Lavanya From Bihar Doesn’t Get a Vote

I need more people to stop caring.

Not in a “be rude to everyone” kind of way.

In a “why are you allowing complete strangers to sit on the board of directors of your life?” kind of way.

Because some of you are out here making life decisions based on the potential reactions of people who would not recognize you if you were on fire.

And I need to understand why.

You want to wear the dress.

But what if people don’t like it?

Who?

You want to write the book.

But what if people judge me?

Who?

You want to start the business.

But what if they think it’s cringe?

WHO?

Give me names.

Addresses.

Aadhaar cards.

Because every time I ask people who these mysterious “people” are, they suddenly become very quiet.

The truth is that most of us spend our lives seeking approval from an invisible audience.

A panel of judges that doesn’t exist.

And even when it does exist, why are we acting like every opinion deserves equal weight?

It doesn’t.

I’m sorry.

It just doesn’t.

If my parents have an opinion, I’ll listen.

If my partner has an opinion, I’ll listen.

If my boss has an opinion, I’ll listen.

If my readers have feedback, I’ll consider it.

But why exactly am I supposed to rearrange my entire personality because Lavanya from Bihar doesn’t like something?

With all due respect to Lavanya.

I don’t know Lavanya.

I’ve never met Lavanya.

Lavanya has never paid my bills.

Lavanya has never helped me achieve a goal.

Lavanya has never sat beside me while I cried.

Lavanya has never celebrated my wins.

Lavanya is, for all practical purposes, an NPC in my story.

And somehow I’m expected to treat her opinion as equal to my own?

Absolutely not.

In fact, I think we need to normalize saying:

“Thank you for your feedback. It has been reviewed.”

And then doing absolutely nothing.

People act like disagreement is a natural disaster.

It’s not.

Someone doesn’t like your content?

Okay.

Someone thinks your dream is unrealistic?

Okay.

Someone thinks you’re annoying?

Okay.

Someone thinks you’re too loud, too ambitious, too dramatic, too weird, too much?

Excellent.

Now what?

The sun still rose this morning.

The rent is still due.

The Earth continues spinning through space at approximately 107,000 kilometers per hour.

Nothing happened.

Because here’s the thing nobody tells you:

Not everybody gets a vote.

This is my life.

Not a democracy.

Not a public consultation.

Not a group project.

Not a customer feedback form.

MY life.

And while constructive criticism is welcome, random opinions from strangers are simply submissions.

Submissions are not approvals.

They’re suggestions.

And suggestions can be rejected.

Immediately.

Without explanation.

Without guilt.

Without a follow-up meeting.

So if you’re waiting for universal approval before you start living the life you want, I have terrible news.

It doesn’t exist.

There will always be a Lavanya.

And another one.

And another one.

An endless army of people who think you should be doing something differently.

Dress differently.

Speak differently.

Dream differently.

Exist differently.

Ignore them.

Respectfully.

Because at the end of the day, there is only one person who has to live with every decision you make.

You.

And if somebody is upset because you’re pursuing your goals, expressing yourself, enjoying your life, or existing in a way they personally wouldn’t choose—

First of all, my apologies if something I’ve done has stirred negative feelings in you.

However, after a thorough review of the situation, the target audience for everything I do—namely, me—found it excellent.

Therefore, operations shall continue as planned.