Politics of Life

Every aspect of your life requires that you think about what you say and what you do in order to receive what you want. This is above and beyond being polite and respectful. I’m talking about what you need to do to ensure your place or status within your work place or your social circle. It's the politics of life; "be careful what you wish for"!  There are, generally, unwritten rules that dictate how you react to situations and people in your life. Abiding by them, supposedly, provides you with a favourable outcome. Whether they are ethical or not, seems not to be an issue for some. Whether you are willing to play the game to get ahead or not has become the most important choice, or maybe it’s always been that way........

And so the game of integrity pushes forward and causes great anguish for the person who believes in the right thing to do, verses the thing that will provide her with the friends she wishes for and the career she has always dreamed of. Watching people opt for the latter every day disappoints and leaves me feeling sorry for them. They do not realize the fulfillment they would experience should they follow what they believe and feels right. They have been coerced by adult peer pressure into believing that status, power and money are more significant and empowering than happiness and self respect.

Being acknowledged for accomplishments achieved by stepping on other people’s hearts is hardly an achievement. I see young people being taken advantage of by those in authoritative positions all the time. Their words are abusive and destructive. Yet the child is hesitant to step on toes for fear of being black balled and, thus missing out on opportunities. I see young adults receiving continual negative feedback; their self confidence diminishing with every word. They listen and accept the words as if true; scared to retaliate thinking it will affect their future. I see grown women sit back and be brought down to nothingness thinking they need to accept being a target in order to maintain their position in the pecking order.

And then there are those who get it. Enough is enough, and the pattern must be broken. This has happened to my friend. She is tired and has figured out what is important in life. She now knows that she is deserving of kindness, respect, and love. And so, this is dedicated to her new path, and I wish her well. I know she will be more than alright because she has shifted her thinking, and it is in the direction of authentic integrity. It is the journey of the heart, and it is always right.