I told my guardian angel NO today

Morning all,

You know, I’m a firm believe in you cannot control how others act….but you can choose how YOU react to the actions.

I’ve been very blessed in life by not only a magnificent family (kids, husband, parents) but also some friends whom I truly treasure.  Some of the these friends I met online, some of these friends I met while growing up, some of these friends I’ve never encountered in real life.  But….

But the one common factor in all of them is, they touched my heart and I consciously chose to go out of my way for them.

I take complete and total ownership of that, of course.  When you choose to love someone, or look out for them, or otherwise be a covert angel, you’re proactively GIVING something that truly….was never asked for.

Thus, if my actions are not appreciated…the only person to blame, honestly, is myself.

Over the past few weeks, several people in my life failed to walk the walk they talked to me.  Again, I cannot control that; these things happen.

But what was a milestone for me happened earlier.  I came across something online that I know one of these people would want to be aware of.  And I was going to send said individual email when I stopped myself and asked myself:

"Jeepers self, this person doesn’t give a sh*t about the efforts you do or the caring you show…why do you still want to help out?"

That blasted me dead in my tracks, let me tell you.

• Why on earth DO I still want to help?
• Why on earth SHOULD I want to help?

• WHEN ON EARTH WOULD I FACE FACTS THAT MY HELP IS NOT APPRECIATED?

Luckily, I started facing that fact today. 

And it’s painful beyond measure.

I don’t blame my friend, of course – while this person loved how I was always there for him, he never proactively ASKED me to look out for him.  He just took…and took…and took.

It could be he’s depressed.  It could be he’s lazy.  It could be that’s just his nature.

But you know what?

My friendship is worth more than that.

So!  Let’s now bring this back to the most important person reading it…YOU!

I firmly support taking care of one’s friends…and I think that you should go out of your way for the people you love.

Unless, of course…they’re just taking advantage of you.

If that’s the case, you owe it to yourself to recognize the true value YOU represent…and be confident enough to state, Dammit, I AM worth more.  And I’m going to act that way….starting this second.

Oh, and that email I was going send?  I killed it.  And realized…I just told my guardian angel:

No, I’m NOT going to keep giving for someone who truly doesn’t care.

That was truly a milestone in my life.

It’s one that I will remember forever.

Enjoy,

Barbara Ling