Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving A F!

Yes, that is an actual title of a book. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight. The title is wordy, but definitely read-worthy.

Have you ever felt that attending an event becomes a chore or an obligation, and if you skipped the event with a lame but valid excuse of 'me-time', will make you feel sorry, ashamed and guilty? 

Have you ever felt of needing to look 'instragrammable' on your holiday so you try crazy diets and buy 'perfect-fitting' clothes to gain an acceptable amount of 'likes'?  

Have you ever felt you wanted to read a book on your work break but you had to listen to a co-worker's story because you are being nice?

If you answered yes to some of these thoughts, then you need to learn about the art of caring less and getting more for yourself.

It's been a while since I've read a very intriguing book. And this one goes to 'things-I-wish-Ive-read/written-way back' list. You know you need to read this. But hey, you don't have to give a f**k about what I say, and it's perfectly fine. See how it works?  :)

I've tried to learn to live life in a balance, to be a 'pleaser' and to be politically-correct most of the time. I would like to think that most people are the same. If a boss says something terrible, we keep that wee bad idea that the boss might disagree with. A relative says a rude remark on your i.e. relationship, weight, beliefs, we tend to shut it and ignore. But it will linger in the mind later on. 

Now the same author of the book titled 'Get Your Sh*t Together' (somewhat the edgy foul-language tends to grab attention and is most effective) tend to draw inspiration from the tidying guru Marie Kondo. Marie Kondo popularised the methods and tips on tidying one's home in her book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying.' 

This was in line with the principle and idea of minimalism. I have been a fan of minimalism (see the previous post here) wherein one tries to live in a minimum and keep with the basics. It's an application of less is more. It can be in the home, in material items, it can be in happiness, it can also be in living life.

See where we are headed on this? This is more than just a self-help book. It is a wake-up call for adults who think they know how to live life through trial and error. It is a book that will help you discover there are more ways to deal with life. The book reminds readers that there is a fine line between those who does not give a Fk about anything in life, regardless of self or other's interest, which are popularly known as a-holes or anti-society; and those who have mastered the art of not giving a Fk.

There are far more mature ways of dealing with things, people and life in general and keeping one's self-dignity intact. Has my life changed magically after reading the book? Yes, and this has cleared most of the day's little stress and mindset. It has taught me that some of my thoughts that were before deemed unacceptable, were actually valid. This edgy and witty book verbalizes ideas and opinions that we are afraid to say out loud.

'How to stop spending time you don't have, doing things you don't want to do with people you don't like.' -Sarah Knight

You don't have to be an a-hole in the society or go live atop a mountain or seclude yourself in a cave. (Not saying they're not valid options, but just bear with me here.) You can go against the flow or the norm. The Facebook is a grand experimental field for me. I am certain and aware that not everyone in my 'friends' list are my friends in real life. And I am certain I have in no way of remembering everyone's birthdays and I don't have the capacity to necessarily like everyone's status, photos and opinions.

I have unfriended, blocked, or unfollowed some of those that I deem annoying or nuisance. It does not mean a distant relative is automatically a 'friend.' It instantly lessened the 'stress' it was giving me (i.e. politics or unsolicited selfies.) I have felt guilty of greeting someone on their birthday just because I saw it on the notification. Therefore I have deactivated that feature for MY birthday. Not everyone greeted me on my birthday, and I felt those that did were worth 10 times more genuine and valuable! Plus it didn't obligate me to greet one's birthday because 'oh he greeted me, I should do the same too.' Facebook or social media was just the start. I have tried to value my own time significantly and rewarded myself and the more important people in my life.

What I have taken from the book and experience is that we can choose to save all the time and effort and attention from things and people that we barely really care about. We need to start living lives honestly, truthfully and freely. Break the chains of the norm. And start spending those quality time and effort on things and people that really matter that makes us happy.

So go ahead and start not giving a F!

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