The Root of All Evil

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear. Most of the time the truth is even tougher to deal with. I think that’s why most folks are simply content to find their way through life with as few bumps and bruises as possible. Someone steps on their toes, they get over it. Somebody forces them off the sidewalk, they stew about it at home. A jerk at work enjoys topping their comments with snappy little comebacks and they just ignore it to avoid making waves. The truth is that none of those things can be prevented, but also none of them need be an acceptable part of anyone’s life.

Life is a game of territory. I’m speaking in the mental and sociological sense right now. You decide where the boundaries of your territories exist in what people may say to you, how they may treat you, even the labels they may try to give you in your life. Like a nation protecting it’s sovernity, you protect your boundaries too. People will cross them. Sometimes out of ignorance and sometimes out of plain ol’ being mean. It’s up to you to defend your boundaries. If not, you’ll soon find yourself living in a tiny little corner of the world that everyone feels free to invade as they please.

How do you do this? By speaking up! By saying, “No! I will not accept being treated like this.” It’s really that simple, just takes the courage to do it. Will they punch you for saying that? Probably not. They’ll probably turn tail and run knowing you’re not to be messed with. Besides, so what if they punch you. A black eye lasts for two weeks. A hole in your soul lasts forever.

I’m not trying to tell you how to run your life. Lord knows I have enough trouble running my own, but cross my boundaries at your own risk. There’s a line from John Wayne’s final film, “The Shootist” that I think should sum up a man’s rules in life. The Duke calmly says, “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people and I expect the same from them.” Try thinkin’ ’bout that for awhile.

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