If it’s important to you, get the good stuff.
It’s kind of a first-world problem, I know, but whatever…choosing is still hard. There are so many options for whatever you’re looking for and it just so happens that they’re all super tempting.
We’re blessed to have choices wherever we go, but sometimes we don’t want to choose. Sometime we just want what we want, and we need to know that that’s ok.
Choosing vs. prioritizing
Part of choosing is prioritizing. When do you compromise and get whatever will work/is the best price/is immediately available, and when do you not compromise and only get exactly what you want and nothing else?
Depending on what you’re doing and what’s important to you, it’s ok to not compromise on some things. Standards can be very personal and are healthy to have. Also, it’s important to know that you shouldn’t feel the need to have to explain your standards to anyone…they don’t need to be agreed upon in a committee. You have them, they make sense to you, that really should kind of be it.
You can tell a lot about someone from their standards – where they choose to not skimp on anything and what little (or big) pieces of their lives they protect and hold important. What – to them – is non-negotiable.
It’s different for everybody
And you don’t need to agree with someone else’s standards for them to be real. Sometimes it’s big stuff, but it’s the non-negotiable little stuff that really can tell you a lot.
Me? Here are a few things I won’t skimp on:
1) Jeans. It’s a weird one, I know, so I’m starting with it. Listen, it’s ok to have some “everyday” jeans that are meant to get all beat up, but we’re adults so just own a nice pair of jeans. Ones that fit. It’s hard to explain to those that don’t have a good pair of jeans, but once you put a good pair on, you’ll totally get it.
2) Basketball shoes. Really, whatever shoes are required for your favorite sport, but for me, that’s hoops. I don’t play as much as I used to, but when I do, I like to have good kicks. No, I’m not throwing down $300 for a pair, but having a good pair makes sense.
If you’re going to play, then play hard and have gear you can rely on, can be proud of, and can keep up with you. (Hint: this is also true for when you’re doing other passion activities like playing music.)
3) Concert tickets. More specifically, concert tickets to see your all-time favorite artist performing in your all-time favorite city. This is exponentially true when said artist doesn’t come to said town every year. When planets align, do what you have to do to be at the damn show. I just put in my requests for Phish tickets in hometown STL for this summer. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
4) The real Sriracha sauce. Like I said, my priorities might not be your priorities and that’s ok, but I recently picked up some copy rooster hot sauce and just NOPE. Not even close. If you like what you like, just be ok with it. Get the real stuff. I put this shit on everything. It’s worth it.
Standards, to a degree, can define you
Maybe they change after a while, but maybe not. Either way, don’t skimp when it matters.
Everyone deserves to have their stuff. If it’s not important, then be self-aware enough to know and yeah, sure, maybe settle for something else.
But if it’s important enough to you – big or small – don’t compromise. If you start compromising what’s important, then who the hell will you be?
Everyone is always saying to “be yourself” and “be brave” and “be different” which is great, but also, let’s be honest, super hard. Maybe it all starts with keeping your standards.
HMU if you’re headed to Phish in STL this summer. We’ll throw some Sriracha sauce on some pizza before the show. Just don’t get any on my jeans.
#bewhatyoumake
