I made sure to look up the word politeness to see if it is even a word. It is. So we can continue.
I am not sure if it is because of my age. I forget how old I am sometimes. I don't look my age and I certainly don't act it. Whoever decided how we are suppose to act at what age I am not sure. But I am pretty sure I don't act mine.
My oldest son is 26 years old and my youngest daughter is 21. Wow! Time sure flew by. Wish I could tell you I had them when I was 10 and 15 years old because that would make me 36. That would be nice, but that didn't happen. Actually that wouldn't have been nice then but it would have been nice now.
Okay, I'm rambling. So let me get back on topic. Being bound by politeness. What do I mean?
Well for example, I deleted a few family members from my facebook 'friends' list because they are not my friends. In fact, they don't even like me. They never have. After 27 years of knowing this fact and finally not caring if they do or don't, I deleted them. I am not mad or hurt. All those emotions left me years ago. I just got tired of having people on my facebook who don't have anything to do with me and keeping them on because it is rude to not have them because they are family. Really? Who made those rules up as well?
When I made the decision I inboxed and let them know as politely as I could but as you can imagine this did not go well. They did not understand. I thought about not saying anything at all, but I needed to voice it because I needed to acknowledge that I don't have to do anything that I am not comfortable with, period.
I felt liberated! I felt like a weight left my shoulders. That first step was huge for me. I have been bound by politeness for years.
People abusing their power and influence in my life, all in the name of religion. And I was not allowed to say anything. I could not question anything. If I did, I was being rebellious or carnal. In other words a worldly person. Or a person not right with God.
Don't get me wrong. I still do things in a polite way. But I do them because I want to do them and sometimes because it is the right thing to do.
I am not going to be bound anymore. I am going to be REAL. If you don't like me, that is fine. You have a right to your opinion. I am not upset because you do not like me. I am uncomfortable with letting you in my space knowing you don't like me and being made to feel that I have to. No I do not! I will respect you in your space and I will demand you respect me in mine. And my demanding in this case meant delete on facebook.
It feels so good to be free in my mind about these things. I can finally be me and surround myself with people who like being with me. It is impossible to have everyone like you. Yes, sometimes it is my fault because I am annoying and sometimes it is your fault because you are worse. Whatever. It is okay to agree to disagree. It is okay that our personalities don't mesh. Let's just not force ourselves to deal with each other because it is what we are suppose to do. No it is not. We are to love each other even from a distance. It is okay to not invite me over and it is okay for me to decline if you do.
Let's be set free and while we are at it, be polite about it. How 'bout' that?
