I found out someone I admired was telling everyone that she didn’t like me.
Next time I saw her, there was only one solution.
At first, though, it stung.
In the privacy of my room I called her names, insulted her, justified the fact that I didn’t even want her to like me because she was so awful.
I felt rejected. I felt lied to. She’d always been so nice to me—and this whole time, she didn’t even like me?
So when I saw her, I gave it back.
Oh yeah. I threw it right in her face.
I was so nice.
Genuinely, without spite or bad feelings.
Being mean back would only fuel her dislike.
But being nice—really, truly nice—made it harder for her to be mean to me.
And I didn’t change a thing.
Everything she said she hated about me, I kept on doing.
Because it was me. And I wouldn’t change me for her.
I learned to stay comfortable by remembering that millions of people don’t like chocolate, but that makes it no less delicious to those who do.
Chocolate doesn’t try to become peanut butter to win people over, does it?
No.
Neither should you.
Be the best version of yourself and let others think what they may.
And be kind.
Fighting fire with fire burns the whole world down.
