving my attention for a while. I've gotten much better about speaking my truth (identified as such) but there still are many times when I just don't want to get into it, so I say nothing. A low number of draining relationships makes that easier. But I still put a lot of communication into a bigger (too big?) perspective and let things go when I probably ought to say something.

But, all told, it's pretty good to be me these days. :cool:

[ToomuchStuff]

So I made the list?:laff:

[Gardenarian]

It's really wonderful to see the honesty and integrity of the folks on this board. Communication seems to be a sticky place for a lot of people, including me.

ANM - on hating work. I read a lot about education, and the one way to make kids hate doing something is to reward them for it. Extrinsic inducements just don't motivate people. It makes me wonder if work is so yucky because we get paid for it. If someone was paying me for gardening or walking my dog it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable. I have a lot of tangled thoughts around this concept.

Float On - sounds like you're on the cusp of making some big changes. I think of my husband as a narcissist - selfish and entirely unable to see that he is. He can actually look me in the eye and say "But, your time is not as valuable as mine." Like Blackdog Lin, "I figured out years ago that he is not responsible for my happiness on a daily basis. I am. It makes for a bit of disconnect in our marriage - but since I still have plenty of joy in my days that's okay." Still, we have a lot of shared responsibilities - our daughter, the house - and having to do all the heavy lifting does affect the quality of my life. And is the cause of losing my temper, more often than not.

Rob - I worked food/beverage through college and it is the most stressful and unpleasant work I have ever done. Really. I rather be hanging drywall or doing data entry. I'm glad you're seeing your way to getting out of it.

For those of you who are retired - it sounds like life really does get a whole lot easier! I can hardly wait. It's going to mean tightening my belt, but that is okay - really, kind of a fun challenge. I am so looking forward to being completely present in my life.

[Rogar]

This might be getting to be one of those internet cliches, but it caught my attention, and seems to speak directly to simple living:

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate

1. Unhappiness at work.
2. A long commute.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
4. Draining relationships.
5. A disordered living space.
6. Negativity.
7. Too much stuff.
8. Financial problems.
9. Living outside your integrity.
10. Living without fun.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
12. Lack of communication.

Does this list resonate with you? Would you add/subtract/make changes? How does this fit in with your life now?




At one time this might have been my do not tolerate list. I don't necessarily like any of these things, but can pretty much tolerate them in reasonable doses. The only big one left for me would be draining relationships. I can pretty much tolerate most of the other be either looking the other way, or thinking I can make a difference be being a good example. Up to a point.

1. High on my list is arrogance over wealth and consumption.

2. I have pretty big problems with ignorance and laziness over environment issues, like not doing simple recycling or driving huge SUVs.

3. Greed and habitual lying or dishonesty. Other less common moral issues like unfaithfulness in relationships.

4. Extreme laziness.

5. People who talk on cell phones while driving.

That's my short list.

[reader99]

1. Unhappiness at work.
Hunh. Actually not unhappy.

2. A long commute.
I work at home

3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
I could move around more, but I eat great stuff and don't have the standard negative habits that stress the body.

4. Draining relationships.
Not really.

5. A disordered living space.
Sparse and neat.

6. Negativity.
Not usually.

7. Too much stuff.
Far from it.

8. Financial problems.
The only financial problem I have is a low income. OTOH, I have no debt, no bill collectors, utilities are all paid current, no Madoff-style crime in progress.

9. Living outside your integrity.
Hmm. Not on anything I can think of. Indeed I'm more likely to stick to my principles to the point other people feel uncomfortable.

10. Living without fun.
I never was very good at fun. I have moderate enjoyment.

11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
Whose? Mine? Thanks to the internet ignorance doesn't last long. Inertia? I prefer to think of it as contentment.

12. Lack of communication.
Well, maybe sometimes.

That's interesting, thanks.

[pinkytoe]

1. Unhappiness at work-the only time I am unhappy is when there is #12 - too little communication
2. A long commute - 4 miles
3. An unhealthy lifestyle - doing well on this one
4. Draining relationships - I avoid anyone like that although dh can be a drag sometimes - angry middle aged man syndrome
5. A disordered living space - nope, my motto is "clockwork" - I love order.
6. Negativity - I am an optimist so I steer clear of it when I can
7. Too much - well at least I am no longer acquiring
8. Financial problems - nope, just wish I had gotten it sooner in life
9. Living outside your integrity - true north or else I keep quiet about it
10. Living without fun - this is probably a weak spot; signing up for dance lessons this fall though
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia - Makes me crazy but I detach when it does
12. Lack of communication-I'm a good listener:)

[early morning]

thought provoking list!

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate

1. Unhappiness at work. I love my job, although it can be stressful. Some of the crap my kids do and have done to them makes me unhappy, but my actual job, I love.

2. A long commute. Mine is about 40 minutes each way. I really like to drive, and it's my decompression therapy from work. Short drive would be worse for me, I think.

[I]3. An unhealthy lifestyle. We eat fairly well, but could use much more exercise.

4. Draining relationships. This one is tough. Many of my relationships are draining, because people I love are going through crap and it spills over.

5. A disordered living space. Oh, for sure *sigh*

6. Negativity. I work hard to be positive - my natural inclination is to be flippant and negative even when I don't actually think negatively!

7. Too much stuff. Oh yeah - DD lives here too with all of her stuff too.

8. Financial problems. We do ok. Not much extra but no big stresses.

9. Living outside your integrity. I'm good here.

10. Living without fun. I have fun. It may not look like fun to others, but I enjoy life pretty thoroughly!

11. Accepting ignorance and inertia. Ignorance drives me crazy, but inertia is my friend.... :)

12. Lack of communication. A problem at times; esp with DH. But his medical and related mental issues are not really something either of us deal well with, so we just keep plugging away and ignoring that which we can't seem to change..... (where IS that ostrich smiley?) :|(

[razz]

Neat list and I confess that at times, I have tolerated some of them but life seems to sort those out pretty darn quickly and then I am back on the positive.

[ToomuchStuff]

This might be getting to be one of those internet cliches, but it caught my attention, and seems to speak directly to simple living:

12 Things You Shouldn't Tolerate

1. Unhappiness at work.
2. A long commute.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
4. Draining relationships.
5. A disordered living space.
6. Negativity.
7. Too much stuff.
8. Financial problems.
9. Living outside your integrity.
10. Living without fun.
11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
12. Lack of communication.

Does this list resonate with you? Would you add/subtract/make changes? How does this fit in with your life now?




1. Work is not a happy place or a miserable place, it is what it is, work. You try to have some fun, while getting the job done, but your not there to play grabby :moon: and goof around.
2. My normal (don't stop on the way in and pick things up), commute, is 15 minutes. IMHE, you don't want and incredibly short commute, or you become the go to person, when someone is sick, off work, etc.
3. Not the best, certainly at this, because I tend to eat at the same places, or things when cooking at home. Don't change my variety as much as I should.
4. It is why I am single and not really making an attempt to find someone. One day I sat down and went through the relationships that I know, and stopped when I was at 60% cheat in their personal ones. Work relationships, are mixed, just like work (you can't change people, only your interactions with them, and I am not going to quit, because of limited interactions with a few schmucks, there will always be schmucks).
5. Five and seven go together, right now, as I tear rooms apart to get rid of stuff and organize. (part of the reasons I joined here) I hope one day to get to the point it stays organized with minimal effort.
6. Not really an optimist and haven't been. I have been more pessimistic and realistic, IMHO. Not really sure where you go to that there isn't negativity, part of life is how you deal with it, and help others out of it. (and I can't stop others from being killers, thieves, etc)
7. Well, me. After nearly loosing everything once, and almost becoming homeless, I started to go the other way (not to the tv show point). Between that, and no real relationship, after the gal I proposed to, it was stuff, rather then people. I have never really been comfortable with people in my life (could be in a room with everyone I know, and feel like an outsider), due in part to the lesson taught to me when I was abducted as a child (first lesson I remember, don't trust others, especially family). Then growing up and dealing with murderers, thieves, child abusers, etc. Stuff felt more secure, then it felt like a burden, which is why I started looking for simpler living.
8. While I don't have financial problems now, it is always a distinct possibility. As is with most people in the US (at least), one major life changing medical event, could turn that around. (why we try to take care of ourselves)
9. Even though I see it, I don't get it. Some have no moral compass though.
10. I remember that. It isn't a common thing, when you get to a certain age, and your friends are married, having kids, moving away, etc. Have it when you can, and don't expect it all the time, your not a kid anymore.
11. AKA, dumb will do, what dumb will do, or you can't change stupid. Douglas Adams quote for the day: "a common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
12. With who? I was once told, talking to yourself is having an intelligent conversation with someone. Responding to yourself, however, is a sign of a deranged mind.

[puglogic]

Good list! It was interesting to see how my life measured up. Like everybody, I do great on some things and downright lousy on others:

1. Unhappiness at work.
I don't tolerate that. I spend too much time earning an income to hate what I do, or who I do it with.

2. A long commute.
Good - about 15 feet ;)

3. An unhealthy lifestyle.
I have a pretty darned healthy lifestyle.

4. Draining relationships.
Zero tolerance for this, even at the risk of being labeled arrogant or judgmental because I wont' spend time with certain people.

5. A disordered living space.
Hm. Not exactly orderly at all times, but not super-cluttered either. I could really use some help with daily habits here.

6. Negativity.
I trained myself to stop complaining, stop generalizing, and stop assuming that I am forced to be around negative people. I am not.

7. Too much stuff.
Still a bit too much. But at least, when we moved into this house, we left everything that wasn't critical in boxes on the garage shelves. So our living space is pretty spare. But getting rid of those boxes etc. is the next step.

8. Financial problems.
I don't have financial problems, but am always seeking to learn more about staying on the plus side of money. And I'd love to find a way to fund my retirement in a bigger way.

9. Living outside your integrity.
No. Doesn't happen. There were times in my life when my integrity was all I had.

10. Living without fun.
I try to have fun, but I know I need to build more into my life.

11. Accepting ignorance and inertia.
Is "ignoring" the same as "accepting"? (in others) In myself, I try hard to keep informed in a positive way, and keep moving in a good direction for me.

12. Lack of communication.
I'm a good communicator with my loved ones, but have trouble talking with difficult (critical, insulting, small-minded, closed) people. I know others who are better at it, and I could use a lesson or two.

*13. Being treated badly, or taken for granted.
I spent much of my life being treated poorly by people who "loved" me, and even by perfect strangers. No more for me.

*14. Not living now, but putting off living 'til later
I could get mowed down by a truck tomorrow; saving everything to do it "when I'm retired" or "when I have more time" or "when the time is right" is b.s.

*15. Needing a lot to make me happy.
Practicing simplicity, and simple sharing like we do here, is so much more satisfying.

#16. Being told what to think and who to hate by the media.
Stupid is as stupid does.

#17. Hating anything or anyone.
So pointless.