Walk a Mile in Their Boots

It comes as no surprise when meeting anybody that they have a passion and drive to compete in a sport or other pursuit such as showing livestock or rodeoing. Some individuals look forward to those events because they perhaps come by competitiveness naturally. As to each of those events comes lots of hard work, spending hours perfecting the minor details so the big details come out spiffy clean. Different situations all require different work and no matter the start, with a little bit of tender love and care, the situation can be drastically changed for the better and for success.

However, as one goes deeper into these competitive events, there is a certain amount of unkind, unnecessary things that people choose to say. It doesn’t matter if it is basketball, a pig show, or a roping, the term called trash talk gets thrown out of peoples mouths like it is spoiled milk. If people are decent enough they will say it to your face, but more often than not they are spread like wildfire and your ears are the last to listen in, despite being the topic of the ruckus. There are times that what people choose to talk about is true, but poorly skewed and there are times where things become manipulated and end up disgustingly false. Sure, some will tell you to shake it off, stick and stones might break your bones and words will never harm you. On the flip side, deep down, those words kill you. Rightfully so.

Let’s talk about being kind. If you were ever on the delivering end of those nasty words, whether you admit it or not, did you ever stop and think about how those words affect you? Now you are probably thinking, “ what, affect me? “ Yes, how do you think they will affect you? What those individuals do not understand is that sharing choice information with others that would directly hurt another is not only very unprofessional, but can also make you the topic of that trash talk. It will also affect your accountability and decrease your friend circle. After all, you are the one who sought to break another down, turnabout is fair play. And why do other seem to talk so boldly in the event of another’s success? Have you seen them work? Have you been through their barn or stable, or even followed them along in their work outs and warm ups? Have you? For some, success does not come easy and so for others to break them down, accuse them, it starts to wear on their happiness and motivation to keep going. Make it a rule for yourself to never say anything harmful about another until you completely and utterly understand every aspect of their lives. Walk a mile in their shoes. Above all, though, choose to be kind.

Now, say you were an audience to trash talking. Receiving those words, and choosing to not defend the individual being talked about or even add to the remarks, makes you guilty as charged along with the original speaker. It does not matter a lick if you know the individual or not; it does not matter if you agree with the speaker or not; it does not matter, stand up, be the better person and politely ask the speaker to stop. It is as simple as that. So many times it is heard that the audience only listens to the speaker so they can “get it out of their system”. Do not do that because, again, you are just as guilty. It is never hard to choose the right thing and be the bigger person. Choose to be kind.

If you are on the receiving end of those harsh words, use it as fuel! Do not change what you do, but work harder. Extend kindness and even a helping hand at times to those who have nothing nice to say. Show them your routine, show them what you do because, ultimately, nothing is better proof than showing somebody how you actually do things. Always stay true to yourself and keep setting goals that set you up for success. Never change something that is not broken. Kindness has never been the wrong way to go about a situation, so offer it everywhere you go and in every interaction you make. Please, choose to be kind.

The moral of the story, just be kind. Choose to be wary of your words and actions because no matter what somebody is always listening and watching. In times of anger and outrage, do not let the outcome be to throw shade at another. Stay focused on your goals and success, then if you can, welcome others in and help them. Do not break them down because they did something wrong. Pick them up off the floor, dust them off and only offer kindness. Put the trash talk away, its outdated and worn, overrated and downright nauseating. Nobody has time for it and it certainly is not going to get you anywhere. Before you even think about it, walk a mile in their boots.