Stepping Out Of Format For A Moment

Excuse the rants and raves. But like everyone, I am an emotional creature and sometimes emotions, like actions, can be mis-read and mis-interpreted. My altruism was questioned this weekend and I'm not ashamed to admit that it stung and hurt deeply... those nasty emotions at work again. When writers become upset they do what comes natural: they question, contemplate and write. Hopefully, maybe someday down the line the right person will read these rants and raves and understand. And forgive me for being human.
Thanks for listening.
BJ

For Kristin:

            What ever happened to friendship? What has become of unselfishly caring for one another? Where did empathy go? Have we as a people become so jaded that the simplest gestures of kindness become suspect? When did altruism become a four letter word?

            Doing the right thing for the wrong reason seems to be the new norm. The ‘me’ generation has begat offspring strangers to compassion. “What’s in it for me?” has morphed into, “What’s his angle?” Suspicion is rampant and trust nonexistent.

            Sometimes I am guilty of letting my emotions control my actions. The result is sometimes I do the wrong thing for the right reason. But why does it have to be that way? If the intent is honest, why must the method be questioned? The easy answer is the world has changed. But the world has changed because people have changed. We no longer accept other’s actions at face value.    

            Questioning fosters suspicion;

                        suspicion fosters distrust;

                                    distrust fosters alienation;

                                                alienation destroys friendship.

          Man is an emotional creature; it’s one of the most important distinctions separating us from the animals. For true friendship to exist there must be trust. And trust is an emotion, as real and as strong an emotion as love.

           We are all capable of doing things for ourselves and taking care of ourselves without help from others. But that doesn't mean we always have to. The next time someone does a kindness for you don’t question their motives. Rather, accept their deed, thank them, and enjoy the warm emotion of trust.

                You might just find you’ve made yourself a friend.

BJ 9/21/13