Whatever

The American English equivalent to the common, polite Thai expression, "mai pen rai", meaning "it doesn't matter"; an easily accessible communication tool for re-grounding in the midst of a circular, escalating, non-productive, manipulative, or highly emotional argument. When one partner calmly terminates with "Whatever" (humorous, non-aggro Valley Girl accent, one eye roll, and heavy sigh acceptable), it allows both participants to remember that their separate "ego chatter" and the subsequent discomfort of those primitive "fight or flight" endocrine hormones surging now through them - is an illusion, all Maya. "Whatever" is the new Western mantra to allow those in our culture to wake up, surrender, let go of the futile need to be "right", to sit in the silence of the moment and return to the underlying reality of love, unity, and connection. Words are increasingly inadequate in this age of “The Quickening.” We have evolved much faster than our spoken language. A simple, compassionately delivered "Whatever" can still that inner turmoil, allow deep breathing to return, help each partner to regain balance and perspective, and reconnect to each other in a more profound and constructive way, through touch, music, art, dance, and lovemaking. Try it! Although many define the term as negative, harsh, cowardly, or maddening, it doesn't have to be! It's not that way in Thailand. Look at it from a different angle.