We are tempted to get into pissing contests over whose hell has been worse. But for each of us, it was hell. I remember, when I first moved to Virginia, a fella I met was trying to convince me that it was the biggest mistake of my life. He said “The laws here are very strict and you’ll spend all of your time trying to get out from under their thumb.” I said, “Oh, I’m sure I’ll do fine.” He kept pressing the point. “Oh no,” he said, “you won’t do fine. It sucks here.” I asked him why he didn’t move then. “I can’t. I can’t afford to. I have to pay fines…” and blah blah blah. He was completely boring me and I wanted him to stop talking to me and move on. I finally said, “Look! I’ve been to hell and back! I don’t think Virginia is gonna kick my ass!” That shut him up long enough for me to say so long.I don’t like negativity. I think it’s rude to tell someone who just moved somewhere that they are not going to like it. Or to tell someone who is about to start a new job or move to a new place that they are not going to like it. I learned early on in my life that you can like it no matter where you are. Because you certainly cannot like it where you are not!
Still, we’ve all been through hell. The key word being “through.” Like the song says ~ if you’re going through hell, keep on going. There is absolutely no excuse for staying in hell. I should know. I stayed there for far too long. And I have nothing like a good excuse for it.
Let’s let JoDee have the last word on this:
I’ve felt the chill of this world cut down to the bone.
I’ve walked many a mile down this road on my own.
I’ve been through hell on my knees ~
Come face to face with the devil.
And I know that it’s hard to believe… but it gets better.
8 comments:
I won't get "sassy"...:-)
It's great to feel yout virtual presence again,Teri.
VERY VERY WISE. We have ALL been through Hell - and survived it to one degree or another, based on our willingness to learn.
He sounded like a total loser who kept violating the law and then complaining about the consequences. He wouldn't like living anywhere that he had to be accountable.
MnM: You too!
Lovely Annie: Yes, he was that indeed. And if you are going to fight the system everywhere you go, likely you won't like it anywhere.
Well said. Basically nobody will know what something is like until they have done/lived/experienced it themselves. Any advice is just another person's possibly biased opinion.
Great post Teri, and well said. As bad as it gets I don't think I'd rather walk in anyone else's shoes.
Great comments, thanx for sharing. (I don't get everyone trying to give everyone else advice.)
So, I'm going to tell you a favorite comment that relates...
Don't criticize someone until you've walked a mile in his/her shoes; that way you're a mile away and he/she has got no shoes!
We all have bags of shit to carry. Some people want everyone else to know that their particular bag of shit is the stinkiest. Some don't even know the bag is attached to them. Others learn how to leave the bag of shit behind and enjoy life.
Or something like that.
My horoscope said today that I should stop looking at the mistakes of the past and start appreciating the successes of today that will continue on to tomorrow. The guy you described could probably use some of that.
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