On Being Indifferent

I get good news. I get bad news.

I go out. I stay in.

It’s all the same to me. I’m indifferent to it all.

My face always stays the same. My emotions, they’re always flatlined. They don’t fluctuate.

It’s always the same. Someone comes up to me with some great gossip, some story that someone else would kill to hear – some serious, serious juice. I hear the words that come out of my mouth in response: “No way.”

A confused reaction. “Did you hear what I just told you?”

Yes, yes I did hear what you just told me, but truth of the matter is, I don’t really care.

Positive trait? You would think so – that is, if it stops at not caring about gossip. In my situation however, it doesn’t. It kind of encompasses life.

The older I get the more indifferent I am towards anything or anyone. Indifference is not being shy, and it’s not being an introvert either. It’s not hating nor is it avoiding. It’s definitely not playing hard to get.

Indifference is just…indifference. The lack of attachment of any sort to anything handed to you.

Some may argue that this detachment will kill your soul sooner rather than later but I can’t help but believe that there is some kind of power in being able to control and own this detachment. You’re not expecting anything when you’re indifferent, and that’s wonderful because everyone knows that the mother of all heartbreaks is having expectations.

Others may argue that indifference is worse than hatred. At least with hate there’s some kind of care and attention that comes with it. You would have to have cared about someone previously in order to hate them.

Meh.

Living in a country like Egypt where problems arise on a daily routine, having an indifferent attitude could save you a lot of frustration. Client shows up two hours late? Happens. Cairo traffic taking you three years to reach your final destination? What are you going to do about it? Nothing. Might as well be indifferent about it right from the start.

How do you do it? How come you’re so “chill”?

“Those who are heartless once cared too much.”

That’s your answer right there.

Try it. Genuinely detach yourself from anything bringing you down in life. You don’t care. Repeat after me: “I don’t care”. Helps, doesn’t it?

Or maybe you shouldn’t be taking advice from me. I don’t really know what I’m saying and to be honest I don’t really care.

*Shrug.*

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