FORWARD, MARCH

It's funny how people will seek you out to compare notes, as if your reason for having done a thing MUST be the same as theirs. 

What makes people think you'll jump at the chance to join them in a bashing fest? "Did you hear...?" "Did you know...?" "Do you remember...?" It's fascinating how people suddenly want to fill you in on what's been going on, as if you are going to get some kind of sick pleasure or vindication out of the suffering, troubles, misfortunes, bad decisions, and missteps of others. Sometimes you have to disappoint people and cut their planned conversation short. What they think you want to know is the last thing on your mind. What they think you will appreciate is of no consequence. What they think you will celebrate does little more than make you shake your head. The appropriate time to complain about inappropriate situations is when they're happening--and you KNOW about them and the impact they're having. The time to speak up for righteousness, and expose wrongdoing is BEFORE getting kicked to the curb by the SAME people who you silently stood by and watched mistreat others. The time to stand up for Truth is BEFORE being forced to break ties with the people whose inappropriate behavior you used to conveniently ignore, make excuses for, staunchly support, or condone. It's difficult to speak up, however when your position, livelihood, present of future perks depend upon you keeping your mouth shut, or looking the other way. Sometimes the only thing you can glean from people in the present, is that your discernment is in tact and the decision you made in the past was the right one. Although they may need help/support in getting over a thing, YOU aren't the one to help them. It may be therapeutic for them to talk things out, but your ears aren't the ones the hear it. Being sympathetic or empathetic is one thing. Allowing people to drag you backward is another. Forward, march.