But today, I am feeling like a good ol' rant is in store. The older I get, the less patience I have for inconsiderate, mean, or ignorant behavior. Some things have been bothering me lately (about human kind in general), and so here I vent.
1.) Please please, please, good God do not abuse animals - and yes, that includes throwing rocks at geese and chasing them while I am trying to enjoy my scenic lake run. Someone should throw a rock at you and see how you like it.
2.) If you consistently mumble, refuse to look directly at me when you are talking to me, or talk under your breath, do not be offended or upset when I do not understand you and have to ask for clarification. That is your issue. Speak up.
3.) a.) I am sorry if you only feel vindicated in life by stirring up conflict and drama and looking at every situation in a negative light. I am a lover, not a fighter. If you are still upset over something that happened at work three years ago that had nothing to do with me, too bad for you. That victim mentality must be fun for you. I won't be attacked when I'm just trying to do my job and help young people to the best of my ability. You are a poison to my career and everyone around you. b.) If you think we are going to get along by starting a fight with me about small insignificant things every day, that is not sustainable for the long run. Good luck with that.
4.) Do not trust people who gossip. That includes work, friends, and sometimes your own family. Also, do not trust gossip when you hear it. Many times, it's not even accurate. The sad part is, the people who gossip all the time actually think they are getting away with it, except we all know who "that" person is, and we don't tell them anything.
5.) Now that God has brought good things into my life, some people seem upset about that. All I can say is I feel sorry for them and now I know who is not really on my side. They say you find out who really cares when you go through hard times, but the same can be said about really good times. If you can't find it within yourself to genuinely celebrate my success with me, just as I would for you, that is a major problem (with you). Everything I have, I have received through prayer, hard work, good choices, sweat and discipline. It's not easy, but over time, and after having gone through Hell and back, I am in a good place, and I deserve it. You don't like that, you can kick rocks. Oh, and get out of my life.
6.) Don't repeat what I just said and tell me to do it, when I just told you I was going to do it, as if you need to feel like you are in control of my every move. Don't repeat an idea I had and pass it off as your idea later. That is freakin' infuriating and I will act accordingly.
7.) Don't tell a racist joke around me, or engage in some other kind of stereotypical name calling, etc. I will give you the evil eye, possibly call you out in front of everyone, and make a mental note to not keep company with you anymore. No, it is not okay. Grow up.
8.) Don't show off something that is not yours to show off. Don't steal my thunder. If I work hard for something, I decide when and how I want to show it off. It's even worse if you go behind my back and I'm not even invited to show off my success. Goes back to #4 gossip and #5 haters. I find this pathetic.
9.) This one goes out to "those" men age 50 and older that I sometimes encounter at work: Do not treat me like a child and call me "darling" or "honey." Do not compliment/make constant comments about my clothes or how well they "fit my body style." Or how pretty my eyes are. We are at an office at an internationally known research university, not at the Irish pub down the street. Do not underestimate my work savvy and the fact that I will smile and continue to let you think I am a dumb blond and completely blow you out of the water and make you look stupid when it's time to get down to business.
10.) Do not get angry at me or act weird when I only want to have one or two drinks, or don't feel like drinking at all. Do not pre-pour my wine or cocktail at a dinner party so I feel like I have to drink it, even if I wasn't planning on drinking. I might be on a diet, I meet be trying to get pregnant, I might be driving. Either way, it's none of your business and you should not just "assume" I need to drink just because you are.
11.) If the only topic of discussion you have with me is to ask me about everything you have seen on my Facebook wall in the past six months, we obviously aren't that close. Find something else to talk about.
12.) If you miss work constantly and give a million "sick" excuses (like once a week), we know you are not sick. Really. Unless you have some sort of chronic illness you have not shared with us, you are not sick that much. Just tell us you need a personal day, or you have meetings outside the office or something. Seriously. Just. Stop. I don't feel good either every day, but I still show up.
13.) Do not continue to hold things from the past over my head, like embarrassing things I did as a kid, or mistakes I made as a teenager. That was more than ten years ago, I am not that person, and it seriously concerns me that you somehow feel the need to continue to put me down in this manner. In fact, I've made some serious accomplishments in the past ten years, and that is what you should focus on.
14.) Do not make negative comments about my family, my husband, or anyone I love. I don't care who you are, it is uncalled for and makes me immediately defensive of them. If you are not me, you don't have a right. It is especially unkind if you are one of those people I love making comments about other people I love. That puts me in bad position.
15.) If you do not learn from your mistakes, and continue to repeat the same behavior over and over, you might as well bang your head against the wall because you are only hurting yourself.
