I have never used a WordPress prompt before, but I have been tempted! The philosopher in me could not resist today’s prompt: List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

There are so many different tacks I could take here, but I’m gonna free flow it and see how it goes…

This may prove challenging.

I am absolutely certain that…

1. Most people are good and genuine.

I feel like this speaks for itself but we’re all just kinda floating through life, and it helps to remember that the people you pass by on your daily commute, interact with when you buy your groceries, stand behind in queues… they all have their own lives, relationships, problems, hobbies, and aspirations, just like you. We’re all just doing our best out here in this weird old world. You could argue that I can’t be absolutely certain about this, but I think it’s a necessary perspective to take in order to not crumble into melancholy. If I were to take this list as literally as possible, we would have quite a different vibe here, and a relatively boring collection of thoughts.

2. Nobody knows what the feck they’re doing.

This is one: a great relief, two: slightly maniacal, three: kind of hilarious. When you are a kid, you assume adults have it sorted. They hide it well.
I like to remind myself of this when I am feeling a hint of imposter syndrome, be it in my job, social life, goal setting, and whatever other things adults are supposed to do with their time.

3. We all want to be understood.

I’m not crying, you’re crying. For real though, so much of the suffering we put ourselves through or experience circumstantially is rooted in lack of connection with others. Spending time with people you care about and feeling part of a community can really help with feelings of isolation and being misunderstood or unheard.

4. Life is worth living.

I swear I didn’t mean to get this deep. However, having spent a fair amount of time in my younger years in depression, apart and wondering what the point even was, I can say that this statement is true. It’s not always easy by any means, and it’s important to carve out a life that you actually want, versus what you think is expected of you. If you are struggling right now, please reach out to loved ones, services that can help, and go easy on yourself! Nothing is permanent, including emotional pain, even when your brain is trying to tell you different.

5. Feelings are fleeting.

This follows from number 4, and I’m comforted by this also. It’s good to remember when you’re facing something stressful, anxiety-inducing, pit-of-your-stomach-dread, all those yuck ones. Literally a this too shall pass mindset, which is essentially Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in a nutshell.

6. Time is precious.

I don’t think this needs much elaboration. Spend it with the people who matter, enjoy the good stuff, celebrate the achievements, and be mindful of who and what you give it to. Cutting to the chase, death is inevitable. We gots to carpe diem when we can. Being alive is miraculous and so so improbable in the first place.

7. Chores don’t do themselves.

Kind of a silly one, but I moved out years ago now, and have much appreciation for the simple yet niggly tasks done by my parents to keep the household ticking along. I’m talking laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning bathrooms, all the things. It’s a lot sometimes!

8. Nurses work hard.

As do many professions I’m sure, but I can fully vouch for these ones. Mad respect, and big appreciation for free healthcare as a whole. Thank you nurses!

9. Normal is boring.

Not only is it overrated, it’s also just a weird concept. “Normal” is a statistical concept, an average of a population. It’s also, in the same breath, entirely subjective in other contexts. Cultural norms vary, what was normal 20, 30, 50 years ago is no longer normal for the most part.

10. Boredom is useful.

In modern society, our social media habits often sedate our creativity – distracting us from our boredom, yes, but robbing us of opportunities to entertain ourselves. It’s not our fault, it’s an exploitation of human psychology by the kingpins of Silicon Valley. It’s so bloody hard to be bored in the age of the internet. But it’s an exercise worth pursuing, at least every now and again. Carve out some space in your week to get bored, and see where your train of thought takes you. You may end up doodling, delving into a neglected hobby, baking biscuits, or simply giving your brain a break.

Sheesh, that was quite tricky. What do you know to be absolutely certain? I’m intrigued.