Where the hell did we come up with this stupid “It is what it is” comment that I hear coming from every other person’s mouth? Is it like “Whatever” or “Really?” or any other catchphrase that just ends up being a hip way of communicating for a temporary period? Is it some mindless attempt at Yoda speak that someone came up with to obviously state…the obvious? Whatever it is, I am sick of it. And it’s not even true.

If there is anything I’ve learned from growing up on 80s fantasy flicks like The Goonies, Labyrinth, and The Neverending Story, it’s that nothing is ever as it seems. If you live your life sighing, “It is what it is,” all of the time, it’s no wonder you’re freaking depressed and jaded by life itself! I started living by this point of view this year—not verbatim, but close enough—and I can definitely feel the impact.

I am not saying we should live in denial if, say, we have alcoholism, or we struggle with infidelity in a relationship that we refuse to acknowledge. What I AM saying is that you don’t have to just resort to saying that your financial stress, or your health, or your life itself is just what it is and that’s that. Because it’s so much more than that; YOU are so much more than that.

To me, a rainy day isn’t a waste of outdoor plans; it’s an invitation to indoor forts, homemade play-dough making, and some science experiments. A bounced check isn’t just a bounced check; it’s a wakeup call, an opportunity to change, a whisper of new ideas—maybe a need to change banks, or manage money better, or to cut expenses. A premature baby isn’t just a premature baby; I can attest it to being a window to miracles, a time to grow and strengthen, and a life-changing experience. But then again, anything could be these things and more with an open mind—and less Larry-the-Cable Guy-Yoda speak.

Remember on Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (if you haven’t seen it, it’s adorable; go rent it!) when Natalie Portman tells Jason Bateman, “You’re a Just Guy. You look at a tree and say, it’s just a tree. It’s just a table. It’s just a store,” and there is nothing but disappointment on her face? That’s how I feel about this “It is what it is” saying. Don’t be a Just Person. See beyond what it there. I have forgotten to do that for months and it’s wearing on my entire being. If I pledge to stop believing that things are what they are and nothing more, will you?