I Am Exhausted

I am exhausted. I am not talking about tiredness as such (although I am tired). I am exhausted from, well, having opinions. It seems I have had an opinion on everything lately and it is exhausting. It is exhausting when you feel very passionately about something so you argue your point multiple times, on multiple social networks, over multiple days that turn into multiple weeks.

It will be obvious what the first issue I have passionately argued about these past few weeks. It is the issue that everyone is talking about in Australia right now, it is the issue that has divided the whole of Australia into either the YES camp or NO camp. It is the issue that has made Magda Szubanski tirelessly campaign for the YES camp. I am, of course, talking about marriage equality and the stupid amount of money the government is spending on a non - legally binding vote. I have written countless Facebook statuses and Twitter updates on this matter, I also wrote a blog post, which you can read here. It has caused many heated debates in the last few weeks.

I have also gotten into debates with the group that call themselves the Australian Brotherhood of Fathers. This has been ongoing for months and while the issues are not as well known as marriage equality, it has been exhausting listening to misogynistic, abusive men abuse and demean anyone who does not agree with them. I wrote a blog post on them, which you can read here. After I wrote that blog post it got a lot worse, including members threatening to bash lawyers. I will not go into what else they have said because a) it sickens me and b) as previously mentioned, I am exhausted.

That may only be two issues and you may be thinking that's not too bad, I would be able to deal with that and perhaps, dear reader, you are right. The problem is that I seem to have an opinion on everything. It could be the weather, or the latest news or even what I think about what someone is wearing but the opinions will not stop.

I grew up in a family where women and children were not encouraged to have their own opinions so I stayed quiet, in my past relationships I was expected not to have an opinion so I stayed quiet. Then I met my partner (actually I met him in primary school) and he encouraged me to have an opinion. This of course, in theory was a wonderful thing, I am just not sure he, or I, were expecting me to have so many opinions. My loving partner has patiently listened to my opinions and assures me he likes that I have opinions, which is good because I have many but I digress.

I have debates with my kids over Harry Potter, songs, games, toys and Star Wars. I am asked my opinion on a range of social issues and Dr McDreamy by my partner and friends. I see statuses on Twitter and Facebook and can't help but have an opinion. I am on forums where the sole purpose is for someone to write their problems and you give an opinion on what they should do about it.

When I was thinking about what my next blog post should be about I realised something, I have no more opinions left to give, I have given to many opinions lately and now I am opinionated out. So this blog post is specifically about not giving an opinion.

I am sure my opinions will come back, with the next political issue, or if spandex comes back or well if I see something I either passionately agree or disagree with.