Ask Aunt B

B

Dear Aunt B, What do you do when people just act like idiots? I really don’t understand some people’s behavior. I find that I just get shocked by some of others’ behavior and can’t stop thinking or talking about it. I know that it is best to just let it go and focus on my own behavior, but the other is so ridiculous. Help!

Some People are Just Nuts Dear Some People are Just Nuts, I know this is a hard one, but you are on the right path. It is best to let it go and focus on your own behavior.

I often wonder how it can be that we all can be so different. We are, you know, different. In so very many ways we are so much alike, but then there is this. We all have been raised differently. We have different likes and dislikes. We have different goals in life. We have different levels of confidence and self-esteem, and so very much more.

When I see behaviors that I think are just idiotic, I (like you) can tend to focus on them. They just make no sense to me. I think the problem is that I am trying to make sense of them, when there is no way ever they will make any sense to me. Sometimes, I think I use them to check in with myself. Almost to rate my own behavior as not that nuts. I’m not proud of that last admission, but I think there is some truth in it. Sometimes, I do crazy things and, if I can find some even crazier things out there, then I can dim down my own criticism of myself. Why don’t I try just dimming down the criticism on its own? Seems to me like a good behavior change for the new year.

This question takes me to another of my New Year starts. This year I plan on doing me. What I mean by that is to worry about me, take care of me, change me, celebrate me. In doing me, I plan to let everyone else do themselves. I figure, with all the time I waste on others, I should have a great deal of time left to do me.

Now, don’t fret. Aunt B will this year and always care about others (all of them). I am just giving up my rule over them. I proclaim to let others be and do whatever they choose. I will focus on me. Selfish, you may say. Maybe, but frankly I am the only one I have any control over at all. We all know this and say it all the time, but I don’t think that is how I have lived. I don’t know about you, but if you are worrying about others’ weird behavior then I think it might apply to you as well.

So, for now, I will worry about my own crazy. No, I won’t worry about it. I will accept my own crazy. See how I am catching myself and changing right here on the spot? Good job, Aunt B.

Honestly though, some of it all does make you just laugh, doesn’t it? Go ahead and laugh at the behaviors, but then let them go and go back to doing you. Good luck.

Love, Aunt B

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