Hard lesson learned

Just wanted to share my thoughts/experience that happened to me this past week.

Thursday morning I received a text from a person I had not heard from for quite some time. She told me that she had heard something about me that wasn't very nice. Instantly, I began feeling upset, sad and wondering what in the world would someone be saying about me. She began to text me what she had heard. It probably wasn't something that would be a big deal to most people but to me it was.

It was something that questioned my integrity and it hurt me so bad to think that it was being spread by people that I had known for over 2 years. Didn't they know me better then that?? Did everyone that heard it, really believe it?? Why didn't they ask me if it was true?? How did this story grow?? Why would this story grow??

All day long I felt sorry for myself and wondered what I should do about it. Do I fight like a mad dog to set everything straight? Do I pretend like I hadn't heard about it and pretend like it wasn't being said, then maybe it would just blow over. Do I confront the person that started it and ask her why??

What is the right thing to do when something like this happens??

I talked to a couple people about it and got their opinions and suggestions. Cry and cried some more. But after I stopped feeling bad for myself...I started to think about, what if I was the one that heard the gossip? Would I believe it? Honestly, I probably would. Why wouldn't I? I can't be mad or fault others for believing what they heard. This is how gossips works? Its told from one person to another (each time told a little differently) then it spread into the big huge lie.

The saddest thing about gossip, so many feel like what is being said is harmless. Just conversation right? Nobody really thinks about how it will affect the person they are talking about. How bad it could hurt them. Whether the story is true or not, nobody really knows the reasoning or feeling or background of the story accept the person that your talking about.

Hind sight:
I can see where the story about me came from. I can see why it was said. I understand why people believed it. And I know that people talk, and I can see how it would spread.

Does it hurt any less...NOPE! I still wish it didn't happen. But the only positive thing that I can take from this...Do unto other as you would want them to do unto you.

From now on
I am going to try real hard to only say positive things about others. When I hear negative stories about others, I will just pretend like I didn't hear it, not judge them and for sure not continue to spread the story to others. Gossip is so hurtful and I do not want any part in from now on.

Lesson learned!!!!!!!