Ok, so I received my first “angry person, private message”. They messaged me via the Jeff speaks. Facebook blog page. It has taken just over three years of writing for it to happen so I guess all in all it’s not so bad. I’m sure it won’t be the last one. Now let me be clear I don’t know this individual, and I’m by no means saying they are a bad person. At first, and by all indications, I thought they liked my writing, but then they made a hard right turn and became really nasty. I’m not always sure how to handle such encounters. I usually avoid confrontation at all costs, but in this case, I believe I took the only course of action possible. I do realize people are human and sometimes have rough days. I also realize not everyone is gonna like what I write and I am learning to be ok with that. So I try really hard to extend as much grace as I can and have compassion and understanding for other people and what they may be going through. Ultimately I just hope they find the peace that they’re searching for. I’d like to think that I’ll never offend anyone in the future, but let’s be honest, it’s gonna happen. I think that’s why I love writing. It’s easier to use this platform to voice my thoughts without fear of confrontation, at least not of the physical nature. People will always use their words, but it’s our choice as to whether those words have a positive impact or a negative impact on us.

I know one day (probably sooner rather than later) I’ll have to venture back to a public platform, back to using my actual voice, but for now, I’m happy where I’m at.

The purpose of this blog is to inspire hope. That’s the reason I write. I want to encourage people to be the best that they can be, to believe in themselves, and to speak up for themselves. I’m still learning this myself. Sometimes it’s hard but we still have to try, and we can never give up. We have to endure to the end. Not just endure but overcome. Life is too short and time is too precious to be bogged down by fear and insecurities, both our own and anyone else’s whom we choose to give access to us.

Be encouraged that being you is important and people need you to be you, even if it’s occasionally just so they have someone to yell at.

Published by Jeff

View all posts by Jeff