Your own worth

My ghost name is Ginooat:

https://twitter.com/nathanwpyle/status/1437233812203782145 

As you can see, the parameters for knowing your ghost name are somewhat arbitrary, but it is just for fun. I like it better than a lot of these, because by only going with your first name, it has no signs of being a ploy to pull in tools for identity theft or password hacking.

There are still people unhappy with it. As you don't need a ghost name, and even if you want one you can set your own rules for deciding your ghost name, it is not a problem.

Yesterday I was in a discussion about clothing. One woman who loves hoodies no longer wears them outside the house because she read that is not something to do once you are in your forties. Another person felt a need to make her towels match after a similar article recommend that.

If you start looking for lists of things you should own or stop doing or definitely have in your closet or never wear again at different ages, you will find many.

My obvious question is "Says who?" Probably the answer is right in the byline of the list, but is it someone you know and care about? Because getting to write a listicle doesn't actually require that much authority.

You may have the ability to influence your friends or children, where you can make them feel good or bad about clothes, homes, and life choices. If so, please use your power for good and not to make people feel inferior or spend money for things they don't really want.

On the other hand, if you are the person being influenced this way, how much do you like the person at the root of the times when you feel less? 

Even if you like the way they dress or wear their hair or arrange flowers, their way would still not be the only way. Other ways can be valid.

There is no need for this approach. If someone wrote a list of "10 things that made me feel like a grownup", and one of them was getting matching towels, and one was buying a nice jacket, I would have no problem with that, regardless of whether I thought any of the ideas were good.

I don't know if the writers (or their editors) don't feel like their opinions would merit that kind of treatment, or if taking on that authority is part of the appeal. From the editorial point of view, the more aggressive voice tends to attract more attention, even if some of that attention is negative.

You still do not have to respect this authority, especially if that will mean buying things you don't need, wearing clothes you don't like, and feeling like everything about you is wrong.

Often women over 40 will enjoy that feeling of the pressure relaxing as they can do their own thing. The 26 year old may still care if a magazine chastises her for having stuffed animals on the bed, but the 46 year old usually is less worried about outside opinions. 

The listicles are still trying to get you. Don't let them.

Personally, I am almost 50, and good luck telling me anything.