I think everyone has had that time when someone has treated you wrong. That person may have made you feel inferior, made fun of you, or even given you a hard time. Not everyone in the world is going to like you; that's just part of life. But doesn't it just bug you that sometimes you didn't even do anything to that person and that person just decides to mistreat you? I definitely know that feeling.
Back in high school, I became president of a club in my senior year. Now, I'm not the leader type, and I only got the job because I was the only to-be-senior member the year before. I could've declined, but I needed something to impress colleges. So, I accepted the job.
Being president of a club is not an easy task (props to any of you who are able to lead others!). My voice is soft, so just talking to the other members required me to pretty much scream at the top of my lungs. I'm so thankful that I had friends in that club that helped and supported me the entire time. Without them, I don't think I would've made it.
Anyways, in the club, there was this one guy that was giving me such a hard time. During our first social, I found out that he was talking behind my back, saying that I sucked at being president and that I should just give up being president. I was devastated to hear that (I was a people-pleaser back then), and I went home crying my eyeballs out. I was sad that he was judging me without even knowing much about me. But he didn't stop there. Every single meeting and social we had, he would show up and pretty much make me feel like I was a joke. I mean he would ask me something and when I replied, he would loudly say something that sums up to "Ha! Did you hear what she said? She's so stupid!"
These things pretty much lasted the entire year, and in a year I never knew I could hate a person so much. Like it was the first time I absolutely hated someone. When it came time at the end of the year to count points and let the members letter, I wanted to revenge by not letting him letter. (yeah I know it was really immature of me to do that). I mean I was president, and I had the power to do that. So, I went up to our sponsor and told him that I didn't want to let that guy letter.
And my sponsor's reply is something that has become one of my life's mottos. He told me, "Just because someone else has treated you bad, doesn't mean you should go down to their level and treat them wrong either." My mind was just blown. I've never realized until up to that point that I was becoming like that guy. When someone like that shows up in your life, you shouldn't let them make you bad. Instead, you should use them as an example of what type of person you don't want to be. Being the better person, yeah it's going to be difficult. But if you can accomplish it, then that just shows others how strong you really are. It is tempting to get back at them in a wrong way, but then the hate will never end, wouldn't it?
Quoting from "The Time that I Loved You, " Oh Ha Na says, "A real revenge is being happy without you." If you let others bring you down or make you feel inferior, then they've already won. How cool will it be if you're able to look at those "bad guys" and smile, knowing that you're the mentally strong one?
That day, I just smiled and gave that guy his letter. And after that day I no longer hated him. I was no longer wasting my time or energy on him. I decided to be the happy one :)
Have an awesome day everyone!
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