Peculiar Okafor: Phrases that Excuse bad behaviour

Human relationships are complex, you constantly have to navigate human dynamics. As you grow older, you learn to deal with people and the baggage we all come with –  as well as an understanding of their place in your life.

In all of this, there are people with extremely horrible behaviour and these people use certain phrases to excuse this behaviour.

It’s Just the Way I Am
Really, you have a horrible behaviour and the only ingenious excuse you have is ‘It’s just the way I am?’ Well, honey, we don’t like the way you are; so change or find ways to mitigate the negative effects of your behaviour.

I don’t mind the haters
The remix of this is: ‘it’s just beef’. Trust me, few people hate or beef you. You probably have a bad attitude, that’s all. I’m not saying jealousy doesn’t exist, but if your defense for your bad behaviour is ‘beef’ then dear, you need to check yourself.

Don’t Judge
This phrase has been hugely overused. There’s a huge difference between judging and criticizing or even saying things just the way they are. Someone is a nuisance and people say ‘don’t judge, because you sin differently’. When people say stuff about you, listen, reflect and decide whether or not to take learning but do not dismiss the advice.

You Don’t Know What I’ve Been Through
We ‘ALL’ have baggage. You don’t get to your twenties and above without some baggage; but do not make the rest of us pay for mistakes of someone else in your past. We refuse to pay for their mistakes.

Are You Any Better?
Well, whether or not someone is better than you are doesn’t mean they cannot make observations.

In all, I believe in loving and accepting people for who they are, not judging and understanding that people are going through a lot. However, as a society we need to hold one another to high standards, so we don’t lose the values that bind us. Most importantly, as human beings, we owe it to our world to present the best version of ourselves. Like someone I know always says ‘be your best self’.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Sam74100