Please don’t tell me what to do!

Do you ever feel this way?  Do you ever want to ask someone to refrain from this?  Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by well-meaning individuals who want to “help.”  The media also does a great job of telling us many things, many of them useless, unrealistic, unresearched, and with a purpose or intention based on a belief that is not necessarily our own.  More on evaluating and making wise choices based on media in a later post - once a librarian, always a librarian).

This week, I am “tIIIIerred.”   That is “TIRED” written phonetically in the way Sage says it when he needs a nap.  😜. It’s the cutest little thing, and it drives home a point.   There is a time when rest is necessary.  I feel it often, and sometimes, like this week, it is stronger than usual.  So what to do when one is “tIIIerred?”

Firstly, I would imagine that you can agree that one is aware when they feel this way.  If that’s the case, it also stands to reason that the adult, at leas, will know that they need rest to overcome the situation.   I certainly know.  

So why do people think they need to explicitly tell me to “REST?”   I understand that folks worry.  Shoot, I worry, but I really don’t like being told to rest.  I know that I need to rest.  It gets worse though:  I actually overheard someone recently tell another bystander, “I know she doesn’t like to be told, but I’m telling her to rest anyway.”  What the heck??????  

Today’s message and challenge:  Let’s allow adults to decide when and if they want to rest.  If you absolutely cannot contain yourself, perhaps suggest less leisure activities, or allowing others to make dinner, or find a new hobby, or jump off a mountain.  Just please, whatever you say to someone who needs to rest, do not tell them to REST.  Respect their decisions and know that no matter what you see from the outside, you really don’t know how the individual truly feels.  They may just look lousy that day and feel great.  Or they may be fighting an emotional battle that is made more difficult because now they have to contend with being TOLD how to behave as an adult.  So, let’s all agree that it’s probably best to allow individuals to make their decisions without adding to their current strife.

As you can tell, I’m attempting to be very open and even to leave myself in a vulnerable position with these new posts.  Don’t worry, they won’t all be depressing or grumpy.  I just really wanted to get this one off my chest and out there.  Most of you have known me long enough now to understand that I have some strong opinions.   This falls into that category!