There are so many questions that I wish I knew the answers to. But if I had the opportunity to ask the universe anything and get a guaranteed response back, it would be this:
How can people be so unnecessarily mean?
I never understood why people would take the time and energy to intentionally go out of the way to hurt someone else; to make them feel horrible and less of a person.
What is there to possibly gain from being a jerk? Nothing of materialistic value. Maybe it makes you feel good about yourself. Or perhaps you just want a quick moment of power that will vanish as soon as it comes, so why even go to the effort?
Not to go off on a tangent, but this is an issue that oftentimes irks me. Like you didn’t have to make that rude comment. You didn’t have to make that person feel bad about themselves. You could’ve kept your mouth shut and left them alone in peace.
There is already too much unhappiness in this world and we don’t need to any more negativity added to it.
This goes back to an elementary school saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” Children are already taught this at a young age, yet I still find grown adults struggling with this.
And what I absolutely despise most is gossip and flat out trash talking.
Everyone (myself included) has participated in gossip, and has been a victim of it as some point in their lives.
Talking about someone behind their back is the lowest level a person can get on and I promise you, everything you said will eventually reach back to them. Everything.
And you will forever appear weak and pathetic in their eyes. Most of all, you would be a coward for not even be able to say it to their face. What you say about others say a lot more about you.
To clarify, I am not acting like an angel and pretentiously placing myself high up on a pedestal. I’m not perfect and I’m just as guilty of these actions just as anyone else. This is not only a call out message to others, but also to myself. It's important to be self-aware of your actions and words, and despite the fact that mistakes will be made, it's a work in progress.
It helps a lot when you're cautious of the people you choose to surround yourself with. I learned long ago that if people gossip to you, they most likely gossip about you. And we don't need fake friends like that.
From elementary school all the way up to college, no matter what I did, rumors followed me wherever I go. When I young, I remember being confused as to why people who I thought were my friends would say such false, hurtful things. I was extremely discouraged and disheartened to hear what they thought of me.
I tried my best not to care.
I resolved to never let people have the satisfaction in knowing that they got to me. In actuality, it is encouragement to continue to be genuine, to be myself and prove them wrong.
I had sworn to myself that I would try to never ever belittle someone and make them feel worthless. I would never intentionally try to make someone feel worthless because I know exactly how that feels. I vowed to respect everyone, regardless of their actions, because as a dignified human being, they deserve respect. Even if they don't respect others.
Whenever I learn of a situation where people were bashing on me, obviously I would be hurt and offended initially. And then those feelings would turn into pity. It must be sad to have nothing better to do than deliberately cause harm. Yet in return, I will still be civil and respectful towards them.
I refuse to stoop down to that level of bitterness and pettiness. If anything, be kind to unkind people--they need it the most.
A close friend of mine told me to “kill them with kindness” and that is the mentality everyone should have.
You will be much happier that way.
Life is short and fragile and beautiful, and honestly it’s not worth it to foster hatred and spite.
"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” -Taylor Swift
