# Offense Taken

Source: https://www.theminimalists.com/offense/
Published: 2026-07-15
Updated: 2026-08-12
Author: Joshua Fields Millburn

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The smallest things tend to offend me. Just last week, someone I respect replied to my heartfelt text with a single word: *sure*. Ouch. My imagination took it from there.

But my imagination is a terrible mind reader…

Cut me off in traffic?\
 *​You’re inconsiderate.*

Interrupted me mid-sentence?\
 *​You don’t respect me.*

Disagreed with my politics?\
 *​You must be a self-righteous prick.*

Thankfully, I’ve learned not to trust my own indignation.

Truth be told, I wasn’t offended by *you*.\
 I was offended by *the story I invented* about you.

You don’t have the power to provoke me\
 unless I hand you the keys to my heart.

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