People You're Gonna Meet

Last year, on September 1st, I wrote the following post about dealing with our differences, especially in regard to those that may think they're "better" than you.  Sadly, in the past six weeks, I've been reminded of who I wrote it for, and how she turned out to be someone who'd rather "fit in" than be true to herself.  So, here it is again, with some additional truths.

I was reminded yesterday that life is hard work, and friendships are even harder!  The hardest part?  Being a woman, trying to form and maintain relationships with other women!  The "R" word that Aretha instructed us about all those years ago often flies out the window.  So, I'd like to impart some words of wisdom to start out the day, and I'm hoping to share this with as many people (especially women) as possible.

You're Gonna Meet . . . 

people you love at first sight.
people who are mean for the sake of being mean.
people who have a lot more money than you.
people who have a lot more money than you . . . and aren't afraid to share it!
people who support you no matter what.
people with unnecessarily bad attitudes.
people you need to get to know before you can decide if you like them or not!
people you despise on first sight.
best friends for life.
family members you wish weren't family members.
people who annoy you.
bullies.
stupid people (everybody knows that the world is full of stupid people!)
people you learn from, good or bad.
people who frustrate you.
people with no manners.
friends who understand you.
people you're just never going to understand.
friends who listen.
people who take advantage of you.
people you didn't think you'd be friends with . . . but are.
people who inspire you.

I've learned a great deal about myself and my place in this world over the past couple of months.  My eyes were truly opened up to how women assert themselves. It's important to remember that we will all meet people that are simply not comfortable in their own skin.   We will have friends, co-workers, and acquaintances that need a special kind of validation that they don't feel they can obtain by just being themselves.  So many of us try to create alternate personas that are just a little bit "more."  Better clothes, a nicer car . . you're still you on the inside. Likewise, I can name people that get that validation by either broadcasting their lives or their opinions to the public.  Gotta love social media.  In the end, it's just a shell - a facade.  We are all still the same person inside that little cocoon, no matter what we present to the outside world.

Therefore, I add to the list of People You're Gonna Meet:

people who will tell you what they think you want to hear.
disingenuous people, and those that will lie without a second thought.
people who want to be anyone else but themselves.
people who will accept you immediately.
people who are comfortable in their own skin.


Don't give up.  Things will change.  For every person who frustrates you, there's another that will listen to you gripe about that person who frustrates you!