So this past weekend I got stung by a yellow jacket! I was leaning on a fence and felt a sting in my left arm, lifted it up and the little guy was still in me! I brushed him away and then the pain began. It stayed painful for quite a while, and swelled up quite a bit, to the point that we thought I'd have to go to the hospital. Everything ended up being ok, though, and now all I'm left with is some slight swelling and some serious itchiness at the site of the sting.
That experience got me thinking...I got the sting, brushed it off, and now the bug is dead. Such a waste, really. Hurting another living thing for it's own protection, when I was never even a threat. It reminded me of some situations I've been in with some very small, very poisonous adults. I'm always amazed (I guess I shouldn't be, really) at how people who refer to themselves as 'adults' are actually just older human beings. Not mature, not able to be tolerant or patient, not able to be accepting of things that are different than they are. I don't think that age makes someone an adult. I think that actions, accountability and responsibility do.
I'm not at all saying I'm perfect at any of those things, but I do feel like I'm open minded enough to accept that I will keep evolving throughout my life, regardless of my age. I think that some people get in a rut of being who they were when they were younger..vindictive, nasty, mean, vengeful. I'm sure everyone has felt the urge to be all of those things, and maybe even acted on it. I'm no different. However, I feel like I've grown up quite a bit from when I was a teenager and have been able to see that being kind and tolerant is much easier and beneficial to myself and everyone else than acting on such negative urges. I feel like some people are on this earth to cause and enjoy causing conflict in other people's lives. I learned long ago not to waste my time with such people. To be tolerant, kind, non-judgemental (as much as possible). My dad taught me when I was younger to be nice to everyone, regardless of who they were, what job they had, how much money they had, or what it seemed like they could do for me. That advice has helped me through my life in so many instances. I only wish that all parent's would teach this to their children. I think that it's important to teach kids to be tolerant. I think it's important to teach adults to be tolerant. Not an easy feat, I'm sure! And I'm certainly not going to take on the chore of teaching any adults how to do that. I can only help influence the people I'm around who are mature enough to be open to new ideas, to stop judging (or at least to stop being vocal about it), stop name-calling, begin loving people for who they really are, and begin keeping their mouths shut or 'changing the subject' when there is no need for a fight. I was taught to be the bigger person, which is not always easy to do. However, I have realized that being the bigger person will always be my role with certain people. I have no problem with this. I do not avoid conflict, but at the same time, if there is someone in my life who is that person who thrives on it, I can't let it effect my joy. I can't and won't be a part of that childish nonsense. I will not bring that into my life. I lead a happy, fulfilling, exciting, spontaneous, successful life with a man who loves me for me in spite of and because of my 'flaws'. He has taught me to be even more accepting and encouraging of change. He listens to me always, and is my number one fan. I know that I'm always typing and saying the mushiest, cheesiest things about him and I. I can't help it. I'm in love and I just can't keep my mouth shut about it! It's an unbelievable feeling to be truly unconditionally loved.
So...in closing...I relate the yellow jacket sting to a different, but equally strong (but in the long run, equally meaningless) sting from another person. I brush it off, move on, and while I might be left with a little itch, I'm ultimately not effected.