After experiencing rejection and some successes, Marianne decided to explore a different approach to self-help by following John Parkin’s advice in his book, F**k It!. Parkin encourages people to let go of unnecessary worries and adopt a more relaxed attitude toward life.

Embracing the idea of saying “fuck it” to things that don’t truly matter appealed to Marianne, and she eagerly joined Parkin’s week-long retreat in Italy.

The retreat went beyond scenic landscapes, providing Marianne with profound insights about her life. Exercises revealed deep-seated fears, like her inability to relax and a lack of trust in others. The experience left her more in touch with her emotions, even finding beauty in everyday things like squirrels.

However, adopting Parkin’s philosophy came at a cost. Marianne, influenced by self-help books’ advice to avoid negative people, distanced herself from friends who questioned her self-improvement mission, including a close friend who suggested she was becoming self-obsessed. Marianne fully embraced the “fuck it” philosophy, letting go of negative influences, and even refusing to do things she didn’t feel like doing, including her work assignments.