Last summer, I decided to make some changes in my life. Six months later, I up and left virtually everything and everyone I knew in an attempt to experience more.
To grow more.
To learn more.
Would it be crazy to say that I’ve learned more over the past two months than I have over my entire life? Because that’s how it feels. I’m anticipating and excited for even more lessons to be learned, but for now, I’m glad that I’m in the process of learning at least one. And it’s a simple, two-worded question.
That’s right. WHO. THE HECK. CARES????
Let me show you what I mean.
I didn’t get the job. Who cares?
He didn’t call. Who cares?
I ate too much. Who cares?
I have way too much on my agenda right now. Who cares?
Go ahead and condemn me for being lazy, ignorant, or unmotivated. But you know what? I don’t care. Because at the end of my life, none of that is really going to matter.
I’ve wasted day after day, month after month, year after year worrying about things that were a complete and utter waste of time. While I’m not saying to give up on your hopes or dreams (I’m certainly not) spending one more moment worrying or questioning or pining after something that didn’t go as you hoped or planned is one less moment that you have to be the amazing and joyful person you were created to be.
So here’s what I propose. Next time you catch yourself thinking something similar to what I listed above, say out loud to yourself, WHO CARES? Because chances are, it will change your entire view of the current “disaster” you’re facing.
The thing about having a who cares mentality is that it’s scary. It’s really, really scary. And trust me when I say that every instinct inside of me goes completely against it. While I certainly believe in the power of positive thinking, I also believe that in order to truly live, I personally have to get to the point where I can find joy even in the midst of not “getting what I want.” In my life, that looks a little something like…
I might never fall in love. I might not be able to see the world. I might not have the glamorous, successful life I imagined.
To me, that’s approaching a worst case scenario. But at the end of the day…at the end of my life…it just doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I laughed. I loved others. I experienced joy and pain and everything in between.
But most important of all, I was somehow chosen to know the one and true living God. And nothing – literally nothing – else matters. He alone is enough for me.
You might not agree with me, and that’s okay. But I do think you should ask yourself – are the things that you put your utmost time and energy into really worth it? For me, right now that answer is an overwhelming no. But I’m working on it. And, I’ve got to say that learning to ask myself “who cares?” has been an unexpectedly huge help in getting there.
My perspective is one of someone who is the middle part of her life. Chances are that more years are behind me than ahead of me. But who knows, I might live past 80. I think the “who cares” attitude is a good one to have in youth…and I consider being 20-something youthful. I think you’ll find that as you mature, it’s still good to keep that perspective – one of letting the little stuff go – the stuff that really isn’t going to matter at the end of the day. But, there will be more and more things that will come to care about deeply and will someday find yourself saying, one day, I DO CARE. Making choices about what we put our energies into and what we don’t is a big part of shaping our own lives and being able to say at very end – I did my best – I mattered – and had a lot of fun along the way.
Tracey – I think you’re absolutely right!! Even right now in my youth, there are things that I *do* care about, but the “who cares” mentality helps me discern what is actually worth putting the time into caring about, if that makes sense! For example, the world and society tells me to care about falling in love and becoming successful, and while I do care about those things to an extent, I don’t want to dwell on them. What *will* matter in the end is my faith in God and how I’ve treated others, so I don’t ever want to become “who cares” about those things!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! xoxo G
Wow i love this post- I am so glad I stumbled upon it, I really needed it! Thanks thanks thanks!
Awesome post! Fits perfectly with my day. Who Cares???? Thank you
love your attitude love this post!
This has to be one of my favorite posts of all time. I’m constantly trying to remind myself that through and with God, I have all I’ll ever need and all I could ever want. Thank you!
Ah, that means so much to me! Thanks Natalia
xo
Saw Tina mention you on her blog today – this is a great post!
amazing post! amen sister.
This is an amazing post (Ahh I feel like such a blog creeper reading old posts like this, hahaha but seriously, this is a great post!)
Not creepy at all!! this is one of my personal favorites, so I’m happy that you liked it too
xo
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Throughout the day, I am constantly reminding myself to say “who cares”. But sometimes I have those days (you know, THOSE days) where my hair is all frizzy, I have the worst cramps, and my forehead has some lovely zits on it. But then I stop and think, “Wow, the Maker of the UNIVERSE loves ME!”. And once you think about it, those little things just don’t matter anymore.
God bless you for posting this!:)
This post was just what I needed. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
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