two-faced

am not gonna write about how long and dreary my day was.. i think everyone's pretty much having the post-holidays-hangover. instead.. i wanna share with you something i heard on the news today.. and it shook me! the one and only George W. Bush, in a pre-election pep-rally speech.. was talking about the economic situation in the US.. and mentioned the phrase "bottom line". what's so weird about that you ask? well, the weird part is that when he said it.. i heard "but i'm lying". now try that yourself, and say both.. see?! i actually stopped, kinda surprised, trying to figure out which it was!

so all day.. i kept turning the thought over in my head. how some people say something and mean something completely different. some people aren't that good at it, and you can see through them.. but some have raised it to an art form. beware, for even in the guise of old friends, blood relatives and committed colleagues you can get taken.

i must say that i am sick and tired of being taken (..advantage of, .. for granted, .. for a ride) but the worst part is that this stubborn streak in me to 'be there for everyone' is what causes most of these complications. why do i do it? that's another post in itself!

anyways, back to the issue at hand.. subconsciously we are all manipulative. despite all outward appearances, everyone would like to be master of his destiny (note for all you politically correct readers: master/mistress of his/her destiny.. my apologies) but then there are some of us who would like to take it a few steps forward by trying to control / dominate / manouever people around them.

well, what can you do about it? at the risk of sounding selfish, i would say that anytime someone asks something of you.. stop, and think, what's in it for you? some relationships are sacred, like parent-child.. but even parents play mindgames!! the days that 'the meek shall inherit the earth' ended in Biblical times.. if you don't stand up for yourself then i'm sorry my friend, no one will.

*sigh* did anyone notice how i called you 'my friend' and in the same breath also said 'no one will'.. subconsciously i am also becoming one of 'them'.. aargh!!