Ten excuses not to go out tonight
Writing this post at a different time of day to normal. And in a different place. On a Friday afternoon train. When I would rather be snoozing. With the sounds of snoring and a screaming baby in the background. May offer a different backdrop and new perspective!
The second half of Proverbs 22 is entitled ‘The thirty precepts of the sages’ so maybe we’ll leave those and do all thirty of them until tomorrow…that’s something to look forward to!
So…the first half…16 more proverbs covering much the same ground as the proverbs we have already encountered – the rich and the poor; integrity; instruction; trouble makers; discipline…that sort of thing.
Let’s just pick one that seems to stand out –
The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!” Proverbs 22:13
Excuses. I am so sick of hearing excuses.
Maybe, like me, you have been invited out to a friend’s tonight. Time to be sociable. Uh oh. Here are some great excuses if you don’t fancy it.
- There’s a programme on TV I really don’t want to miss
- I could do with an early night
- I’m not really in the mood
- I look like a mess and have nothing to wear
- I don’t get on with XXX and I have a feeling they’ll be there
- I think I’m coming down with something
- I have no money
- I’m waiting in for a supermarket delivery
- It’s that time of the month
- I have work I need to finish
OK, well that’s fine. If you don’t want to go, you don’t want to go. And you don’t want to hurt the feelings of the person who invited you, So yes, choose an excuse and stick to it.
But don’t – please don’t – post on Facebook tomorrow –
‘Sounds like I missed a great night…’
‘Really wish I’d been there…’
‘Tell me all about it…’
‘We’ll have to organise another night soon…’
You get the opportunity to try something new. Here come the excuses…
‘I’d love to but…’
‘I wish I could do that but…’
‘I know I should but…’
We blame money. Or rather lack of it. Time. Opportunity. Ability.
‘I’m not clever enough…’
‘I’m not fit enough…’
‘I’m not good enough…’
We blame fear of injury. Fear of failure. Fear of being laughed at.
We can always come up with great reasons not to step out of our comfort zone.
There’s always a way to justify not leaving the house. Not getting up off the sofa.
Stepping out of a comfort zone does entail some risk. Of course it does. And maybe you genuinely feel that the risk is not worth taking.
But sometimes it is just simply laziness. We can’t be bothered. It looks like too much effort. I guess that’s fine. But at least be honest. If you don’t want to, then say so.
Ditch the excuses.
So there you have it. A different perspective. I think I’m a little tired and cranky right now.
Maybe I shouldn’t go out tonight…
