My girlfriend is right ... most people will never be happy to see you succeed or attempt to achieve personal goals. "It scares them. Reminds them they gave up, and traded in for mediocrity." The truth is, I just don't have thick skin, and it hurts my feelings. That's probably why my friends are protective of me. I inherently attract people who protect me from the proverbial "big bad wolf."
You know what I detest ... seeing people put down the successes of others in their field. Sour grapes. That automatically shows me he/she has already failed. All the grumbling, but they themselves can't or don't tolerate criticism. Which goes to show, small brushes with fame or new found fortunes most definitely do not come along with having class. I will move away from these types. They just drain the life out of any potentially decent relationship.
And ... not a new revelation, but a continual realization ... I am grateful for the loyalty and kindness shown to me by my family and friends. I have it better than most, I know that. Not just looking in from the outside, but privately, I have it good. So good, I never really talk about it. I want to protect it. Never let anyone dissect or evaluate it. I'm sure people speculate, only because their small minds could never understand something they have never experienced. And really, don't they have anything better to do than gossip or point fingers? They must be so unhappy. I feel sorry for them ... not really.
Lastly, there are "givers" and there are "takers." I would like to think I am naturally one and not the other. But oh boy, do I attract the other. It's a trade-off. And I run across people of all types. Those who appreciate and those who take advantage. And just because I don't say anything, doesn't mean I am unaware. I just choose to let people be who they are. Sometimes, it takes only a few interactions. Sometimes, it takes years ... but people eventually reveal their true natures. That always happens. No matter what.
