This has been on my mind for the last few days, as I’ve watched a loud and determined bunch of unhappy people do their best to make happy and successful people feel as bad as they do.
Everyone who becomes a fully-functioning adult — every single one of us — goes through a time in our lives when we are a shit. The difference between shitty adults and awesome adults is growing out of that. Take charge of your life, and make changes to make yourself happier and improve your relationships with people who aren’t dickwagons.
Having committed to making those changes in your life, resist the urge to fall back with an old crowd who will drag you back into old patterns. Time you spend with people who are shits is time you are not spending with people who are awesome, and when an awesome person sees you with a shit, that’s one more awesome person who you didn’t have an opportunity to bring into your life.
Life is too short to be a shit, and you tend to attract to your life what you offer in return. So if you look around yourself and discover that you’re surrounded by shits, change that as quickly as you can. It may not be easy (in fact, it won’t be easy, at first), but I promise you that you’ll be happier when you do.
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Well said Wil
Excellent advice! Thanks honorary dad Wheaton!
Well said!
Here, here, well spoken Bruce!
The way this posts on Facebook, when I saw “I’M GOING TO BE A DAD FOR A SECOND” I thought it would be followed by “…TIME” and went “WHOA!”
Which completely explains all the “congratulations!” comments 🙂
Same thought here!
Well-paid Wil, on a sidenote I must attempt to use the term “dickwagon” more often.
I think that this is an awesome thing that you’ve said as a dad and totally true.
Ugh, Dad, geez, whatEVeerrr…
silently digests useful advice for use at a later time
Pretty much this, yes.
Wow thanks Wil Wheaton I needed to hear that.
Thank you for the Dad words. Trouble is those who really need your advice will seldom take it.
Well said Wil! We all have a time in our life where reflection and change is needed!
Don’t be a shit and don’t hang out with shits is deceptively simple good life advice.
Word.
So that’s why you left ST:TNG? Just kidding. I’m one of the people who hated Wesley Crusher, but I didn’t transfer that feeling to you. If there’s any verisimilitude in your portrayal of yourself on The Big Bang Theory, I am impressed with how you got past the “hatred” from others. Don’t ever let such people define you!
I’m a bit of a shit I admit. (Mr Grinch) Woh that rhymed. Motivation is super hard when you’re surrounded by the wrong people. Tis true the internet has opened up a lot of talking but social media doesn’t equal community, just a lot of passing comments… Just like this one.
Wil, the single thing that has impressed me the most with the whole recent debacle is how refreshing it was to see adult responses from both you and Anne. Made me realize how rare that is. From one dad to another – thanks to you both. Hope your upcoming trip to Ottawa is less “interesting”. You can be Dad to the internet anytime.
Wil, I tend to agree with: If a person hangs around crap, it gets on them. Thanks for dropping in as Dad for a bit.
Fantastic advice for self-aware shits. But I worry that most shits actually believe they’re awesome.
Hah! I did a major housecleaning of all the toxic people in my life back in aught-six.
Oh, Wil Wheaton. You are so wise.
<3 Thank you for this.
Also….
DICKWAGONS. Holy hell, this is so totally my new favorite word.
Between this and Scalzi’s “beclown” my vocabulary is picking up a bunch of new fun things to say.
My late grandmother used to tell me “if you lie with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas” as her warning against hanging out with shitty people. I like your way of putting it better!
I lost a lot of ” friends” awhile back and my life is better for it , poop sticks you should not play with it. Drop it.. Flush it…
That’s what being a grown up is all about … 🙂
I was a total shit at 22, and the occasional recollection/cringe of that period keeps me on the straight-and-narrow many years later!
Thank you Wil. I really needed to read this today, right this moment. Seriously helped. Have a great week young man.
You might be be right, but some just are shits .. that is the fact of life. It is up to us who we allow within our sphere. I am guilty of this sin and make no bones about it. I write slams all the time. judge .. we all judge .. and the attraction thing that’s all perspective and perception .. made by who or whom ? In this world no one knows until one meets and see’s over time what is really the real. … So i am a shit .. lol ..
Don’t be a shit.
I think sometimes everyone, even a well developed adult, gets to be a shit. I am in a really shitty mood right now. I have no good reason, I’m just a shit. But I’m staying in my own house and not inflicting it on anyone else. I may indulge in a few adult beverages and go to bed early. Tomorrow I’ll be back to my happy cheerful self, but tonight total shit. Leave me alone.
Recall two important factors:
1.) the future, almost by definition, belings to the progressive.
2.) evil is essentially stupid
And to your wife: non illegitimi carborundum
Dickwagon. Great word. Good post. Cheers..
Thank you for this, recently have made some very positive life changes and felt guilty for having to leave behind a couple long time friends that were actually pretty awful people. I feel a lot better now.
Yea think i’ve been around to much shit o_0 .
As a fellow dad, well said. I hope you don’t mind me stealing this over the next few decades. 😉
I’ve never seen a happy person treat another person like shit. I’ve had folks tell me how happy they are, how blessed, all the while shitting on others just because they can. Feel kinda sorry for them.
These aren’t words, this is wisdom.
yes as read this was through the Eyes of a Parent not just a person of influence nice read Thank You
I love you even just a bit more after reading this. You’re super.
Your spot on there Mr Wheaton
“Time you spend with people who are shits is time you are not spending with people who are awesome.”
Good timing. Someone emailed me asking for advice tonight, and this just might be what I need to say. 😉
Thank you Sir, for these wonderful words of wisdom and for the word: Dick-wagon, which I will start using on a regular basis 🙂
Wheaton’s Law #2: Don’t Be A Shit
You know Wil, you and I are about the same age and we have the honor of growing up in a generation that transformed itself into something awesome. Unfortunately, the coming generation has a harder time understanding the basics and all of these people you speak of are those who are truly afraid of the unknown.
If you’re up for it, and haven’t read it already (although I believe you have since you are an intelligent person) is Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. These days, many need to read it and if you are keen to what Thomas says, you will find that it is a book that relates no matter the time period. I’d personally love to throw this book at quite a few people around me and then maybe they’d get the hint.
Of all my internet Dad, you’re my favorite. (But, don’t tell the others)
Well said to all of this. I must say that you and Anne have handled yourselves with grace and dignity throughout all this nuttiness. It’s a shame that otherwise capable adults can’t seem to maintain their adulthood in all aspects of their lives.
I tell my kids the same thing more or less. You must be the master of your own destiny and do not let other define who you are. You walk this way only once, so make it an enjoyable trek.
Well said sir. sometimes you have to flush a few times to get rid of them!
Even though we’re the same age will you be my daddy?
Well good words but….. There’s always a butt. Allot of these people have shitty parents to begin with and when they try to get away from the people that bring them down to a certain level in society their are told they are betraying their people… Their denying their heritage….. They feel their BETTER THEN EVERYONE ELSE. ANd for awhile you can fight it and so do some even just write it off and move on. But for allot of people its all they have ever known and it is very VERY hard from them to get out of out where they are because of it.
Wa Wa Wa, quit yer whining… 🙂 … now, seriously, well said, Dad.
Remember kids, Uncle Wil always says: http://www.jeremyhuggins.com/dont-be.gif
Amen to that, Good Sir. I post your “Be honest, be kind, be honorable, work hard and always be awesome” where all my theater students can see this motto and live by it. Thank you.