~ just say no
Photo: Erynne Elkins © 2017
Language is a fascinating thing. If you’re not paying close attention, you’ll listen and allow space for something (or someone) you never wanted in the first place. We’re all familiar with the saying, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ But check it… What if you didn’t ask for lemons in the first place? What if you don’t have sweetener to make lemonade? Do you go out and buy sugar or honey or whatever to make do? That doesn’t make any sense, now does it? What if you wanted oranges? You see my point. An all too common phrase has weeviled into our consciousness so that many of us are resigned to accepting what we never requested in the first place.
Example #1: It’s your wedding day. Your soon to be spouse walks down the aisle. Only you realize, that’s not the person (it is literally someone else) you intended to marry. Do you make lemonade out of that? Hell no! You, at the very least, ask who in God’s name is that and where is the person you were expecting? Example #2: You’re at a restaurant with friends. You ordered grilled salmon. The waiter brings you a cheeseburger. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’re going to say something. You’re going to declare that’s not what you ordered. You’re probably going to ask the server to take it back and bring you the salmon. I seriously doubt you’re going to say, ‘Oh well. I guess I’ll eat the cheeseburger.’ Example #3: You’re at the grocery store. Capers are on your list. You go home, put away your groceries only to discover capers are nowhere to be found. You double check your receipt and find you were charged for capers. I’m thinking you’re going back to the grocery store to get your damn capers.
Mistakes happen. They even occur when we set intentions and/or pray and sometimes when someone gives us a gift. It doesn’t mean you have to settle for lemonade. And don’t get me wrong, I love lemons. But if I didn’t ask for them, I’m certainly not going to roll over and turn them into a beverage I never intended to drink. Just like you don’t have to drink the Kool-Aid. And guess what people, you really don’t. You also don’t have to make fucking lemonade. So next time life offers you lemons you didn’t ask for, march your ass back to customer service and say, ‘Let’s try this one more time.’ And keep at it until YOU are satisfied.