Today we took a test in AP US Government, and I couldn’t concentrate. My teacher was whispering to a former student in the corner through the whole test. It really angered me because I was trying to do what she had assigned, and there she was talking and making it nearly impossible for me to work. The test wasn’t going to be for a grade, but it was one of thirteen I would be taking to practice for the final AP test in May. I only had twelve more. It was really important to me, and the fact that she had the nerve to throw off my concentration was a little more than I could handle.
I decided that sense I couldn’t effectively complete my test, I would just stop where I was. There was no point in trying because I couldn’t get anywhere with it. So, I sat pretending to work on it and listened to her conversation. She was talking about how after battling breast cancer for years, she was so thankful to be living. She said, “I know it’s cliché, but I really just want to be able to relay to my students the importance of life. It is too short to be unhappy.”
I was a little taken aback by the relevance of their conversation. There was no reason for me to be angry with her. She wasn’t required to give us the practice tests at all. In fact it would have been more beneficial for her to use those thirteen class periods going over other information so we would make her look better on the state surveys. She put our education before her own status, and I was angry with her for whispering to a man she hadn’t seen in years.
And she was right. Life is too short to let stupid things bother you. Why waste your time obsessing over things that will never matter? It is important to understand the value of what you have. You could die tomorrow. Why waste what time you have left being upset?
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You're right - we let things like who got the last piece of cake, who stole my pencil off my desk, and annoying peoople who talk too loudly get us upset when there are so many better issues to be upsset about. We just have to learn to let the little things go.. life is too short to spend it as a bad person.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
- Albert Einstein
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/blonde-bickerman
Absolutley. I made a mistake of letting something petty damage a friendship. That friend passed away about 7 months ago, and I've regretted it ever since. Life's too short to let anything get in your way.
"Don't stop believin'..."
It's funny that you say that. I've long been one of those people who doesn't sweat the big stuff. But the little things irritate the crap out of me.
Alo pulled his trach out and can't breathe? No worries, it's fixable! The nurse didn't close his feeding button? AHHH! There's a tornado on the way? We'll survive! It's going to rain? Damn it all!
I never have been able to figure out why it is like that with me. But, I suppose if I had to freak about something, I'd rather it be the small inconsequential things that those that require a clear head and calm.
But yes, there is a time to let the small stuff go and just get over it.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of the sun fall upon your home."
I hate to reference such an odd source, but look at the character Jigsaw from the Saw movies...his main point was that too many people have all the time in the world to do everything but don't, and when we know when we're going to die, we actually live....it's strange....
I am horrible about sweating the small stuff. I've gotten better through the years, but it's just embedded into my personality. I do try to rant and rave for only a few minutes and get back to life though. After my friend almost died from a medical condition, I appreciate what I have more.