Listening To My Own Advice

Recently, Damien came to me afterschool, teary eyed. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that he was sad that not everyone in his class liked him. Damien wants people to like him. Everyone.

I told him that it didn't matter if everyone liked him because not everyone will. What is important is that he does have a few close friends that like him and that should be celebrated.

A few days later, I was dealing with some personal issues. I sent my step-mom an email telling her what was going on. What it boiled down to was, someone didn't like me.

As I was talking to her that night on the phone, wiping away tears that were falling over the events of that day, I thought back to that afternoon in the car. I thought back to the words that I said to Damien.

It didn't matter.

It took a few days for me to get over the inital sting. And the wound was ripped open again as rumors began circulating online about what I did (NOT) do. It hurt. I hated that people had this view about me that was so far from the truth. But, I let go.

It didn't matter what these people said. It didn't matter what the person that hurt me did. It. Didn't. Matter.

Was I happy? Did I have a few close people I could count on? Was I loved by those who mattered? Of course. So what did it matter if a few people on the internet didn't like me? Who cared if people though it was ok to drag me through the mud. I knew the truth. It didn't matter.

For the first time in about a week, I am feeling stronger and better then I have in a long time. The truth was, the ugliness associated with this person was bringing me down for a long time. Negativity breeds negativity and by removing this person from my life I have removed the negativity surrounding me because of them.