“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me. I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”
– Meryl Streep
This weekend six of my dearest friends gathered together in a women’s circle that has been spinning love and laughter for twenty-five years. We see the best in each other – often before we can see it in ourselves. We risk being honest and may not always say the perfect things. We may try to fix, change, solve, cure, give advice, or influence. We may interrupt, or not listen closely enough to what wasn’t being said in the silence between the words. But the thing is we show up for each other in all our imperfection.
Inspired by Meryl’s words each of us shared what we’re no longer willing to do:
I’m no longer willing to be disrespected.
I’m no longer willing to spend time with people who don’t fill me up.
I’m no longer willing to be so busy anymore.
I’m no longer willing to take life for granted.
I’m no longer willing to put myself second.
I’m no longer willing to work my ass off.
I’m no longer willing to hide.
What are you no longer willing to do in your life?
