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I’m Almost 50. And I Give a F-ck

Is not giving an f really the key to happiness?

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, particularly because I’m still in bed. This week was a bit of a thing and I’m happy for a few precious moments of downtime with the dog. He’s currently snuggled in and, for the moment, there’s no chaos.

This week I read a piece someone on Facebook posted from Scary Mommy about being in your 40s and geared to not giving an f. The tone of the piece was salty and angry but not tone deaf entirely. It was just about not putting up with bullshit people or gigs or anything at this stage in the game. I can relate to that. I’m sure you can, too.

“I give an f. I give lots of f’s”

And though that “not giving a single f” has worked its way into our popular vernacular, it’s an angry sentiment I’d imagine someone like Bethenny Frankel saying on repeat. No offense to her, but she’s not exactly a peaceful warrior. And that’s where my head needs to be.

Sidebar: I’m angry about plenty, believe me. Most of that has to do with politics. But this whole notion of not giving an f is kind of silly. Because as I stand on the edge of my 50th year, I have to say: I give an f. I give lots of f’s.

I give an f about working with people who respect the expertise and talent I bring. 

I give an f about taking care of my body and mind.

I give an f about the future of this country and the world.

I give an f about trusting my intuition and letting it guide me even when insecurity or fear wants to drive.

“I give an f about my sanity and ethics”

I could easily say I don’t give an f about being overly ambitious at this phase in life, but the real sentiment is: I give an f to the fact that life is short and I’m no longer interested in climbing to the top of some imaginary corporate ladder because I give an f about my sanity and ethics and sense of balance. Oh, and I give an f about being fair, kind, and compassionate. I saw a meme recently that said “the key to happiness is to not give a fuck.” That just felt so wrong to me. 

Trust me, I like the punk-rock vibe of not giving an f — but the collective anger and angst is taking a toll on society and I for one am more interested in giving an f vs not giving one. 

“I give a fuck about my time”

Recently I took a short gig over a weekend that ended up being a time and energy suck. I knew before I said yes I should be saying no, but I did it anyway. Turns out it was not a good fit and I was frustrated as hell over it. And though I could easily slip into an idontgiveafuckaboutthesepeopleorbeingcooloranythingofthesort I instead chose to think about it as: oh, I do give a fuck. About not working with people who make me feel crappy. Or give bad direction. Or spin my wheels. Because I give a fuck about my time and how it’s spent. Because every second counts from here on out.

So instead of adding to this giant swirling ball of anger, I’m choosing to care about the stuff that matters most. And if you need me to give a fuck about you, I can easily do that too. Chances are, I do already. I think the whole “not giving an f” and “giving an f” are very similar, actually. It’s just about making time for the amazing things life has to offer vs the ones that bring you the f down. I just thought a shift in thinking was needed.

See medical disclaimer below. ↓

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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.

Sheri Radel Rosenberghttps://unapologeticstyle.substack.com/
Sheri Radel Rosenberg is a Philly-born, Brooklyn-based writer who explores style, beauty, culture, and midlife with wit, warmth, and wisdom. Her story includes successful forays in the worlds of trend forecasting, ad agency photo production, ghostwriting, and strategic messaging development for fashion and beauty brands - all while amassing a slip dress collection that would make any Gen Xer proud. At the dawn of social media, Sheri launched her personal blog–which combines her passion for writing with her style obsession–and she hasn’t looked back. As Style Editor for the AGEIST, she’s inspired by the styles of the 70s and the 90s, along with all the beautiful people she sees daily in NYC.

 

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