Last week, I was having a conversation with someone about the whole Omarosa and Trump nonsense. The guy I was talking to thought it was shady for Omarosa to have secretly recorded conversations between her and Trump. He believed that due to their “friendship” she violated an honor code. He thought that she should have had more respect for their friendship to have not been involved in dubious acts against him. But I disagree. Omarosa doesn’t owe him anything. As much as you want and hope that people treat you fairly, with honor and respect, people don’t. Not even the ones closest to you. And what’s probably most disconcerting of it all is that they don’t have to. No one owes you this privilege.
The first time I learned this lesson was in undergrad when I was pledging my sorority. When you’re going through your pledging process, you spend a lot of time with the other girls on your line. A lot of time. Almost too much time. But the entire process is set up for you to depend and rely on one another, for you to think and act and move as one. It’s a hard process. On top of maintaining your coursework and jobs, you have to know all the history about your sorority and individual chapter. To make things easier, we decided to divide the workload and everyone was expected to do their part. Well, one of my line sisters was not doing her part and when we questioned her about it, her reply was that she didn’t have to explain herself.
I was completely dumbfounded and taken aback by her attitude. Now I had been in group projects in which people didn’t pull their weight. But I had zero expectations for those people. I thought surely I could expect someone I am close with to be more considerate. But nah.
I was recently reminded of inconsiderate people a couple of weeks ago when I had reached out to a “friend” about a job lead and they did not follow through on it. I was so disappointed because this person knows I am looking for a job. In fact, I have reached out to several folks I know personally who I thought could get me at least an interview or a job lead but have been disappointed by their lack of concern or effort to help me out.
The same thing goes for dating. Some people need closure and a resolve at the end of a relationship but you don’t always get that luxury. Have you ever been seeing someone and they ghosted you or gave you the slow fade without any explanation of why they disappeared? You’re just left scratching your head like, WTF?
But you know what, I do the same thing. And you probably have too. In fact, this guy text me a couple of weeks ago talmbout how I should have told him I wasn’t interested in him instead of not replying to his several texts. And he is right. But do you think that phased me or that I responded? Nope. LOL.
It ain’t right. As much as we’re taught when we were younger the golden rule of treating others how we want to be treated, people just don’t abide by it. However, just because someone mistreats you or shows you disregard doesn’t mean you have to stoop to their level. Always stay classy and go high when they go low. Trust me, they will get theirs in the end. But do keep in mind that people are selfish and will always look out for themselves first. No one owes you anything. Not an explanation, closure, loyalty, time, respect or honor. This is a courteousness that not many people extend. Once you learn this lesson you will become a lot less disappointed and angry with people.
Yes!!! This one is a lesson that I must be reminded of over and over again. People are not necessarily going to treat me how I treat them. Keep up the good work, my friend. You inspire me!
Good word! It does sometimes get discouraging when you don’t always receive that same courtesy
I personally treat people how I want to be treated. No matter how much someone does me wrong because you end up a better person for it. But I know that if someone did me wrong I won’t trust them and fall in the same mistake again. I think trust is the main issue and people just don’t follow through with what they say. Like you said go high when they go low. Great post.
I think it comes down to the energy you want to emit and receive. I personally try to follow the golden rule because it makes the most sense for me in my life. I also believe in karmic energy and can’t see how treating people as they treat me would always be good for me. People don’t owe you anything, no, but there is this unspoken moral rule that I think many people do abide by… not everyone, but many.
I can’t stand when people expect loyalty quickly or expect that I’m going to behave a certain way because of XYZ. Sometimes there is no code of ethics or rules of polite society and you’ve gotta look out for you.
-shay
http://www.shayshaytries.com
This sounds like a life lesson from my father lol. Where is the lie though. Great post.
-shay