What I Allow

Simon and Garfunkel sang “still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.”
That seems to me to be so true.  I have always loved the song by Cyndy Lauper “Time after Time.”  “If you're lost, you can look and you will find me / Time after time / If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting / Time after time.  She is one weird lady, but I really do enjoy those words and the music.
Phil Collins sings in “Another Day in Paradise,” “You can tell from the lines on her face / You can see that she's been there / Probably been moved on from every place / Cause she didn't fit in there / (Chorus) Oh think twice, 'cause it's another day for you and me in paradise / Oh think twice, it's just another day for you, / You and me in paradise, think about it”
The point for me is there is so much good stuff out there.  I can dismiss it or embrace it.  Just because something does not fit within my frame work, does not mean it is not valid.  I may choose not to go down a certain road, but that does not mean no-one should.
By the same token there are things that are ok for me but are not ok for others.  For some an association is not good.  Perhaps it was ok for them once, but seeing it brings back bad associations.  It is totally unfair of me to do something in front of someone if that activity is not good for them.  I have no desire to bring anyone down.  Some things may be not bad in themselves but may be bad for me or another.
I heard about a guy who was naturally incredibly funny.  His mates thought that with dope he would be even funnier.  After a long time trying, he listened to them and succumbed.  He ended up taking his own life.  I can never assume what may be ok for me will be ok for another.
There is a saying that goes something like “if you love something let it go.  If it comes back it is yours, if it does not, it was never meant to be.”  There are things I give up without any thought for its return or not.  It is just something I feel to do.  Maybe tv or texting is a good example (I am ok doing both – though texting while driving is a no no).  Just because I am ok with something, does not mean everyone has to be.  I remember years ago getting the clean up bug.  I was so offended when others did not embrace it.  It was right for me, but not right for them at that time.
Thankfully, no matter how much I may push for it, people have no desire to be mini me’s (what is wrong with these people?).  Some things are right all the time, and some things are wrong all the time.  For other things it is just a choice.  For me, what I allow, should never be done in front of a person for whom it is a stumbling block.