I like dogs. I think they can be wonderful companions and bring a lot of happiness into a person or family’s life.
But I don’t want one.
It’s amazing how that simple statement throws people into a tizzy. So many people immediately go to great lengths to convince me why a dog would be great for me and my family. Some feel judged, as if I think they were wrong to get a dog, despite me starting this reflection to the contrary.
Here’s another grenade: I have no desire to go on a cruise.
I love traveling, but despite the many benefits, a cruise does not sound appealing to me, at least in comparison to other ways I could vacation. I have plenty of reasons for this, but it wouldn’t do any good to share them, because it only invites people to attempt to argue me out of them. Worse is when they interpret my reasonings as an argument for why I think cruises are bad, and that people who love taking them are dumb.
Nope. As my friend Mark says, “I like to live in a world with more than one right answer.”
Because that’s how it is for most things.
Unfortunately — and to the great delight of Adultitis — the news media and too many of our leaders have done an amazing job of pitting us against each other so that we are conditioned to believe that someone else’s preference is a personal attack upon our belief systems. Every issue is elevated as vitally important. So many of our “news” programs are just two people arguing different sides of a topic, with each acting like the other person is an idiot or evil incarnate.
Maybe that’s true if you propose giving free cocaine to children, but not when it comes to your preferences for dog ownership and taking cruises.
You’re not obligated to take offense at my preference.
Not every difference demands we get defensive.
Not every opinion requires an objection.
I don’t know who needs to hear this hot take, but you can have your likes and I can have mine and we can still be friends. (I love you, my dog-owning 🐕 and cruise-taking 🛳️ friends!)
There is a tremendous amount of freedom in the understanding that we are allowed to hold different opinions without assuming the other person needs to be converted, shamed, or annihilated.
Someone expressing their preference is not trying to trick you into doubting your opinions.
It’s ok.
Have your dog. Enjoy your cruises.
My right way doesn’t make your way wrong.
As long as you don’t give cocaine to children.
Or own a cat. 🐈
🤔 I wonder…what’s something many people love that you’re just not into?