Proverbs 16:28

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends”~Proverbs 16:28

You guessed it, folks. Today I want to talk about fake friends and how jealousy is but a symptom of deeply-rooted insecurity. You see, jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius, and when the insecure act out against you, they are showing how deeply they wish they were you. Borrowing from the infinite wisdom of the infinitely-wise Joan Jett:

“Cut ‘em loose and forget ‘em. You got nothing to lose. You don’t lose when you lose fake friends.”

Oh, Joan. Never change, Also, marry me.

When someone betrays you, it is a reflection of their character, not yours. Instead of feeling hurt and letting them get to you, forgive yourself for trusting a human toilet bowl, take it on the chin, walk it off and be proud of your own good heart.

Forgive yourself for the blindness that put you in the path of those who betrayed you. It’s not your fault. Sometimes a good heart doesn’t see the bad. Want some more wisdom? Here’s some by one of my favorite writers, Anais Nin:

“You can either give negativity power over your life or you can choose happiness instead”.

It’s literally as simple as that.

Remember, the jealousy and back-stabby behavior of others is rarely a reflection of your shortcomings and more about the other person’s insecurities. So, take a deep breath, channel your inner Beyonce, and remember:

Their negativity is their burden, not yours. Don’t let their envy drag you down. Focus on your own accomplishments and celebrate your wins. Pet a kitten. Go to the humane society and take a dog for a walk or spend 30 minutes in the kitty room. Do something, anything, that makes the world a better place, and you’ve won.

And as for your wannabe Judas? Kill them with kindness. Be the bigger person. A genuine (mostly) smile and a friendly conversation can disarm even the most envious soul, and might even make them re-evaluate their attitude. If it doesn’t, well, you tried, and you made the world a teensy bit better by not reacting with negativity.

Yay, you!

Heal yourself with humor by watching something silly on TV. I recommend Monty Python or Bob’s Burgers.

A little humor can go a long way, and don’t forget to carry on being nice to your fellow humans and animals.

The next time you encounter a green-eyed falsie, remember, it’s not your job to fix their insecurities. Just keep calm, carry on, walk a dog and maybe use it as inspiration for your next blog post (wink wink).

Patti is the editor of the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached at pdanner@gcdailyworld.com.