Kill Them with Kindness

I’m sure I’m not the only person out there who has one or two people in their lives that makes them feel like a thirteen year old all over again: petty, immature and insecure.  No matter how much you try to befriend them, get to know them better as individuals or show them that you are someone worthy of love, you always find that you’ve been rejected.  Time and time again, I have been rejected by a few people in my life that I just don’t understand why.  Maybe they are not happy with what I have to offer and they expect more or something different, but this is me.  If you have not found a way to love me as I am, with all my imperfections and misplaced good intentions, then I guess it’s just not going to work out between us.  But I will keep trying because I’m foolish and believe that if I’m nice to you, one day you will return the favor.

Then there are the people in our lives who we’ve had a minor conflict with that, for some silly reason, has never been resolved.  We don’t hold a grudge and are not even upset about what happened, but too much time has gone by without reconciliation and the friendship has just sort of vanished. 

You might be that person that receives one of my cards and questions why.  Maybe you will think you are one of the people this post is talking about.  Quite possibly.  All the same, I think it’s important that you recognize that you did something I am grateful for; perhaps many things.  You may not care for me as an individual and you may prefer that I was not in your life.  I may have done something to personally offend you.  If so, for that I am sorry.  I tend to offend more people than I realize.  Those nearest and dearest to me have – graciously – overlooked my offenses or are as oblivious as I am to them.  As it stands, our lives have crossed at one point or another and we are both forever changed by that.  Our paths may cross again in the future.   As long as you do not hurt me or mine, you are welcome to continue not liking me for all of eternity. (Personally, I would not want that cross to bear.)  My hope is that you may learn to accept me, and others that do not meet your expectations, as I am.

PS, thank you.