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Stop Offending Your Friend

Robyn Kagan Harrington

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Or choose new ones

I say stupid things at times. Sometimes the silly stuff I say slip out, sometimes they make no sense. Sometimes I blurt out random thoughts or say something I do not exactly mean. I accept this about myself.

It is not worth my time being friends with someone who is always offended by something I say. I am not a mean or malicious person. I would not say something to hurt you.

You know the ones. And you know it isn’t just you that offends them. Because you hear about the countless minor infractions others have done to them. A seemingly small remark that was probably taken out of context will meet their ire. When they tell you about these, this is when you realize that they are offended by every little thing.

What do I want to say to those types of friends? I want to say, “Guess what? I feel offended, too, at times. Yes, that is correct. You are not perfect, even though you may think you are. Do you know what I do when I am offended by a remark of yours? Nothing. I may feel a little slighted by something you said, but I do not assume you were intentionally trying to attack or hurt me.”

The problem is that I do not want to be guarded or worry about offending my friend — a friend offended so easily but who never sees themself ever doing or saying anything wrong.

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Robyn Kagan Harrington
Robyn Kagan Harrington

Written by Robyn Kagan Harrington

Writing about Travel, History, Politics, Life, and Current Events.

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