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Be True to Yourself

In recent years, I have dealt with my fair share of haters. I don’t know why people choose to talk the talk and I certainly don’t know how they do it without feeling remorseful. People can be downright spiteful and mean and although I’ve learned a ton of lessons from these instances, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is the desire to raise my son with class and morals; to never treat people the way some people have treated me.

I was watching the Olympics yesterday while they were interviewing one of the female runners, Carmelita Jeter, and it damn near broke my heart as she told her story. Her grandmother had been ‘You Tubing’ her granddaughter’s races when she discovered terrible and extremely hurtful feedback under the ‘comments’ section. She called Carmelita crying and asked how people could say such terrible things. The comments ranged from accusations of drugs to that of her being a cheater and bashing her as a runner and person.

Carmelita’s response during her interview? I don’t have the exact quote (wish I did) but it was something along the lines of not even letting it affect her peace of mind. She knows how hard she trains on a daily basis, she knows how much commitment and discipline it takes to get where she’s at now, and as long as she knows that, people can say whatever they want about her and it doesn’t phase her in the least bit.

I’ve learned that people bash others to make themselves feel better. Putting someone down is the easiest way to bring themselves up from whatever self-esteem issue they’re suffering from. It’s terrible that we live in a world where people generally feel better after verbally attacking someone else.

As hard as it may be to grin and bear it at times, as long as we are being true to ourselves and our beliefs, who really cares what others think or say about us? It’s natural human instinct to want to be liked and accepted, so it’s normal to be hurt or discouraged when negative things are said. However, we have to remind ourselves that at the end of the day, no one knows about our lives or stories better than ourselves, so it’s no ones job to criticize but our own.

Take a look in the mirror and decide for yourself.

Are you a compassionate person?
Do you strive to do your best everyday?
Do you set out to better the world or do you get caught up in gossip and negativity?
Are you the best parent and spouse you can be?
Do you leave others with a positive impression?
How can you bring a little more ‘nice’ into the world?

I encourage everyone to ‘pay it forward’ this week. Hold the door for a stranger who needs help, go through clothes you don’t wear and donate to the needy, or simply hold back the urge to gossip or say something negative about someone.

Do it for yourself. If we all worried more about our own lives and took a good look at the person in the mirror, maybe it would help create a better world for our children. As long as we are being the best person we can possibly be, we shouldn’t have to prove it to anyone but ourselves.

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