I am always surprised by unkind comments.
I am no longer surprised to find that they are rarely accompanied by a valid email address.
Why choose to wound? What satisfaction lies in that?
You remind me to take pause. You remind me that we are all walking wounded.
Some pain in you provokes you to provoke. I’m sorry.
I wish you well. You’re better than this.
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Stay surprised. I am too. That is the kind of faith in humanity and belief in the fundamental goodness of the world that we ought to nurture, even though it causes us to be hurt.
I believe it’s better to be surprised by meanness than to expect it. I really, really believe that.
I find that while I’m not longer surprised that the comments are anonymous, I’m still outraged by it.
There are certain times I am not surprised by unkind comments. When there is a community where people must bear those they dislike to hang with those they do like, occasionally I can see someone boiling over.
But I never understood it in the blogging world. If you don’t like a person or his or her blog, well, gosh, just stop going to it. Why give them The What For? Are you trying to teach a lesson?
No, really, I think they are merely putting others down in order to raise themselves up. It’s a false pedestal, though.
I’m sorry. (Although I must admit that I might swagger a little when I get my first hurtful comment, like “Oh, yeah… in the big leagues now.” hahaha I’m naive.)
Yes, we are all walking wounded, and we don’t always choose our path. But we do get choose how we treat those on the path with us. I hope I always walk (or limp) my road as graciously as you seem to yours.
The truth is, you CAN’T control other people’s actions but you CAN control your own reactions.
Well done!
i don’t understand people. seriously. i look at some of the comments people write from their little glass shells of mediocrity and wonder how they don’t realize they are merely making themselves look like assholes.
besides, i sort of have a strong affinity for your blog and can NOT fathom what negativity they would bring you.
envy. it’s most definitely envy.
keep on keepin on, sister.
Read the comment sections in any online newspaper. They are usually full of nasty, holier=than-thou posts written anonymously by angry, bitter people. As much as I love the internet, it truly sucks that these people now have a global audience for their nastiness. I’ll never understand why they feel they must leave a slime trail behind them wherever they go.
I just sing Lennon’s “Instant Karma” under my breath when I encounter them and move on. Shine on, Jenn. Just shine on.
Lemon Stand beat me to it — I try to live by the mantra of “I can’t control anyone else’s actions, just my reactions.” Still, I’m not exactly a zen sort of person, so another saying that works better for me is “poor dear, they’re doing the best with what they have.” (Which is a backhanded way of calling them stupid, but still acknowledges that each person is living to his or her potential — obviously quite limited potential in many cases.)
Finally, I must highly recommend the Johnny Cash song, “That Old Wheel.” Seek it out if you’re not familiar with it, but in the meantime, here’s the chorus:
“That old wheel is gonna roll around once more
When it does, it will even up the score
Don’t be weak: as they sow, they will reap
Turn the other cheek and don’t give in
That old wheel will roll around again”
No, YOU are better.
Last year (or the year before, I can’t remember) I decided to live with joy every day. It’s a choice. I wish trolls and the ugly folks on the internet spewing their hate could choose it as well. The truth is, they can. But it’s so much easier to hate. And small. It’s so very small.
xoxo
I find that unkindness is often a mirror that reflects what is in my own soul. Sometimes I respond as kindly as you have here – sometimes not. But I trust it is all providence.