Knowing when to walk away ￼

Special thanks once again to rojie for today’s prompt. if you haven’t done so already, definitely check out her blog justrojie.com. Incidentally, this wasn’t the prompt designated for

Have you ever let someone win an argument even though you knew you were right? Who? And why?

This is another loaded question for me because I love the art of the argument. Not fighting with people verbally, but I love the idea of exploring opposite sides of an issue and knowing when I am right—trying to bring someone over to my way of thinking. To try and be persuasive. If you want to say “Rob loves to argue,” go right ahead, because it’s probably true.

But there has been a shift, even more so the older I get. There are times now when I will simply walk away from an argument because I don’t want to sit there and yell and scream until I’m blue in the face just to prove myself right. Sometimes it is enough to walk away knowing that I’m right, and simply deciding, “I’m not going to argue with you anymore.”

In a lot of ways, when you tell someone you’re not going to engage, it’s probably even more frustrating for them. Let’s face it: when you take that approach, you’re taking the high road, so to speak. You’re refusing to be brought down to the other person’s level.

As I said, I notice myself doing this more as I get older, and to be honest, arguing with someone is often just not worth the headache—even when you know you’re right. It’s not worth the hassle and aggravation of getting emphatic, getting loud, or repeating yourself over and over again just to prove a point.

In fact, I know there have been times when I’ve “won” an argument and walked away feeling completely empty, asking myself: What did I just lose my self-control for? Was it really worth it?

Ultimately, choosing to walk away from an argument is a form of self-preservation. It sounds a bit dramatic, but you really do lose a little piece of yourself when you get so hellbent on being right. Sometimes the satisfaction of being right just isn’t worth the heavy toll it takes to get there.

Unfortunately, my most recent experiences with simply walking away have involved my mom. As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, in addition to a laundry list of health problems, she is also suffering from dementia. Some days she’s very forgetful; some days she’s mostly incoherent. But the big lesson I’ve learned—and read about regarding people experiencing dementia—is that when they’re right in the middle of it, they have their own perception of reality. Saying something that contradicts that perception is deeply jarring for them.

And honestly, it’s just not worth it.

That realization bleeds into the rest of life, too. Choosing to walk away from an unnecessary battle is the ultimate exercise in Option C: choosing yourself. When I walk away now, it’s because I don’t care whether I win or lose—I just care about protecting my physical and emotional energy. Who cares if the rest of the world knows I’m right? I’d rather keep my peace.

Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.

Today’s post is inspired by the WordPress Daily Prompt. While I’ve taken the topic in my own direction for the Road beyond 1,000 Days, you can find more responses to today’s prompt HERE.

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The article “knowing winter walkaway” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.

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