Life can be damn annoying.
Or perhaps we’re easily annoyed…
But really, especially when every minute of the day is impeccably planned, who has the time to deal with things like ridiculous drivers, slow walkers, bantering coworkers and clumsy bartenders?
Nothing’s worse, right? Well, until one of life’s inevitable checks (like death and heartache) keep us in place and remind us what’s really important. And what’s not.
There are times when it’s just not worth wasting any ounce of your precious energy on being annoyed. It isn’t always easy, but here are 16 situations where you should really screw getting worked up, annoyed or otherwise agitated.
1. Your ridiculously slow elevator.
No matter how many times you curse the stupid thing under your breath (is this not a new building, or what?), hit the button again (once it’s already lit up), or sigh in frustration, it’s not going to make your elevator come any quicker. We’ve tried.
2. Your mom repeating the same thing for the hundredth time.
Yes, it is super annoying to hear your mom remind you of the same thing over and over. But before you go cutting off her story or snapping at her reminder to call your pregnant cousin, be happy you even have the luxury of having a conversation with her in the first place. Others aren’t so lucky.
3. Your coworker’s banter about nothing.
You couldn’t care less about your co-worker’s weekend at the farm or their upcoming date the following night. We get it. But long as it isn’t hindering your productivity, let them speak without rolling your eyes behind their back. Maybe they tell you because they have nobody else who will listen.
4. The wrong name on your Starbucks drink.
Maybe it was your fault for mumbling. And hey, you don’t know how draining it is to be a barista unless you’ve been one.
5. Those lost sunglasses.
We’re not going to lie, we recently observed a moment of silence when we watched our shiny new Ray Bans disappear in the darkness of a lake. But at the end of the day, things like sunglasses and umbrellas are replaceable (even if you need to buy knock-offs for the meantime).
6. That gross chewer across from you.
Loud, chomping chewers have never been our thing, especially when we’re trying to mow down as well. But really, what can you do about it? Tell them to stop? Instead of becoming more agitated with each bite, focus on your own food.
7. That disgustingly social media PDA-ing couple that floods your news feed.
Yeah, the overload of couple-y pictures are super annoying and holds zero value for anyone but that perpetually kissing, hand-holding, camera-happy couple that dominates your newsfeed. But it’s better than others who air their dirty laundry for all their Facebook “friends” to see.
8. That unreturned text.
These days, most unreturned text messages are totally forgivable in our young professional lives. With our phones perpetually on overdrive in terms of text, email and social media stimulus, it’s totally easy to miss a text or mean to get back to it and forget. Give your friends a break (at least the first few times).
9. That person who steps on your brand new shoe.
When someone recently accidentally stepped his muddy foot on our squeaky clean new white Converse Chucks, it took all we had in us to not to lose it on the poor, apologetic dude who was simply enjoying a concert. When we later found out it was his birthday, we were all the happier that we didn’t.
10. Having to stay late at the office while everyone else is on a patio.
There are worse places to be stuck (like in jail, a Greyhound station, or a courtroom) than your office. At least you have a job. Some people don’t.
11. Those times when you have nothing to wear.
When you’ve tried on half of your closet, made a disaster out of your bedroom and pushed your plans back 30 minutes already, sometimes you just need to say ‘screw it’ and either put on that go-to suit or dress (no matter how many photos you have in it) or t-shirt and jeans and rock it with shameless pride.
12. That run-in with your ex.
It’s over, it’s done, and you can’t live in an ex-free bubble your entire life. Get over it.
13. The rain.
Even Richard Branson can’t pay the weather gods enough to get it right all the time. Instead of cursing the rain for ruining that concert or garden party, think about how romantic and calming it can be. Don’t believe us? Maybe you’ve never had a passionate first kiss that involved rain-soaked lips and warm, beating summer rain. Sigh.
14. When the waiter tells you they’re out of your wine or beer of choice.
Suck it up and order something else. Now, if they’re out of half the menu, that’s another story…
15. That way too happy and chatty neighbour.
There always seems to be that super peppy and perpetually happy neighbour who’s just dying to talk your ear off. Sometimes, you’re just not in the mood. But it will make you feel like a bigger asshole than you already do for not being as “happy” as them if you ch0ose to ignore them.
16. When you’re dateless on a Friday or lonely on a Sunday.
Friday nights and Sunday mornings aren’t the best for the dateless single. But instead of wallowing in your solitude, remember it’s better to be home solo than to settle like your girlfriend or buddy did. Then go out and have fun – that way there’s a better chance you won’t be dateless next week.
We’re not perfect and don’t mean to preach. Not to mention, there are a few things that will always rattle us, like slow internet connections (how are we supposed to get any work done?), cab drivers who take the long way on purpose (cabs are expensive enough) and lost phones and laptops.
But if you’re stressing about one of the 16 above, you may want to re-evaluate. That’s all.
#NOTABLE
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