Just walk away and don’t look back
Instead of putting yourself (and your poor friend who just wanted to say that she likes bananas) through all of that, just back away. It’s that easy. Just say your piece and let it be. If you really, really must respond, copy and paste these words (and keep them handy); “I know why I feel the way I do and that’s all that matters. I owe you no explanation.” Oh, and then tell them to have a nice day. People rearing for a fight absolutely despise when you do that. As the saying goes, kill them with kindness!
Don’t look back!
Then, be okay with that. Walk away. Don’t look back. Did you know that you can hide posts on Facebook? Learn to love that feature. You’ll feel a lot better! Accept that your side is just that- yours. Be yourself and let the chips fall where they may. Those who accept you are worthy of your time. Those that don’t get it can go to…well, you know where they can go
Let them judge, just don’t give them the satisfaction of listening
Let them judge away, but just let their criticism fall on proverbial “deaf ears.” Does that make sense? In other words, don’t listen to them and, more importantly, don’t waste your energy explaining yourself to them. Imagine how much time it’ll free up! You could actually read War and Peace instead of living it! I have no idea what that book is about, I’ve never actually read it myself. Has anyone really?
Write your response, but don’t hit “enter”
If you’re having a hard time letting things go and you really feel like you need to say your piece, try this: Open up your notepad program or app and type out your response there. Go nuts. Call them names if you want. Let it all out. Spend an absurd amount of time on it.
Then delete it. Yep, delete it. Think about how much time you just wasted explaining yourself to someone who, honestly, doesn’t even care about your explanation. Then ask yourself if you really want to waste that much time rewriting the whole thing. If the answer is “yes,” do it all again. And again. And again, until it finally sinks in that you’re wasting an inordinate amount of time trying to appease someone who, in the grand scheme of things, is really just no one to you.
Stop explaining yourself to people who don’t matter to you
That sounds harsh, I know. Everyone matters in some way, and everyone is worthy of kindness & compassion. But as far as explaining yourself goes, IamaSnob785 truly doesn’t matter. You don’t know her and she doesn’t know you. The chances of you actually ever meeting her, let alone having to interact with her outside of Facebook, are so astronomical that they’re practically zero. So, honestly, who gives a rat’s behind if she likes your political viewpoints or agrees with your stance on butter versus margarine?
Why drive yourself nuts trying to make total strangers see your viewpoint, especially when you know deep down that they never will? Let me repeat this one more time for the people in the back: you will NEVER EVER EVER change someone’s mind just because you explained yourself and laid out a valid list of reasons for your feelings. They will ALWAYS find a way to pick it apart.
Be who you are and say what you feel!
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
On that last note, I’ll let you go with one final quote from the world’s greatest Dr (that would be Seuss). “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” A brilliant mind, that Seuss! No truer words, right?