You’ll Be Fine

As I worry over work, money, and everything else on the planet which makes me not at all special, I’ve found that I’ve heard, “You’ll be fine,” more and more often. This really bothers me. To me, it’s a way of being condescending and ending a conversation in three short words. It’s rude. If someone needs to worry, let them worry out loud for a bit. I’m not saying that you have to be the listening martyr. I’m just saying that everyone needs a few minutes (let’s say five) to get their thoughts off their chests. Everyone needs to be listened to and heard on occasion. And hell, you don’t even have to be really paying attention to the speaker at all! At this point in our lives, we’re all more than adequate at appropriate, “Oh, no,” or “Hmmm,” comments.

So play nice. One day you’ll want to be heard. And for the record, I pay close attention to dismissive attitudes from those with whom I speak. And you lose listening minutes each time you shut me down.