The Art of Compromise...

Compromise — A settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.

Conflict — A disagreement between two or more people over values, needs, beliefs, perceptions, or expectations. It can lead to relational stalemates.

In the hours that passed between my falling asleep last night & awaking this morning, I learned something about myself. I'm not happy in any situation that requires me to over-compromise who I am (even on a rare basis) for any person who needs constant validation for what simply amounts to appropriate behavior & decorum.

Rewarding people for expected actions never really made much sense to me & I don't see how others can so easily sweep the complete & utter bullshit of others under the rug time & time, again. I'd also add that it really bothers me when people's apologies are always followed by a 'but.' The instant you attempt to justify your reasoning for doing whatever you've done, you've devalued the apology.

Sadly, I guess I don't possess the ability to ignore (for lack of better words) 'stupid shit' just for the sake of a friendship or relationship as I sometimes secretly wish I could be as forgiving (or ignorant) as those who are quite willing to compromise their ultimate happiness for a 'sense of general security.

What's even more interesting to me is how those, well-versed in the art of bullshit, actually think its you with the problem because you won't subscribe to their backward way of thinking. To me, the bottom line is when you're wrong, your excuse is unimportant, at best.

Anyone who openly decides they can't or won't change regardless of how others are impacted, must in the same line of thinking, be bold enough to accept that others reserve the right to walk away from what they perceive as a no-win situation. Any failure to recognize the validity in such a philosophy would certainly qualify as the quintessential double standard in my mind & I've been on both ends of the spectrum, so I'm definitely speaking from experience here.

Looking back, I can honestly say that anyone who chose to walk away from me completely in the past, did so for what was most likely a good reason & I'll never question it. Consequently, I've got no issue with doing the same to anyone who shows any similar lack of regard for the proper way to treat those whom they claim to care about.

We're all left with 2 options when dealing with people who maintain extremely stubborn and/or highly volatile states of mind. Either resign one's self to constant attack or defeat at the hands of a hypocrite, or remove one's self from the situation altogether, thereby eliminating any ill-fated destinies that would surely accompany yet another obscene compromise on your part.

The moment I lose confidence in your ability to demonstrate general reasoning skills, or (at the bare minimum) think logically, you've lost me. That being said, I'll leave you guys with a favorite quote of mine by the Roots. I found it to be very appropriate for this post:

"I'd die in a bed I laid, before I'd lay with a love I loathed."