You Are NOT Allowed to Veto My Restaurant Choice If You Don't Have An Alternative Suggestion

Let's take a break from talking about playfulness and leisure skill development for a second to discuss something serious. 

Remember last week, when we were trying to decide where to go for lunch?

I was like, "OMG! PLEASE! Let's go to Queen House! It is the best Chinese food in town -- maybe even the WORLD!" (Other than Granite Bay Chinese -- but that's too far.)

But then YOU were like, "Hmm... I don't know. Can we go someplace else?"

And I was like, "Where?"

"I dunno."

NOT OKAY.

Let's make a new rule. You are not​ allowed to veto my restaurant choice... unless you've got another suggestion. 

Saying no to Queen House is fine... as long as you follow up with:

​Because then I'll be like:

I'm into fitness -- Fit'ness BURRITO in my mouth! $7.99-$19.99 on Amazon.

After all, as much as I like to make fun of regressive, fainting couch feminism (women are warriors, not butterflies, man!), they do like to harp on a point that may be relevant here:

Emotional labor.

Don't veto my restaurant choice if you're not willing to put in the "emotional labor" of suggesting someplace else to get our yum on.

Let's apply the same rule to other situations. If we're trying to decide what to do today, and I'm like, "Let's go to the aquarium!"

You can only say no if you want to go to the pumpkin patch (or whatever), instead.

Or, at the very least, give an actionable reason why you don't want to go to the aquarium -- e.g., "It's $40. I can't afford that. Let's do something cheaper."

​Then I can be like, "Okay! Let's just surf."

It's good life advice, because it makes you easier and more enjoyable to hang out with -- no one likes a party pooper who nixes everyone's ideas without ever making any suggestions of their own.

But! It ALSO will probably make you a more purposeful, more mindful person. Why are you vetoing a restaurant or activity? Why are you focusing on what you don't want, instead of what you do want?

Remember: playfulness isn't a trait you're born with. It's a skill you develop during childhood -- and throughout your lifetime.

From: Adult Play is Important - But Adult "Preschool" is a $333 Scam.

So that's it. That's the new rule. 

​What do you think?

***

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