This is the flip side I mentioned yesterday, and it's something I believe with all my heart.
Basically, what the meme is saying is once you've been screwed over by someone, be prepared for them to do it again - and actually, you should expect it. I say that because most of the time, if someone screws you over they do it intentionally with malice aforethought, which means that given the chance they'll do it again. And that's the person that you should NEVER - repeat, NEVER - trust again no matter what.
Like I said, I believe this with all my heart. Within the past 5 years I had someone who I considered one of my best friends intentionally screw me over, and it took me the better part of 3 years before I would even look his way. We eventually made our way to being on speaking terms, but to this day I don't trust him no matter what he says or no matter how much he says "I've got your back." Because his ACTIONS have proven that his WORDS are empty, said to make himself feel good and to get me to lower my guard.
As the old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." And I won't be fooled twice, you can count on that.
The big difference between me and people like that is that I have never in my entire life nor will I ever for the rest of my life do something with the intent purpose of hurting another person physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially, even after they've intentionally done me wrong. That's not justice, that's revenge, and I don't do revenge. Revenge is a slippery road to nowhere, and that's one road I ain't taking. My parents taught me better than that, teachings that were emphasized when I became a Mason. (Yeah, I still believe in and try to follow the teaching of Freemasonry even thought I've left the lodge. Like I said, I'm still a Mason at heart and I always will be.)
But I can guarantee you that if someone who has previously done me wrong intentionally ever comes asking for my help, chances are pretty damned good that the answer is going to be NO.
Right now that list of people is short, with only 4 names on it. One is a supervisor I had while I was in BMTS, and the second was the District Vice President for Macy*s that I worked under for the longest and most miserable 9 months of my life back in 2000. These two assholes treated me so bad that if I ever see them face to face again, chances are pretty good that I'm going to break my rule about not intentionally hurting someone and end up in jail for Assault and Battery because I'm gonna knock the first one's teeth down his throat and I'm gonna kick the second one in the balls so hard he'll be wearing them for a hat.
The last two on the list were just added within the past 4 months, and that's a shame because I considered one of them to be one of my closest friends. He has since proven to be anything but.
As for the fourth and last one, I wouldn't piss on the bastard if he was on fire.
If all of this sounds a bit harsh and a bit cynical, then so be it. Life has taught me some pretty hard lessons in the past 4 months or so, and I'm paying attention. I've always been an apt pupil, and I'm not going to give life the chance to teach me these lessons again.
But despite it all, despite the lies, the backstabbing, and the betrayals of trust, I still look forward to each day. I get up out of bed looking forward to the day that God has given me, and I make the best use of it that I can. Every day on this side of the dirt is a gift; that's why it's called 'the present.'
Because it is. I appreciate God's present to me, and plan to make the best use of it I can.
As should we all.
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