We all have them. Some of us are lucky enough to deal with them, and banish them to the great mental closet of ‘past baggage no longer needed.’ Others of us? Not so much. And some even love to inflict their insecurities on the rest of us. As a very wise person said, “The things we do not like in others are the things that we do not like about ourselves.”
I never would have believed it, but it’s so true.
For years, I struggled to be what everyone thought I should be. They told me I was too heavy for my age, too loud, too bossy, too opinionated, too this, too that. And I believed them. For so many years I struggled with extreme depression, anxiety, stress, and self-loathing because I wasn’t the ideal. Over twenty years of shaming myself, of guilting myself because I didn’t fit.
And then today I found out that the person who has hounded me the most about my weight had been in a relationship where her (thankfully former) spouse repeatedly threatened her if she got an inch over her size 14. And that another person who has dissed my family has actually suffered from the exact things she claims (erroneously) we’re guilty of.
It’s a perfect example of the adage ‘what goes around, comes around,’ and I never would have believed it. It’s also extremely easy (and sad) to see how this cycle continues…
But me? I’m done with it all. I wish I had noticed this pattern earlier (much earlier, really), but that’s the way life goes. I probably wasn’t ready to admit such a crazy, insane thing was possible. Now, however, the blinders are off, and I feel like I’m finally ready to move on with my life.
Hello, blue skies…
I completely agree with you… and this is a very fitting post for what I have been dealing with personally, and with a lot of kids! Thank you for writing this!
Thank you for stopping by and reading it! 🙂
I just find it sad that so many feel they have to take others down a notch or two just to make their life a little more bearable. And it starts so young!! 😦
Maybe though, if enough people pick up on this behavior, it can be combated.
as you have already noticed, there is only one person that we love and hate the most in this world, and it is us. Unfortunately, there are not many people who can admit their own insecurities and that is the reason they project them onto others.
Instead of dealing with them, they try to “help” others. If you ask them, why they say things, they will say that they are trying to protect you from the cruel world, so you do not have to suffer. Bizarre, but true. Most of the time, they do not mean any harm. I am not talking about bullies who actually intend to harm.
Oh my God, that “I’m trying to *help* you” argument is EXACTLY what they all said — and you’re right, it’s *totally* bizarre!
Yeah…that phrase is true. I believe it. And I’ve had some similar experiences. Glad that you’re you, Heather. Because you? Are lovely!
And you, my dear, are WONDERFUL! 🙂