What a shame that shaming others is such a prevalent pastime! Take pride in something and before you know it, someone will come along and try to deflate it. Some are just not happy until they bring others down, plain and simple. Many claim they have the person’s best interest in mind but if they actually stopped and thought and used empathy they would see them saying something really is not necessary. Snide remarks sure do no good. ‘Well, if it were me..’–well, it’s not, so stop wasting time pulling theoreticals out of your behind. Now if I have a piece of food stuck in my teeth or something hanging from my nose, then yes, I would love for someone to kindly pull me aside and let me know because obviously that would be something I wasn’t already aware of…most people don’t consciously walk around like that. But if you want to comment on my size, it won’t be a revelatory eye-opener; it’s something I’m definitely already conscious of, sometimes even self-conscious. If you want to call me too sensitive or too quiet, go ahead…but I can’t guarantee I won’t point out the probability that you aren’t sensitive enough or that you maybe talk too much. It is not your God-given right to share your opinion on how others look, how they live, what they feel, who they love. I mean, you can, but the subjects of your commentary may tell you off for the intrusion, because they can. Got advice? Save it for someone who actually asks. Otherwise you’ll risk making others feel bad (possibly for a very long time) and is it worth that just to make yourself feel better for a fleeting moment?
Autumn Ray
