Being Right or Letting Things Go

When do we truly have to prove we're right, and when can we let things go? That's a question I find myself constantly struggling with. Constantly everyday.

 When it comes to social media, politics, the faceless discussions its innate to the process now. In today's hyperbolic and strained political environment it can be easy to swept up in debate. It can be so easy to be emotionally charged and fatalistic. 

That's not what I'm speaking to here. No I'm thinking more personally.

It's hard enough in personal conversations and relationships. I hear something wrong. Something that isn't factual. It's hard for me to let it go.

This has been with me my whole life. I was that nerd who spent hours reading encyclopedia entries about anything that popped in my head. I still spend hours reading, researching, and learning. Over and over and over again. Often compulsively. This curiosity syncs with my ADHD and it's hyperfixations in ways I can't fully describe. But it leaves me knowing a lot of facts and some surety of their validity. 

That bank of ridiculous knowledge causes one of the biggest issues in my life. I hear something untrue, or wrong, and literal ding pops in my head (it might be my tinnitus) and out of my mouth goes the disputation. I stomp on toes too often. My tone is often misunderstood. But I can't seem to figure out how to soften it. 

I do my best to be conversational. I hope I’ve gotten better. Truly.

Some friends, some family appreciate it at this point. But others. I mean throughout my life I’ve found people who are resistant to changing ideas. Facing facts. I find myself asking the questions. Don't people want to know the truth? Actual information?

The truth is, for some other things matter more.

This matters so much to me but I’m not everyone. I’m not. I need to realize that. And maybe settle in a little better.