10 More Things I No Longer Care About Now That I’m 50

If you read the first piece, you know that I’m 50 and I’m speaking my mind. So, here are 10 more things I just don’t care about:

1. Your Feelings
Listen, I’m not here to hurt anyone, but I also can’t spend my life walking on eggshells. If my truth bothers you, that’s a you problem, not a me problem. I’ve stopped internalizing other people’s emotional reactions to my boundaries and decisions. My life, my rules.

2. How I Say Things
For too long, I tried to soften my words to make others more comfortable. Not anymore. I’m not here to sugarcoat or dilute my truth. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. If people can’t handle directness, that’s their issue, not mine.

3. Doing It All Perfectly
Perfection is an illusion. Trying to be flawless in every area of life is a recipe for burnout. I’m okay with doing my best and letting things be messy sometimes. The pressure to always get everything right is gone—I’m human, not a machine — perfectly imperfect and imperfectly perfect, deal with it!

4. Likes
There was a time when being liked was everything. I’d bend over backward to maintain relationships or smooth things over when I felt like someone didn’t like me. Now? I realize that not everyone is meant to be in my circle, and that’s fine. Being liked is no longer a priority—being respected is. If you rock with me, cool. If you don’t… I don’t care.

5. Coddling Fragile Egos
I no longer feel responsible for handling other people’s fragility with kid gloves. If your ego can’t handle a disagreement, a differing opinion, or even a little constructive criticism, that’s on you. I’m done bending over backward to protect people from their own insecurities.

6. Being the “Go-To” Person
I used to pride myself on being the one everyone could count on—the problem solver, the fixer, the reliable shoulder to cry on. But that role comes with a cost. Now, I realize it’s okay to step back and let others handle their own stuff. Please, go-to someone else.

7. Apologizing for Your Inability to Comprehend Simple Facts
I’ve stopped wasting my breath trying to explain things to people who refuse to understand. I’m not going to apologize because someone can’t wrap their head around basic truths or logic. I no longer feel the need to play teacher or debate the obvious.

8. Explaining Myself
Gone are the days of feeling like I owe anyone an explanation for my decisions. I don’t need to justify why I do or don’t do something. People will either understand or they won’t—and either way, I’m good with it.

9. Being “Busy”
I used to believe that being constantly busy was a badge of honor. Now, I see it as unnecessary stress. Being busy doesn’t equal being productive or fulfilled. I make time for rest, reflection, and just being. My worth isn’t tied to how packed my schedule is, it is tied to my peace and my ability to revel in it.

10. “Fixing” Others
I’ve spent too much time trying to be the fixer in other people’s lives—whether it was offering advice, rescuing them from bad decisions, or trying to make things right. Now, I’ve learned to let people handle their own journeys. You can’t fix anyone who doesn’t want to change, and it’s not my job to try, especially if they are unimportant to me. As far as I am concerned, those broken people can stay broken. It was enough to just heal myself, and I am good with that!

A Final Thought
At this stage in my life, I’ve discovered that one of the best things you can do is release what weighs you down. The most important things in life are preserving your peace. Nothing in life is permanent. The sooner you realize that, the easier it is to live life on your own terms.