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jm bee

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  • in reply to: From 'friend-zoned' to getting married #116024
    jm bee
    Participant

    I know it sounds cliche but darling – Live in the now!

    If it were not for that relationship, you would not have realized what it is YOU really NEED! That is just as important.

    That’s what life lessons do – teach us. You were a student of life. Life led you to your current destination!

    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115966
    jm bee
    Participant

    Well, I saw him at a mutual hang out tonight, and I avoided him entirely, purposefully, and when it looked like he had left, I sat down to talk to some people playing a game. I asked before sitting, “May I join?” and they said yes, the seat was open, so I sat down.

    Soon after, he came back in — I thought he had left! He walked over and picked up his keys and began dangling them in my face.

    It was annoying to me, so I stated “Please do not do that.”

    Then he said, in a harsh tone, “Is there a reason you are sitting in my seat? My keys are here! My stuff is here!”

    (Please note: He was already knocked out of the game and technically is no longer allowed to sit at the table – it is a free poker league)

    I said, “If you are going to talk to me the way you were last week, I am leaving” and got up and he said “Good! I get my seat back!”

    Geez!

    So I walked over to watch a friend play, and when he got knocked out and we were leaving, I remembered your words and this advice and decided to stand my ground.

    “[Redacted]?”

    He looks at me.

    me “If you speak to me, you are either going to speak to me respectfully or not at all.”

    him “I was being respectful, you took my seat! And –”

    me “Your tone was not respectful.”

    [he was continuing to talk over me this entire time]

    me “The way you spoke to me the other night was not respectful. If you are going to talk to me, you are either going to talk to me respectfully or not at all. The end.”

    I got up and left and it felt good.

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by jm bee.
    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115910
    jm bee
    Participant

    Thank you for the perspective. That is really helpful. I made that comment in reference to a book — which he had lent me, called Anger, by Thich Nhat Hanh. He was telling me how it had helped him overcome some anger issues (though I truly think he needs to re-read it!) I was telling him I do not want to take his abuse, caused by his anger/suffering, and then suffer because of him…

    In that book, it speaks of anger as a manifestation of suffering and it can be a tendency to wish to make others suffer. But you are right. In his release of his anger, he was relieving all his suffering — at me. That is a great perspective on why asserting my boundaries FIRMLY is important to those who wish to use me to abuse me. He was fine. I was the one left suffering.

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by jm bee.
    • This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by jm bee. Reason: typos!
    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115900
    jm bee
    Participant

    Thank you, peacelovesoul! I am sorry you had to deal with something similar. I think abusive words can certainly an undue toll on our self esteem…I hope you have grown to understand your own value and worth. 🙂

    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115857
    jm bee
    Participant

    Thank you. I don’t know why I needed to hear someone tell me that, but I did — It just didn’t click. It is hard for me to stand up for myself, it is not so difficult for me to stand up for other people.

    I need to start thinking of myself as my own friend and then defend myself as I would a friend. 🙂

    Thanks again, I feel much better about being so direct.

    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115855
    jm bee
    Participant

    The part in brackets I did not text, but added here for context.

    in reply to: Being compassionate without being a pushover. #115852
    jm bee
    Participant

    Thank you for your response, Anita.
    Yes, that is what I texted him.

    In its entirety I said:

    “As I said, I did get your text. It said the word ‘sorry.’ Yet…

    It deflected the issue & instead focused on why you forgive me. You know better. More importantly, I know better. I am a grown ass woman, [redacted], and I have no tolerance for that.

    Being angry is OK. Emotions are OK. Abuse is not OK. 4:38 PM
    My issue isn’t with anything other than your choice to direct anger at me. “Look at me, you fucking coward.” [a note: those are words he used at me during his angry tirade] Your text said, “It’s ok, maybe you didn’t notice you …” Not one mention of verbal lashing.

    I am trying to express it in kindness, but I have to be firm to be kind to my own boundaries, too. Anger is suffering, and I am sorry that you suffer. I don’t want to also suffer.”

    I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

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