Thumbs Down

 

Some things are just not our thing.  I have a list of things that are not "my thing."  Whether it is music that does not fit my style or food that does not satisfy my taste buds or things that are a little off or set off my OCD for some reason, I add different things to last non-written list for this reason or that.  We spout off the common adage, "nothing against you..." before we give others our reasons for not liking this or that, and that makes it ok to give our opinions, but sometimes those opinions are skewed and have no merit.  On Social Media, the giant Facebook has sad, angry and laughing face emoji's you can torture posters and let them think about what you are thinking about their post.  Even the Worldwide Video goliath YouTube has included in their "reactions" a Thumbs Down emoji that makes it easy to show your disapproval without anyone knowing your identity.

This world is so full of negativity.  It almost seems at times that people are sad, and if they are sad, they want everyone around them to be sad.  Is it so hard to want the best for others?  You see people on Social Media that are doing good things around the world and they may have 5k followers and receive a few likes with each post, but you start up a page or channel called "Fail Army" and you see likes and followers in the millions.  It is human nature to want to see people fall, to see people "fail" right on their face.  The whole world is trying to play King of the Mountain and each person stepping on the other to get to their "rightful" place at the top,

How can we be different? Do we want to be different?  How can we change our wants and desires to want and desire to see others succeed instead of fail?  Do you have such a good time watching the worldwide Fail Army and contributing to that, that you really do not want to change?  If you take out the input of watching those failures of others each day, that could be life changing for you.  It also could affect and influence others for good.  You have the opportunity each day to keep scrolling.  You do not have to hit that Thumbs Down.  You can resist that urge and win a small victory over negativity.  All you have to do was do nothing.

Each day we look at things through the lens of personal preference.  We do not like a post because of WHO posted it.  The post may be great but, BY GOD, we are not "liking" that post for no amount of anything.  We are not doing it.  It is Thumbs Down all day for them, on every single thing they do.  We do not like that song because everyone else does.  We give our opinions on posts and tear the hopes and dreams of others down because it is not our personal preference.  Because we do not like it or approve, we think everyone should think and be like us. 

Here is a thought.  Let everyone do their own thing, whatever it may be, and we can do ours.  They can live out of a van by the river, we can live in the little house with the white picket fence, and everyone will be happy doing their own thing.  We can have a rooftop tent and they can sleep on the ground in the swag.  We can have a Toyota and they can drive a Land Rover.  We can be an Overlander who YouTubes and they can be a YouTuber who Overlands.  We can have a full size rig and they can drive a Suby.  To each their own way and more power to them.  If I do not agree or it is not my thing, it does not affect me in one way or another.

We are all living this life the best way we know how.  We are living this life to the best of our ability.  That "ability" may be "built not bought" or that way may be buying the best products out there.  We may be minimalist, but that does not mean we have to critique the other person who has everything and the kitchen sink.  We all have the ability NOT to Thumbs Down.  We all have within us the ability to want the best for others.  We all have instilled in each of us the ability to live our own lives and let others live theirs.

But do we have the desire?  Do we want to see others succeed even if we do not?  Do we want others to become big time on YouTube while we are left in the dust?  Do we want others to be sponsored while we have to buy every item inside and outside of our rigs?  We have the ability to be happy for them, but do we have the desire?  Do we really want that? 

That is a choice you will have to make.  We all can choose to make this world a more positive place, a happier place, but that is a personal choice.  You may find yourself on an island.  You may find yourself with a bunch of haters when you step away from that "haters club."  But you can rest easy and find peace knowing you are doing the right thing.  You are an example that everyone should follow.