The Asshat Solution

No matter how nice we are, we all have to deal with asshats.  It's part of the deal of putting yourself out there.  Even if you don't put yourself out there too far, they're everywhere.  There is no shortage of people who feel gleefully compelled to be mean.

This past week four different women contacted me to thank me for my positivity and support.  It's quite lovely to get confirmation that the messages you send out reach safe shores.  The truth is, we're all in this together.  Reaching out, paying it forward, supporting and inspiring others, sharing the journey are all ways to stay connected and find true joy. 

On the flip side, three of the women who contacted me admitted that they'd  lost heart, faith and focus because of the competitive and negative actions of other women.  That made me sad.  I just don't get that.  Yet, I've faced it over and over again along the journey.  Live long enough, and you'll be faced with that nasty green eyed monster too.

I wish I could say it was easy to ignore asshats, but the truth is, they're often quite invasive, like a fast growing poisonous weed.  They're also usually skilled at making the right people think them sweet as a rose while presenting their nasty thorns to anyone they deem competition.  They'll steal ideas, present them as their own, shove people out of the way, take full credit, embrace the accolades, dig a razor sharp stiletto heel into any shin they choose and they get away with it.  That's the crazy, scary, truly sad part.



This is insidious behavior.  It's selfish, it's cruel and it is totally unnecessary, yet it happens every day.

What do you do when you encounter this kind of behavior and it's focused in your direction?

Ay, there's the rub.  It's a tough one, too.

Here's what I do know.  No one can  hurt you unless you let them.  Don't let the assshats win.  Don't get caught up in their reindeer games.  As soon as they start creating drama, play it cool.  If they manage turn other people against you, keep smiling, shining and sparkling and know that by doing that, in time, other people will figure out out.  Do not confront them because they're never going to admit they've done anything wrong.  In fact, they're probably crazy town banana pants enough to believe they've done nothing wrong.  Be rubber and let them be glue.  Do not speak poorly of them to those whom they've charmed.  Do not step in their shit, because if you do you're going to stink.

A friend recently gave me a golden piece of advice and one I'm going to share with you today.  Don't worry about those people even a little bit, just smile big and give them enough rope to hang themselves.  Eventually, given enough rope, they will.  Asshat...solved.

"Karma isn't a bitch...unless you are."

Love,
Madge

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