Nothing can hurt someone more than the power of words. There are times that words can have the greatest effect on us all. There is one situation in particular that stands above the rest for me. That is being called a "bitch" by a member of my family. Nothing could compare the hurt that I felt when that word struck me, not even being bullied in grade school or being dumped by my first boyfriend. Even the pain from fighting with my best friend and not talking to her for a year could compare to this. I have been called things such as a brat, spoiled, selfish, and a bitch by this person who I thought was someone I could look up to.
The whole thing started with a board game, a silly family board game. Who knew one choice of placement in a game would cause so much turmoil among blood. How could someone be over the age of 40 and call someone who is barely out of adolescence a bitch for playing a game. A GAME. Most importantly a game where you are supposed to be against one another, not a game of teams and alliances. Yet they still sat there yelling at me and calling me names like I am going to care anymore. The name that I was called mattered more than how my move effected the game. Yes the name I was called hurt but after every time this happens and they call me names like this, I am now numb to the reactions.
How could someone who is supposed to be the adult, the protector, the mature role model call a child such cruel names? Just because I disagree with them on things. How does that make it right for that person to try and hurt me through words? Their words may not have the same effect on me now that they had before, but if it's not me thats getting called these names who is going to be called them instead? My little brother? The kid that doesn't deserve the names and doesn't know how to handle them.
How can this person sit there and see there is no problem here? They may have the body of an adult but still have the attitude of an adolescent. It doesn't matter what baggage someone may have or issues they have with dealing with conflict, it does not give anyone the right to call someone a name and make them feel lesser than them because they lost a game. Was a game worth losing a relationship with a family member over?
The thing that came out of this whole situation is that I got to learn how not to act towards people especially your family. I learned a valuable lesson on how to treat people even when you feel like they wronged you, or when you lose a game. You treat everyone, especially family, with respect and lose with dignity. Game night is supposed to be friendly fun and no friendship, family, or relationship is worth losing over a game.
