Happy & Healthy
People who immediately shout “I don't have to do anything!”
Recently, I wanted to warn someone about huge detours by tipping them off about a roadblock. “Maybe you should keep this in mind,” I started, but before I could continue my sentence with an explanation of what exactly to pay attention to, my mouth was already shut with a scratchy “I don't have to do anything.”.
I hesitated for a moment and continued my sentence – slamming down on the red call-ending button in that moment is certainly not the way to go, but I wanted to. I understand that I had started my sentence wrong by already using the word ‘must’ in the first three words, but Jesus, relax. I didn't mean must in a demanding way – it's just a figure of speech. I wish I had said what I meant, I hear you thinking. Yes, indeed.
But let's move on with the penance now. Everyone understands that when talking about everyday things – just chatting – you sometimes don't express yourself in the most well-considered full sentences. I don't see the need for that either; if I spoke like I wrote, I would have long since gone through a bloodletting in terms of my circle of friends. Endless rambling can be a massive friendship killer – now you know that too. (Stationary rambling in blogs online as well, so let's move on with that point.) Anyway: that “I don't have to do anything” was a fantastic obstinate sentence that as a teenager made your parents' blood boil and everyone around you made it clear that you were definitely not to be messed with, but at some point, it's enough.
”Come on, stiff leg and block every opening to any conversation”
Of course, you don't have to do anything. We live here in freedom. Anyone who still consistently uses this sentence after their roughly 25th (and I'm being very generous here) is apparently stuck in their territorial instincts and in overly defining their (freedom) position within society. It's a bit childish to always have to assert yourself immediately. Come on, stiff leg and block every opening to any conversation. I am me and I don't have to do anything. Or loosely translated: I am me and I simply won't do what you want, regardless of whether you want it or not and regardless of whether it's a good idea or not and regardless of whether I benefit from it or not. I'm just not doing it. Period. Do you see that two-year-old toddler who has discovered that he can say ’no‘ and emphasizes that revelation by lying down kicking and screaming in the middle aisle of the supermarket? Well, I do.
A grossly exaggerated allergy to the word ‘must’ is a childish ailment that you should cure as quickly as possible. Must? That's actually just a kind of must too. Hopsakee!
Written by Kalinka Hählen
