You Can't Set Others' Priorities

If I’ve learned anything at all in my years of living it is that you can’t set other people’s priorities. Many moons ago, I tried to, but I failed miserably. What was important to me, wasn’t important to them, and that’s okay. We all live our lives and spend our disposable earnings, energy and time based on what is most important to us. It’s no more complicated than that. Thus, if you don’t feel like a priority in someone’s life, it’s because you aren’t. If you were, you wouldn’t have to wonder. You can stay upset about it, or you can accept it and find peace. Trying to earn a place on their priority list is a total waste of time. No matter what your strategy is, you can’t make anyone care for you more than they do. End of story. Book closed.

I had a brief conversation with a lady yesterday—a total stranger—who was telling me about her daughter, who has a million-dollar house, and she was showing off her newly decorated wall of family photographs, which included multiple pictures of the dog. Missing on the wall were the daughter’s parents and grandparents, and that didn’t set too well with the mom. In her words, the wall looked “pretty sad.” I fully understood where the lady was coming from, but I told her what I just told you. Whether it’s choosing pictures for a wall, dropping $20K on a diamond ring, or deciding what to do on a sunny afternoon, people live their lives and make their choices based on what’s most important to them. It's no more complicated than that. We might not agree with their priorities, but they don't answer to us. It’s their walls to decorate, their money and time to spend, and their lives to live accordingly. End of story. Book closed.
Goodnight, everyone. I hope you make some great memories in the week ahead. Tomorrow isn't promised.