It Really Does Not Matter

By Alice O'Brien

Churchview Therapies, Millstreet

Let’s talk about the things that don’t matter. Things that we think are important but we find out are really not that important at all. When we reach a crisis in our life, when we get sick, when we lose a loved one, when we have a lifechanging event- then we really find out what matters and what doesn’t. Things that really don’t matter include:

• Most importantly, the letters after your name, the points you get in the Leaving Cart, the degrees on the wall- they matter least of all. Degrees on the wall show your intelligence the same as shoes on your feet show you are walking. You can walk without shoes, and you are definitely intelligent without a degree. Most people learn the most valuable things in life outside of the classroom.

• The size of your house. You can have ten bedrooms that wouldn’t make you as happy as a tiny shack filled with the people you love. So, how big your house looks to others is useless if it is not over-flowing with the sounds of laughter.

• Time and age. It is not too late and you are not too old to fulfil whatever dream you may have had. What matters is that you belief in yourself and have confidence in your goal.

• Money. There is nothing wrong with being financially responsible, paying the bills and spending on things you enjoy. But, when the pursuit of money becomes your main focus, when showing others how much money you have becomes a priority then it is time to refocus. Money won’t matter if you have a health crisis, money won’t buy you happy memories or make your loved one think more highly of you.

So, for balance here is a few things that do matter; love, family, memories, experiences, fun. Most importantly of all, how you treat others and how you treat yourself is what really matters.