You know the old saying: You’re known by the company you keep. I’d like to go a little further than that. Being around weak people weakens you. Being around strong people strengthens you. Of course there are times when we are all uncharacteristically weak or strong but what I’m thinking about is that consistently being around people of one kind or the other brings you to that level. It happened to me and it was so subtle that I didn’t even recognize it. My friends saw it before I did. They always do which is why they’re my friends!
I found myself being someone I’m not just so I didn’t “rock the boat”. I found myself pandering to a weak person’s irrational emotions just because I really don’t tolerate disharmony very well anymore. It started out simply enough – I think the first encounter was what to watch on TV one night at my home. It grew from there to the point where I was being told what to do and how to do it and I just had myself tied up in all kinds of knots trying not to react with my usual less than tactful demeanor.
You see when you’re dealing with strong adults, you can just say what you say and move forward. They know you for who you are, they accept you for who you are and life’s problems are only little hiccups. What I know now that I didn’t know a month ago is that when you’re dealing with someone who is extremely weak emotionally, you have to deal with them where they are. People are like horses in that fashion but I seem to be able to deal with weak, frightened horses better than weak, frightened humans.
At any rate, excuse me but that just doesn’t work for me. It’s not who I am and it’s not what I want. So I made a different decision earlier this week.
I’m going to consciously choose to be around strong people. I like them. They like me. We get along well. It works for me. I’m going to focus on having strong people in my life. I’m going to look for them . . . seek them out . . . choose them.
I didn’t know I could be so easily “watered down”. I didn’t know how well I was raised as a Southern Belle. I do now. Brent Graef says “when you know better, you do better” and I do and I will. Just watch me.
I imagine I’ll have more to say about this as the days pass. I’m also pondering more thoughts on the Importance of Waiting and the Lovie People.
