Here’s something that’s super embarrassing to admit:
So, I got these massive mittens that velcro to the stroller handlebar (that’s not the embarrassing part – they’re awesome).
I put them on the stroller when it got cold. It’s since warmed up a bit, and on a day it was 4oish, I put them on and thought:
“Man, these massive mitten things are cozy. But is it too warm to use them? Will people looking out their windows judge me & think I’m weak?”
I know – I’m embarrassed for myself. I wish thoughts like those didn’t go through my head, but they do. And as easy as it was to dismiss that thought (I mean, we’re talking about mittens), I’m sharing because:
I think a lot of us live at least part of our lives like this – not wearing mittens for fear of what others might think of us. For example:
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“I really don’t like this job anymore. But if I switch jobs/careers, will people judge me and think I couldn’t cut it / don’t know what I’m doing / am wishy washy?”
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“I really can’t take on any more work. But if I say no, will people think I’m soft I can’t manage my time well / am not a team player?”
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“I don’t want to go volunteer for that thing, but if I say no, will people think I’m selfish / not a good parent / think I think I’m too good for it?”
These thoughts, at the end of the day, aren’t that far off of me questioning whether to wear mittens when I wanted to because of what others might think. But here’s the thing – using the mitten analogy:
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Very few people – if anyone – are actually looking out the window – they’re busy in there.
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If they see you, they probably won’t even notice the mittens; and
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Even if they do and judge you, it’s for 5 seconds! Don’t make yourself cold for 45 minutes to spare yourself from the possibility of those 5 seconds of judgment.
Same goes for life decisions.
Wear. the. mittens.
