Why are you are acting like a loser when you should be writing?
I mute text notifications on my phone as a rule.
Really the only people without a filter are my immediate family and some select others.
I find it too distracting and annoying to get pinged constantly throughout the day.
So when I picked up the device and saw a notification for 10 messages from a friend of mine, I cringed.
I knew he was having a meltdown.
Over Donald Trump.
There were cries lamenting our sad future.
There were dumb memes.
There was a 30-minute comedy bit about his underlings.
Now if you know a thing or two about Canadians, you’ll know there aren’t a ton of Trump fans up here.
And yet, you won’t find me endlessly reading, watching, and messaging about him.
What I politely said to my friend was that I don’t find Trump content funny or interesting, so save yourself some time and don’t send it to me anymore.
What I wanted to say was, “You are acting like a f***ing loser.”
James, how mean!
Why a loser, when all he was doing was what millions of others were while the inauguration took place?
I’ll explain why he’s acting like a loser regardless of his political leanings, and why you are too if you did the same.
Allow me to explain before you hate me too much … I think you’ll benefit in the end.
Things not done
While my friend was watching 30-minute comedy bits about Trump people, screen-capping memes to send, and watching the inauguration while grunting and groaning, what was he not doing?
My friend loves the guitar, and he’s gotten quite good at it. It’s his №1 non-Trump obsession.
He also likes to write.
And to create visual art.
He wishes he had more money and the freedom that comes with it.
So, again, what was he not doing while he spent literally hours — a half day of his life — getting mad about Donald Trump?
Playing guitar
Writing
Creating art
Going for a walk or to the gym to stay healthy and energetic
Thinking about what he’s good at and building a business around
Actually doing something to help people hurt by particular government policy
Those memes though — ho ho ho, he he he!
Really changing the world there.
And then, like millions of other people who are wasting their lives on media junk, he tells me he doesn’t have enough time for things.
You are choosing to be a failure
Let me tell you who benefits when you waste your precious, finite minutes on this planet getting all riled about about people like Donald Trump.
The political news media, which monetizes your time and interest
Big Tech and social media giants, which monetize your engagement
And Donald Trump, who benefits from all the attention showered on him — good or bad.
You know the only person not benefitting from this relationship?
You, dingus!
So put down the stupid phone and get to work on the life you dream of, a life you can be proud of.
What will you build today?
Publish Every Day project update: Day 433
I’m working on a project to ditch commuter life for good by publishing every single day on different platforms and investing my earnings into passive income vehicles.
How much I need to retire: $250 CAD per day
What I earned on Day 433: $131.31 (writing) + $4.42 (Kindle Direct Publishing) + $0.42 (YouTube) = $136.15 total
What I’ve published recently:
This post about the 1 scary but inspiring thing you must understand to quit alcohol
This YouTube video about quantum computing stocks:
Do you waste time getting mad about the news?
What could you be doing with that time instead?
Let me know in the comments!
My top 5 trending stories at this time
Outstanding advice. Who amongst us hasn't been the dingus?