confessing some unpopular opinions

These past couple of weeks I have spent more time than usual expressing strong personal opinions that did not necessarily mesh with those of some people close to me. The topics were various, and certainly lots of loved ones offered me agreement and support; but still I have felt an undercurrent of opposition that I don’t normally feel. It’s uncomfortable, and a few tears were shed on both sides of these arguments, but it hasn’t changed my opinions one bit.

Anyway. I will be forty-one in less than two months and am experiencing yet another cliché: I just do not really care what people think of me. Not in an angsty I hate the world kind of way. No, not at all. I love more people and I love them more deeply than ever before and am more comfortable in this world than I have ever been, since maybe the age of eight. I just need less and less approval from others and rarely feel the need to justify or explain myself to anyone. At all.

So in the spirit of being honest, but also trying to have a sense of humor about it, let’s do some confessions. Let’s confess some opinions. And why don’t we make them all unpopular, ok?

Confessing Some Unpopular Opinions

1. New Kids on the Block? Who’s that? Talk to me about Menudo. Or the hey hey we’re the Monkeys!
2. Pixar makes me nauseous. Not, like, oh I hate it so much I’m gonna hurl, but like, when I watch Pixar-animated films I literally get motion sickness or something. I have to make sure to have a book or a hand-held craft or something available to stay the sway. Which is too bad, because they turn out some great stories. Or so I hear.
3. Daniel Craig is the best James Bond, ever. Sorry, Mr. Connery and Remington Steele.
4. I happily support gay marriage and am not at all surprised that it is being legalized rapidly across the country.
5. But I cannot fathom any excuse to make abortion legal.
6. And I think the feminist movement has taken so many ugly turns I want nothing to do with it. It has become a tricky, hurtful game of semantics that is counterproductive to people, not just women.
7. Fennel, though beautiful to look at as a raw vegetable and highly attractant to valuable pollinators in your garden while blooming, tastes awful. Because it tastes like licorice. Which tastes awful.
8. I believe strongly in the Bible as being the word of God.
9. But I am reluctant to identify with any man-made “religion” or denomination. No one single group has it all right.
10. That said, I think religion can be a beautiful and vital part of life and the fabric of our community if it is used and practiced lovingly. (This opinion is probably very popular, though, right? I mean it seems like a no-brainer. Not that you can tell by looking at most church communities.)
11. Along a similar vein, though I am largely conservative in nature, but still a bit of a hippie according to my friends, I resist identifying with any political party. Because, again, none of them get it all right. And they sure don’t speak for me.
12. Frogs are terrifying and mostly quite gross.
13. But horned toads are awesome.
14. I don’t care how plain or old-fashioned they are, morning-glory vines are possibly my favorite flower in the whole universe.
15. Animals as family members are so wonderful! But I really don’t groove them inside the house. I know, cue ironic music and eye rolling.
16. Gallagher, remember him? The watermelon-smashing “comedian?” Can. Not. Stand. Him. Slapstick comedy in general is annoying to me, and this particular unpopular opinion makes my sweet husband sad. He loves the Three Stooges.
17. Though I am guilty of more than my fair share of accidental typing errors, it drives me crazy to see deliberate spelling manipulations in advertising. For example, “E-Z” in lieu of “Easy.” Or anytime the plural “s” is swapped out for a “z.” WHY?? Catching my attention visually is pointless for sales, because now your giant Z means I will refuse to step foot in your shop. Also? You probably call it a “shoppe.” My god.
18. Regardless of the administration, I think the office of the President both garners too much credit and also suffers too much criticism for everything that happens in this country or under her scope. We are a vast social and political organism with complex moving parts operated and affected by far more than one elected official.
19. Condoning underage drinking or use of illegal drugs, especially with minors, is deplorable.
20. How on earth do we still have these bachelor-rose-giving shows? I mean really.
21. I think Diet Coke is probably fine.
22. I think Katy Perry is beautiful but will only listen to one of her songs, Dark Horse, and only when I’m running.
23. I love Eminem, explicit.
24. The show Fantasy Island needs to make a comeback.
25. When toddlers get gently attacked by cats is the best. I can watch those videos for hours.

Please join me. Get it all off your chest. Throw caution to the wind.

Know Thyself
~Socrates
XOXOXO

p.s. I am sure you already know this, but if you need a good laugh, look up the hashtag #confessyourunpopularopinion sometime. People are funny. And you just might walk away with a slightly different view of what mainstream is. LOL