Archives for March 2012

A few months ago I was running errands and happened to overhear two people talking about someone I knew. These women were saying disparaging things and laughing at their observations, cruel observations. I was having a particularly low day and felt, quite frankly, fed up with the world. As I started to turn away, to go down a different aisle and move on with my day, I stopped. Suddenly and painfully aware that what I was listening to, what I had heard, was unfair and if I didn’t speak up, no one would. I confronted these women and told them that what they were saying was insensitive, that if I could hear them, others could, as well. I wanted them to be made aware of the power of words and the ease with which we can hurt others. The women were caught off guard and I’m sure felt that I was wrong to be weighing in or scolding them for their gossip, but I followed my heart and spoke my mind and it still stays with me as a moment of pure clarity and strength.

Speaking up for yourself or others, standing your ground and speaking your mind does not guarantee that people will understand or even listen. It does not guarantee that they will respect, appreciate or even like you for it. But it does guarantee that you will like yourself…no…LOVE yourself!