I Don’t Want to Hear it

Let me tell you what my friend Jane told me just yesterday. But a little backstory, She’s been married to John for 15 years and together they have five kids. Three of them are my goddaughters. Now, fast forward to what she told me yesterday. She loves her husband but… the bliss has died and been buried for three years and she wants to… explore. Exploring she did indeed! She had an affair with Sebastian, her brother’s best friend who happens to be her husband’s brother. Her youngest son, Julian caught them in the act. Yeah! I know! Scandalous! (I can’t make this up) That’s not all… she is pregnant. She wants me to tell her what should she do. Here are her choices, 1. Admitting and confessing to her husband. 2. Leave “my boring a** husband for his electrifying bother” (her words, not mine). 3. “I won’t tell if his brother won’t tell” (her words, not mine). My dear reader, I’m telling you this because this is way too spicy not to share with you.

Besides captivating your attention, what did this do for you? Nothing but perhaps think less of Jane. Sorry, this is the story my brain came up with when I said to myself I want to captivate your attention in this post. This is completely fictional. A part of us, insane or sane, unsaved or saved are intrigued by stories like this. That’s why we watch Being Mary Jane, Empire, Scandal and Power etc… But when a story like this is nonfiction, whew! We get the itch to share.

“If you’ve called me to Gossip, I don’t want to hear it”

Believe it or not, this used to be my voicemail greeting at a point in my life. Yeah, I know, it wasn’t the most conventional greeting you’ve heard. It was comical but it also served its purpose; to make people refrain from gossiping to me. I didn’t want people to form a habit of sharing people’s personal issues with me. Gossip is treacherous and I abhor it.

Why are people so prone to share the affairs of others? But yet, when it comes to their own private affairs, they put it in a box, tape it, and then lock it up in a safe, storing it in an underground cellar. So that no one can get hold of it. But when it comes to other’s affairs, it is public knowledge. Somehow people don’t find this act to be dishonorable. The truth of the matter is that it is dishonorable and disloyal to share things that someone confided in you. If we are going to be stronger together we have to take on the virtue to self-control.

When you listen to other’s drama, matters of the heart, dirty laundries, skeletons in the closet, or whatever you may call it. Remember this, more often than not if they gossip to you, they will gossip about you. This is something you can take to the bank. That person will not hesitate to spread your secrets out to others. So, don’t befriend people who love to gossip. Be prudent and frugal with how much of your life you disclose to certain people.

Predominantly, the people who like sharing people’s business are the ones with the spiciest stories… but… they will never tell you. While I’m telling you about Jane, I Just claimed one of her kids, my god-daughter Julie on my taxes because I’m living paycheck to paycheck. What I should be using this money for is to pay rent next month but these “So Kate” Louboutin have been calling my name. Now, how is next month going to be paid? You guessed right, Sebastian. (Judge me not… this too is fabricated.) But you get my point right?

We need to be merciful to others. Spreading cheers and love. Let us be sensitive with things that people share with us, especially in a moment of vulnerability. In consideration, a listening ear can be a chattering mouth. Be careful whose shoulders you cry on. Friendships are a great thing. Let’s build them to last, starting with loyalty.

Please, leave a comment. I would love to hear how this post has inspired and will impact you. Take a minute and share with someone who could use it. Help me inspire others.

Thank you for reading.
Ciao!