Are you believing the worst in people? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Stop Waiting For People In Your Life to Mess Up

The older I get the more I realize that life is more about loving and less about winning.

159
https://pixabay.com/en/people-man-woman-sitting-talking-2576871/

There's a saying that goes, "we're often harshest to the people we love the most." I can think of more than a few times that I have proven this true. Is this why our most explosive arguments are with our spouses, family members and closest friends? In reflecting on this concept, it's become apparent to me how tragic this is. That we could become the most angry and the most viscous with the people we know the most intimately. We know their stories. We know the struggles and pain that made them who they are. But we use that knowledge as ammunition to fight with them, instead of extending grace.

There's a point in relationships when you will be let down. It's a fact. We're all human. There certainly is a line between mistakes and deal breakers. But at what point do we think about someone's mistakes and set them as a new standard for that person? We say "oh I just know he's going to do this. He always does." We define our significant other, our family member or friends by their mistakes. Is this believing the best in them? Absolutely not. It's taking a low moment of theirs and plastering it on a wall of shame for everyone to see.

It sounds so harsh, but I really do think we sometimes believe the worst in the people we love the most. The people we have spent the most time trying to understand. The people we put so much effort to love. All the deep conversations and the secrets shared, we keep it all in our back pockets just to be the ones who label them as their mistakes.

I honestly think we do this in hopes that we will "be right." We would rather win than see the person we love grow from their mistakes. The older I get the more I realize that life is more about loving and less about winning. It calls for a self-reflection. Are we loving the ones we're closest to? Or are we waiting for them to slip up? Could it be possible that this time they will impress us? Imagine what could happen.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190150
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14853
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457828
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26607
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments