Difficult

Thanksgiving is a wonderful prelude to the Christmas season(which begins the day after Thanksgiving, thank you very much now go turn off your Christmas lights).

This week we give thanks for blessings. I have decided to work on being thankful for people in my life -- only I don't mean the people who bless me with their love, support, friendship, or example. They're the easy ones. I'm talking about the difficult people.

You know what I mean.

I hope you know what I mean.

I like people. But sometimes they bug me. Which of course really means I choose to be bugged. Whatever.

Okay, I know it's me. True, there are weird personality quirks that can get on anyone's nerves. But usually it's just me judging someone else's behavior.

There. The ugly truth is out there for everyone to read on my blog. Please be kind.

I probably don't mean you, anyway.

Anyway, to complete this unattractive portrait of myself, here are some of my sweet thoughts:
Why does he/she do that? Doesn't she know it is hurtful?
Why can't he/she just play nice?
Everyone is busy.
If they don't like the way it was done, why don't they give it a try?
I would have done that sooner/faster/simpler.

See the irony in those last two?

I've noticed that these gems get directed to people "who should know better." Because some people get a pass. You know how someone who is having a hard time or has been through a lot often gets the benefit of the doubt? It could be sickness / financial trouble / relationship issues / emotional stress, etc.

Does this sound familiar? I hope so. It would make me feel better.

Of course, the giant beam-in-my-eye flaw in this reasoning -- beyond the fact that it not my place to jugdge -- is how do I know what someone else's life is like?

In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see...

I should know better.

I'm working on it.