Just broke off an 11 year friendship (with a self proclaimed Christian of course) over this. At first I really thought it was just petty overreacting on her end but now I’m just floored by her responses. I get she didn’t like what I was saying but I didn’t think I was being mean. Just truthful..
Since when is it okay to treat your best friend like shit because other people have done it their whole life? & I don’t let just anybody treat me that way.. the people she’s talking about are my parents who she knows mentally & physically abused me my whole life & my ex high school boyfriend who did the same thing.
My “shit isn’t together” because my roommate moved out unexpectedly & I had to choose between being homeless or moving back in with my parents because all of my savings I put back to do this full time unpaid internship had to go towards this last months bills. I’ve done the past 4 years of college on my own, lived with roommates, struggled a ton paying for school out of pocket until I got assistance, keeping up with my car payment & bills, and am just now having to move in with my parents until I graduate in May.
I will have my bachelors, got accepted into the masters program at OU that I will start immediately in the summer, & I’ll be moving into my own place once I get my first paycheck. I consider that all having my shit together & am proud of how far I’ve come.
I definitely think I’m making the right choice leaving her behind, I just don’t understand why people continue to treat me this way. I’m a social worker.. I truly go out of my way to treat everyone with dignity and respect in my career and outside of it because I know how bad it is out there, but I continue to get treated like this by others..
Is it because my parents set that trend for everyone that follows? I don’t want to start being a bitch to people. I want to treat people with kindness at all times but it doesn’t seem worth it if I’m always going to get hurt in the end..
I have a poster up on my wall which reads:
Expecting other people to be nice to you because you have been a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.
People act out of their nature. You being nice to them won't change that. They may be nice back or take advantage of you. I think the trick is to act out of your nature without expecting them to be the same or allowing their response to change who you are.
Short version: some people are arseholes, don't let it change who you are.
Word
You've come so far in your hardships and still excelled against the odds. Take a break from §#! * and collect your thoughts in your own space. It will be good for you and your immune system. Don't dwell on family traits and patterns you already recognise and know you've made a difference.
@1EarthLovingGal You're most welcome. Right now it's a coping mechanism for you and it doubles up in that you and your family are getting closer too amidst challenges, change and reality. I'm rooting for your continued challenges' outcome.
As a wise friend once told me, people come into ones life for a reason, or a season, or a lifetime. This friend has apparently had her season with you and now you are moving on with your life. Be glad for what you learned from her and use that knowledge in the future with others. You have made some smart decisions in your life to get as far as you have, and I commend you for all you have accomplished so far. I would only say to pay attention to your boundaries with everyone in your life, as they will protect you. You are extremely smart from what I can tell from your writing and will go far in your chosen field. Remember to love yourself and never stop being the kind and caring person you are.
I feel like a simple comment turned around and show everyone's true personality.
Miss understanding of comments done by text is quite common, but she jumped right at you with the disrespectful verbal weapon.
That said, when you are not following what she expected, she will ALWAYS do some sort of throwing right back to you and correlating with hard feelings you have shared with her because you had considered her a friend. That is a nasty and toxic relationship.
I always say - a relationship needs to be beneficial to you. Some sort of a way. I keep friendships with people that gives me something in return - simple things, but something that is beneficial to me. It can be as easy as : feeling you calm, making you laugh, just talking about an especific topic, brainstorming with you when needed, talking about food recipes, helping with physical tasks....
Now when the benefit doesn't cover the negative part of the relationship and you feel disrespected, abused, exhausted, sad, tired, angry, etc. Then why keep it? If you have the option to drop it and move along - do it. You should not care of the length of this friendship - take that as a lesson to prevent others to be in your life as long as this one.
Perhaps she was worth it at some point. But not beneficial to you anymore - you have outgrown the relationship.
I don't want to sound a mean or a person that only thinks for themselves with this whole benefit talk. I am similar to you in respect to trying to help people in any sort of way. I get caught delaying my life or not taking opportunities because I am focused on someone else's problem. Sometimes I regret, but a lot of the times I feel accomplished as I chose to be there for someone I care and i got that good feeling in return.
You are young but seems to be very strong, ambitious and have your shit together, like you said.
Keep that way and move on.
@1EarthLovingGal and you should not have to accept that behavior - very childish and self centered.
Everyone goes through rough times. It is like a rollercoaster. Heck! When I thought my life was finally turning to the good side I found myself in another stressful situation. When I think things are good and I'm settling down, I encounter an obstacle. Sigh, part of life. You can't eliminate your parents from your life (you shouldn't, unless there have been some major events that requires that). Think that this step to your parents is not a step back, but a period you all might be able to relate differently.
My relationship with my parents can not compare to yours (I would assume), but I believe everyone has parental issues, but at least you have them. They are there for you in a way. It is temporarily
Typical of a Christian always accusing others of their lives being fucked up while whining about how fucked up their own is.... Just like a diaper most of them are self absorbed and full of shit.
Wow...so Dump really did read his playbook.
Girl!! You have done a great job sorting thru the situation you've found yourself in!!!! Sorry to hear you have a short jail sentence with the folks (BTDT - not fun) but you will move on. That said many times we unknowingly go towards that which we are used to (abuse takes many forms) and not what we really want. I think you are on the correct path by dropping this friendship. Sometimes it's takes an empath (you) needing support that reveals the true nature of someone you believed cared about you.
She is not worth the time you spent posting this...stop giving her such power!
Maybe you are an ‘empath?’ I would have to do some digging to find the information, but it can be found on YouTube. You could have this personality trait.
I lost names of other sources for the ‘empath,’ except this one. VITALMIND.COM.AU
There are many others found on YouTube.
Sorry for your breakup...they are never easy. But, as you get your footing you will be a stronger, person. Best of luck!
@1EarthLovingGal If you cannot make yourself happy, things will be incomplete. This guy that i posted is out of Australia and I really learned a lot from him. I learned from others here in the states, but their names have escaped me. Hurting, is hurting and try not to get bogged down with it. You have a good plan and helping others is definitely a valuable trait. Take care of yourself first, then you can conquer the rest.
Too long for me to read including the screen shots. However, I can definitely tell you this: you can't choose the family you're born in, anything else is YOUR CHOICE. Period.
@SeaGreenEyez do it!
The last time I saw one of my best friends was when I was 24 (I'm 61 now). She invited me to go to a club. On the way there she informed me that she would leave me there if I danced with an African American or Mexican (her words). On the way home she went on and on about how embarrassed she was about her sister since the sister came out as a lesbian.
It was one of the most uncomfortable times of my life.
That being said, friendships ebb and flow. Some aren't meant to be forever as people change. Or, they don't change, but they show you who they really are.
@1EarthLovingGal My niece had a boyfriend in high school. My sister forced her to break up with him because he was "too black". To this day my sister insists she isn't racist, but from her actions/beliefs in other things, it is quite apparent she is.
I would say ya should have delayed replying to her until you were calm and collected. Your anxiety got you in a bad mood and then you both lashed out at one another. You were not in the head space to be supportive. That is fine. Better to have just said hey I'll talk to you tomorrow okay? Instead of the 1-liner replies. I have been on both ends of this due to my own anxiety and try to let close friends know to talk later or in a bit or tell them when I am anxious so they know I am not gonna be a good shoulder to lean on atm. I have also gotten mad at others for not being there for me as I felt they should have when they had their own drama. Luckily, they told me what was going on in their lives and we were able to resolve once both of us had calmed and discussed things. But these types of convos are best done over the phone or in person. So much gets lost in text and you both seemed aggressive and passive aggressive in the texts here.
I think her bf was being disrespectful because he should not be getting in on making those kinds of "jokes" against his gf. ESPECIALLY if she asked him to stop that because it is hurting her feelings. Basically he has demonstrated to her FCK YO FEELINGS! This shit makes me laugh! And that is a toxic trait and red flag. As a social worker I do hope you learn to acknowledge peoples' feelings and lived experiences. Just because you think something is no big deal, does not mean your clients will not. Particularily if it is a trigger for your client, as it may have been with your ex friend. I know some things that bother me many would dismiss as no big deal. But if it is linked to my trauma and triggers it IS A DAMN BIG DEAL TO ME.
aah I see. The wording confused me and I thought he was engaging in the making fun as well. My mistake.
Unrelated to this situation, I still say it is very important to validate peoples' feelings before jumping to solutions, especially since some of your clients will have histories of being gaslighted by their abusers. Just food for thought. Something to mull over for future reference.
Sorry I;ve lost a lot of friends over their religion. Dont miss them though.
Old school angle:
At some point, what matters most now will be a laughable or forgotten memory. It's up to you to decide how this person makes you feel. If always bitter, I'll walk away if not, it may be worth working things out.
That said, you are a surviver and I can't wait to see the next chapter of your life. Keep soaring, girl!
Wow. Sorry. You don’t deserve fickle friends like that. Good vibes to you!!
Sounds like you need to go "where the weather suits your clothes," or rather where the people are less religion-constrained and judgmental. I left my home state for chiefly that reason. Where I live now has a lot of churches, but not so many people in my face about their cockamamie religions.
@1EarthLovingGal Great! It's good to have a forward-looking plan for your life. And it's good to know the "misery you're in" has an end somewhere.
Can we have either
Good luck Do you NEED her?
@1EarthLovingGal are they 12 years old??? WTF?
@1EarthLovingGal Many thanks. With that an being an ex teacher I am familiar with this type of problem.
wait WHY did you assume she was mad just because she said okay thanks for your help?? missing some context?